Remote Surveillance Trailer in Santa Barbara, CA

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (22-17, 11-4 Big West) fell in the series finale to the UC San Diego Tritons Sunday afternoon. After holding UCSD scoreless for the first five innings of the game the Gauchos surrendered four runs in the final two frames to secure the victory over the Gauchos.

HOW IT HAPPENED UC Santa Barbara began the game with an early lead in the first inning when Jazzy Santos tripled to left field and was driven in by Giselle Mejia's single, putting the Gauchos up 1–0. In the third inning, they extended their lead. Alexa Sams singled and Mejia followed with another single, setting the stage for Bella Fuentes, who delivered a double down the left field line, bringing in two runs. This offensive burst gave them a 3–0 advantage heading into the bottom of the third.

UCSD's offense was held in check for the first five innings, with UC Santa Barbara's defense maintaining a shutout and allowing only minimal hits. However, in the sixth inning, the Tritons mounted a comeback. A single, followed by an RBI double put the Tritons on the board. Following that sequence UCSD tied the game at three with a two run home-run.

The seventh inning saw UC Santa Barbara fail to score, even after reaching base on an error and a hit by pitch. In the bottom half, the Tritons capitalized on a single and an error allowing UC San Diego to score the unearned go-ahead run. This secured a 4–3 victory for the Tritons.

UP NEXT UC Santa Barbara will return to Campus Diamond next weekend as they host Long Beach State. The Gauchos and Beach will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 followed by a single game on Sunday, April 13.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Baseball team (18-10, 5-8 Big West) demonstrated why wins and losses should not be a pitching stat on Friday night, as starter Tyler Bremner struck out 10 UC Davis (14-13, 4-6 Big West) hitters over seven innings without walking any of them. Still, he took the loss after giving up a single run on just four hits as the Gauchos fell, 1-0, in the first game of their three-game series with the Aggies.

HOW IT HAPPENED After Bremner struck out the side in the top of the first, Santa Barbara thought they had taken the lead in the bottom half of that inning. After LeTrey McCollum worked an 11-pitch walk, Jonathan Mendez lifted a fly ball deep down the left field line, watching it hit the netting behind the wall. Despite the ball impacting the netting just on the foul side of the pole, it was originally called a two-run home run. That decision was then changed to foul ball after a conversation among the umpires, a change that was then upheld after Santa Barbara's challenge. Mendez ended up striking out.

In something of a cruel twist, the Aggies did get on the board in the top of the second. A single up the middle ended a run of four consecutive strikeouts for Bremner, but Xavier Esquer made a great play at third base to get the second out, diving to snag a hard-hit grounder along the line and throwing a rocket over to first base, though the runner on first was able to take second. That advancement would prove critical, as he was able to score on Davis' soft two-out, two-strike single into left center. It would end up being the only run of the game.

Bremner worked perfect frames in the third, sixth and seventh innings, ending his evening by retiring the final eight Aggies he faced in order. In the fourth, he had just one runner to deal with after a one-out hit batter, but he had more to do to keep Davis off the board in the fifth. After two one-out singles, Bremner faced Aggies on the corners and just one away in the fifth, but he kept them stranded there with a strikeout and a groundout.

Bremner's day on the mound was done in the top of the eighth, with Donovann Jackson relieving him. The lefty struck out the first batter he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles and was relieved by Raymond Olivas. Olivas went on to finish the game on the bump, getting a double play ball to end the eighth, then working a perfect ninth.

On offense, the Gauchos put runners aboard in every inning but the sixth, they were just unable to bring any of them home. Twice they were robbed by diving catches in the right field corner; first it was Cole Kosciusko being denied a two-out single in the sixth, then it was Liam Barrett's deep fly ball being chased down in foul ground. Santa Barbara's best chance to score was in the seventh, when Reiss Calvin and Rowan Kelly hit back-to-back two-out singles and then moved to second and third on a passed ball, but they were stranded there.

BY THE NUMBERS

UP NEXT Santa Barbara will look to bounce back on Saturday, April 5 in the second game of this three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, where Calvin Proskey is set to take the mound for the Gauchos, fresh off his seven shutout innings of work last Saturday at Long Beach State. Fans can also catch all the action from anywhere by watching the ESPN+ broadcast or with the audio only broadcast and live stats available at ucsbgauchos.com.

Davis, Calif. – The No. 42 UC Santa Barbara Men's Tennis team is hitting the road for its second Big West match of the season. The Gauchos will face UC Davis on Saturday before returning home to take on UC Riverside on Monday.

DETAILS Match 15 Saturday, Apr. 5 | 11 a.m. No. 42 UC Santa Barbara (11-3) vs. UC Davis (11-4) Marya Welch Tennis Center | Davis, CA

Match 16 Monday, Apr. 7 | 12 p.m. No. 42 UC Santa Barbara (11-3) vs. UC Riverside (2-12) Arnhold Tennis Center | Santa Barbara, CA

HISTORY The Gauchos hold a commanding 19-2 record against the Aggies. UC Davis is 11-4 in their current season and will enter the match riding an impressive eight-match winning streak.

