Cuesta Baseball hosted their final regular season home game against local rival Allan Hancock, as both teams vie for a post-season berth.  The Bulldogs are in range of winning their first Western State Conference title since 2001 and were able to take down the defending WSC Champion Cougars, 12-6, to give them a half-game edge over Santa Barbara City in the race.  Today the Bulldogs jumped out four runs, including a pair of home runs, to take the early lead, 4-0.  The Cougars chipped away and took their first lead, after all-WSC Centerfielder Makani Nabarro clouted his fourth home run of the past two days to push Cuesta ahead, 5-3.  The Bulldogs were able to even the game in the 6th inning, 5-5 and took the lead for good after Home Runs from both Parker Schwake and Granite Seipt, before closing out their victory, 12-6. The setback dropped the Cougars overall record to 20-18 overall and 12-10 against the WSC. 

 

Cuesta's All-WSC Shortstop AJ Martinez (pict) led all hitters with four hits in the game, Cuesta Outfielder Gavin Colombo and Catcher Jack Gradel joined the Bulldogs' Matt Kovach with three hits apiece.  Cuesta Third Baseman Hank Hansen led the Cougars with three runs batted in on the day and boasted one of the games' six home runs. 

 

The Cougars shall complete the 2026 campaign on the road next week.  The Cougars travel to Woodland Hills to face Los Angeles Pierce on Tuesday (2 PM) and complete the regular season at Moorpark on Thursday (2 PM).  The Cougars, who are a game out of third place in the WSC Circuit, should be able to clinch their 31st playoff berth over the past 35 full seasons.