Cuesta Baseball opened the 2026 campaign this weekend with a three-game series against fellow 2025 playoff team Riverside.  The Tigers claimed the early advantage, after turning a leadoff hit by pitch into the game's' first score, while the Cougars took some time to get their bats up to speed.  Riverside added eight more runs to their lead, before Rookie First Baseman Christopher Johnson clubbed a solo home run to put the Cougars on the board.  Johnson's blast ignited the Cougars, who in each of the last four innings, while outhitting their fellow cats, 12-11.  All-WSC Catcher Jack Gradel (pict) went 3-for-5 on the day to lead both teams, while Cuesta Outfielder Talon Trumble came off the bench to go two-for-two at the plate. He also scored twice and drove in a pair of runs.  Sophomore Chase Viale got the call as the Cougars' opening day starter and struck out seven Tigers, while only allowing only two hits over 4.1 innings of work.  Unfortunately, Viale, who was saddled with the loss, and a trio of relievers, also combined to issue seventeen free-passes to keep the bases full of Bengals, with a combination of walks and hit batsmen.  The Cougars are 0-1 on the season.

 

The "Catfight" between the Cougars and Tigers shall continue with a doubleheader tomorrow at Cuesta Field.  The first pitch is scheduled for 10 AM and the finale to follow thirty minutes later.