Against UC Riverside, UCSB has been dominant, boasting a perfect 19-0 record. The Highlanders (2-12) will be looking to bounce back from a four-match losing streak and secure their first Big West win.

FALL RECAP The UC Santa Barbara Men's Tennis team competed in the Battle in the Bay, with Gianluca Brunkow and Dominique Rolland each securing notable victories. Brunkow advanced to the quarterfinals in singles before falling to the fifth seed, while he and Rolland reached the doubles semifinals, where their run ended against the 25th-ranked duo from Cal.

At home, the Gauchos put on an impressive performance at the Fall Tennis Classic, with Diogo Morais winning the singles championship and Charlie Underwood claiming the Flight C title in his debut. Additionally, three doubles teams secured championships: Brunkow and Gustav Theilgaard in Flight A, Conrad Brown and Rolland in Flight B, and Underwood and Matei Gavrea in Flight C.

At the ITA Southwest Regional Championships, Conrad Brown and Dominique Rolland reached the doubles semifinals, while Rolland and Gianluca Brunkow advanced to the singles quarterfinals. Despite strong performances, the Gauchos' runs ended in the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively.

At the Dennis Rizza Classic, the team achieved strong straight-set victories in singles, with Lucca Liu, Diogo Morais, and Charlie Underwood all winning their opening matches. Matei Gavrea also advanced after a tough match against Arizona.

At the ITA West Sectional Championships, Gianluca Brunkow secured a consolation win after falling to No. 103 Maxi Homberg, while Dominique Rolland was defeated by No. 32 Henry von der Schulenburg. In doubles, Conrad Brown and Rolland fought hard but lost to UC Berkeley in the round of 16.

In the most recent ITA rankings, three Gauchos appear in singles: Gianluca Brunkow (56), Diogo Morais (93), and Dominique Rolland (118). Brunkow and Rolland are ranked No. 38 in doubles.

ABOUT THE GAUCHOS Roster | Schedule Overall Record: 11-3 Big West: 1-0 Home: 7-1 Away: 2-1 Neutral: 2-1 Against Ranked Opponents: 2-1 ITA Ranking: 42 Streak: W1

ABOUT THE AGGIES Roster | Schedule | Stats Overall Record: 11-4 Big West: 2-0 Home: 6-0 Away: 3-4 Neutral: 2-0 Against Ranked Opponents: 1-0 ITA Ranking: N/A Streak: W8

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS Roster | Schedule | Stats Overall Record: 2-12 Big West: 0-1 Home: 2-5 Away: 0-6 Neutral: 0-1 Against Ranked Opponents: 0-0 ITA Ranking: N/A Streak: L4

UP NEXT Following their Big West matchups, the Gauchos will hit the road for three challenging contests. They will first take on No. 19 Pepperdine on Wednesday, Apr. 9, followed by a conference matchup against UC San Diego on Friday, Apr. 11, and finish with a Big West showdown at No. 43 UC Irvine on Saturday, Apr. 12.

Five schools in the Santa Barbara area received shiny stickers from the state last week, labeling them “Distinguished Schools” as recognition for either Closing the Achievement Gap or Exceptional Student Performance.

Those schools include three in the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD): Washington Elementary, Peabody Charter School, and Adelante Charter School. Also receiving the honor were Carpinteria Unified’s Aliso Elementary and Hope Elementary School District’s Vieja Valley Elementary.

Created in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award is a way for the state to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and staff for their “innovation, talent, and success in supporting students,” according to State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.

Across California, 336 elementary schools were recognized for their achievements. Schools were chosen based on data from the 2024 California School Dashboard, focusing on factors like student demographics and English and math scores.

Local school leaders credited the dedication of their students and staff for the award.

Washington Principal Arielle Curry called the honor a “powerful affirmation of the remarkable community we have built here.” Students and teachers are beaming with pride, she said.

“It reflects our collective commitment to truly knowing each student, understanding their unique needs, and embracing them wholeheartedly, regardless of which classroom they are in,” she continued. “At the heart of Washington Elementary School is our genuine and deep care for all of our students.”

Peabody Charter has now received the award two cycles in a row, which only happens to 5 to 10 percent of schools that receive the award.

“Even though we are the largest elementary school in Santa Barbara, parents and staff routinely say that our school feels small,” said Peabody Superintendent Demian Barnett. “This is a testament to the strong sense of community that we actively nurture at Peabody.”

He said the school is honored to be recognized alongside its sister schools in Santa Barbara County.

“Peabody is so excited to be in the company of these schools. We know that this recognition reflects our work and the work of so many talented educators in the larger educational community,” Barnett said. “We are happy to represent the work that all schools are doing every day.”

Adelante Charter has seen incredible growth in the past five years, said director Javier Bolivar. The dual-language school saw English and math performance grow by nearly 20 percent in both categories since 2019, alongside drops in chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Their English Learner Progress indicator, at 74 percent, is one of the highest in the state.

