Cuesta Baseball remained in the hunt for the 2025 Western State Conference (WSC) title, while beating fellow contender Los Angeles Pierce, 22-4.  Today's win over the Brahmas kept the Cougars in the title hunt, along with Santa Barbara City, while Pierce sits at the edge of elimination, where they can only claim the title if the Cougars and Vaqueros both lose the rest of their games.  Cuesta's 18-run victory marked the Cougars' third and biggest win over the Brahmas, but all four of their showdowns were won by, at least, ten runs.  Today's game started slowly, with the Cougars scoring on a sacrifice fly in the first inning, but Cuesta broke the game open in the 3rd inning.  Sophomore Centerfielder and Leadoff Aidan Botti, who went 5-for-6 in the game, opened the inning with a solo home run and ignited the Cougars' offense. Cuesta posted eight runs in the inning and jumped ahead, 9-1.  Both teams went scoreless in the 4th inning, but Cuesta scored in each of the last four innings, including seven runs after the stretch.  The Brahmas got back on the board with Logan Kim's pinch-hit, solo home run in the 8th, but they could not catch their hosts.  Cuesta Starter Justin Cortez went six innings on the mound to earn his team-leading eighth victory of the season, while Relievers Chase Viale and Gage Balderson closed out the win.  On offense, Botti's big game was complemented by all-WSC Shortstop Victor Heredia (pict) at the #2 spot in the order.  Heredia went 4-for-5 at the plate, including a pair of triples, while scoring five times and driving in four runs. Cuesta (24-15, 16-7) is currently a half-game behind Santa Barbara City (24-12, 16-6) in the WSC standings.   

The Cougars are scheduled to host Moorpark this Thursday (2 PM) for their regular season finale.  The Cougars have beaten the Raiders three times this season but need to complete a season sweep to remain in title contention with Santa Barbara City and LA Pierce.  The Vaqueros finish the week at Allan Hancock on Thursday (2 PM), before travelling to Woodland Hills to face the Brahmas on Friday (2 PM).