Vaqueros to host Super Regional for first time

SBCC will host a Super Regional for the first time in its baseball history this weekend when L.A. Mission comes to Pershing Park for a best 2-of-3 series.

The Vaqueros (25-13) are making their fourth straight playoff appearance and competing in a Super Regional (second round of playoffs) for the second time in four years. They played in a four-team, double elimination Super Regional in 2011 at Santa Ana.

The playoff format was switched this year to three weekends of best-of-3 series.

Game 1 will be Friday at 2 p.m. Game 2 is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. and Game 3 will be played, if necessary, on Sunday at noon.

With 25 wins, Santa Barbara is tied for No. 2 all-time on the school's single-season chart with the 2009 team. The 2007 Vaqueros are first at 34-10. A few years ago, the regular-season schedule was trimmed to save money. The 2007 and 2009 squads played eight more regular-season games (44 vs. 36) than this year's team.

The Vaqueros, seeded No. 4 for the Super Regional, are one of five teams from the WSC in the final eight in Southern Cal. WSC North rivals Oxnard, L.A. Pierce and Hancock are also competing, along with No. 5 L.A. Mission (25-14), the WSC South champion.

Other matchups this weekend have No. 8 Hancock traveling to No. 1 Orange Coast; No. 7 L.A. Pierce playing at No. 2 Oxnard and No. 6 Southwestern at No. 3 Santa Ana.

The winners will meet in two best-of-3 series called the Sectionals on May 16-18 with the survivors moving on to the State Final Four at Fresno City College.

SBCC advanced with a 2-0 series win over San Bernardino Valley last weekend, improving to 17-3 at Pershing Park. Justin Bruce and Tyler Gilbert earned the pitching wins.

On offense, the Vaqueros are led by second baseman Brett Sesma (.343), outfielder Connor McManigal (.330), catcher Patrick O'Brien (.324) and first baseman James Brakka (27 RBIs).

L.A. Mission won the eight-team WSC South with a 16-5 record. The Eagles scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Saddleback 9-8 in last week's Regional opener and went on to take the series 2-1.

Mission is led by first baseman CJ Witkowski with a .357 average, 7 home runs and 43 RBIs. Second baseman Austin Rodriguez is batting .300 with 25 RBIs.

Ticket prices are $12 for an all-tournament pass (good for all 3 games), $10 for general admission and $7 for Seniors, Staff, Students with ID and Children under 12.

All three games can be viewed on the Internet on live streaming video for free. Click here to sign up for live streaming.