“Adelante Charter School is part of the history of bilingual education in California,” Bolivar said. “After overcoming problems, I feel we are a real success story.”

In Carpinteria, Superintendent Diana Rigby embraced the good news. “We are incredibly proud of Aliso being recognized as a California Distinguished School,” she said. “This honor reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, staff, and families, and it is a testament to their commitment to academic achievement and creating a supportive environment where every student can thrive.”

Hope Elementary School District attributed the award to the success of their literacy program.

“Over the past two years, our entire district engaged in a deep dive into literacy instruction, which included all certificated staff taking a graduate-level course on the science of reading and implementing targeted strategies and high-leverage practices to ensure that every student has the tools to become a confident, capable reader,” said Hope Superintendent Anne Hubbard. “The results are evident in our students’ growth and enthusiasm for learning.”

“I have the deepest gratitude to the Vieja Valley educators, support staff, families, and students — this distinction belongs to all of them,” she continued. “Their success is a testament to what’s possible when a school community comes together around a shared vision for excellence.”

Hilda Maldonado, SBUSD superintendent, also acknowledged the influence students have at home, including the “unwavering support of our parents — true partners in this success.”

The awards will be presented at the California School Recognition Program Awards Ceremony on May 30 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

“Excellent elementary schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people,” State Superintendent Thurmond said. “This year’s California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our elementary educators and school staff who help our students discover passions and experiences that will propel them.”

The California Coastal Commission is set to meet in Santa Barbara on April 9-11, and with no shortage of Santa Barbara–related items on the agenda, the meeting is likely to be highly attended and opportunistically located for those who want to get involved. A hefty enforcement report focused solely on oil operations off the Santa Barbara coast, appeals on the Garden Street Hotel and Rosewood Miramar developments, and UCSB’s student housing aspirations will come before the commission on Thursday, April 10.

One of the hotter topics at the Coastal Commission’s meeting will be a lengthy enforcement report on Sable Offshore, the oil company working day and night to restart oil platforms and pipelines along the Gaviota Coast. Commissioners will vote on whether to impose a nearly $15 million administrative penalty on Sable for its alleged unpermitted construction work in the coastal zone and disregard for one of two cease-and-desist orders issued by the commission’s executive director, Kate Huckelbridge. On top of the penalty, staff recommend that the commissioners require Sable to abide by an environmental restoration order and a third cease-and-desist order.

The Coastal Commission will also hear all about UC Santa Barbara’s plans to construct a new seven-building, 2,224-bed student housing development between Mesa Road and Stadium Road. The San Benito housing project was born of two lawsuits filed against the university by the City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County, both alleging that the university neglected to provide adequate student housing, which negatively affected their respective jurisdictions. The university settled in March 2024 for $6 million and a promise to put student housing initiatives at the forefront of their work.

With San Benito construction already underway, UCSB has asked the commission to allow amendments to their plans, namely raising the maximum building heights on all seven buildings from 65 feet to 81 feet. Commission staff have recommended that certain buildings be allowed to raise their heights to between 70 and 80 feet, and only one be approved to hit the 81-foot mark. Additionally, UCSB has asked for modifications to parking regulations that currently require one space to be built for every four student beds. Staff have recommended that the university be allowed to reduce this ratio by assigning students parking spaces in other existing structures and lots in the area. Commissioners will vote on whether to approve UCSB’s new development plan with commission staff’s modifications at next Thursday’s meeting.

Moving right down the coast, commissioners will hear appeals filed by Santa Barbara nonprofit Keep the Funk and Steven Johnson against the proposed 250-room Garden Street Hotel. The development was approved by the Santa Barbara Planning Commission in March 2024, then survived its first appeal by Keep the Funk at City Council in November. Now, it comes to the Coastal Commission. The appellants argue that the proposed development, which includes a large underground garage, would disrupt contaminated soil and have negative impacts on water quality in the coastal area.

Also on the Coastal Commission’s appeals agenda are those against the Rosewood Miramar expansion in Montecito, which was set to bring commercial retail space and affordable housing units to the upscale beachside hotel. The appellants, nonprofit group Heal the Ocean and Unite Here Local 11, allege that the affordable housing units are slated for areas that are far more flood-prone than the retail space, citing some serious social equity issues. Both the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the project last year after multiple appeals, including one from Heal the Ocean.

In both cases, the Coastal Commission must decide if the appeals raise a “substantial issue” after hearing from all sides, and if so, schedule a public hearing on the issue for a future meeting. The commission’s staff have found no substantial issue in either of the appeals, and therefore recommend that the commissioners uphold previous decisions made by their respective Santa Barbara governments.

The California Coastal Commission’s meeting is open to the public, and will convene at 9 a.m. April 9-11 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Hotel (633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.). The meeting will be live-streamed. Community members can participate in public comment by emailing the staff member listed on the item of interest or by filling out a speaker request form to comment in person, all of which can be found here.