SYHS boys volleyball team off to a strong start in Mountain League play
The Santa Ynez Pirates baseball team has spent the first 11 games of the season trying to figure things out, and second-year head coach Craig Gladstone hopes a little winning streak right before spring break is a good omen for the stretch run of Ocean League play.
“We’ve had our struggles, but I think we’re starting to mesh and winning these last two games has put us in a good mindset for when we pick up play in a couple weeks,” said Gladstone after his team’s 6-3 non-league win over Santa Clara on Friday, March 28.
With the win over the Saints from Oxnard, SYHS improved to 5-6 overall. A day earlier, March 27, the team earned its first Ocean League win, beating Orcutt Academy 10-2.
In the Santa Clara game, the Pirates opened up a 6-0 lead over the first three innings and freshman pitcher Elijah Roberts made it stand up, tossing five scoreless while allowing just one hit and striking out seven.
“We had an extra game this week, so it was a chance to give Elijah a start and he did great,” Gladstone said about Roberts, who also contributed on the offensive side with two stolen bases and a run scored. “It’s my second year and I think we have a good nucleus of freshman and sophomores to build up this program, and Elijah’s a big part of that.”
Meanwhile, the coach can also rely on some senior leadership, especially with catcher Jaxon Glover, who belted his first home run of the year in Friday’s game, and is batting .400 with 10 RBI on the season.
Another couple of seniors stood out for the Pirates in the win over Orcutt Academy as starting pitcher Kurran Kays pitched 5 innings of 5-hit ball for the win, and Tate Minus who’s actually a stalwart on the mound (1-3 record but with a strong 2.28 ERA), had two hits and two RBI.
After taking a week off due to the school’s spring break, the Pirates will return to Ocean League action on Tuesday, April 8 at home against Santa Maria, and then play the Saints again on Thursday, April 10, at the SMHS field. Each of the last five weeks of the regular season will consist of a home-and-home pair against the same opponent.
Boys volleyball takes first two Mountain League matches
The Santa Ynez boys volleyball team has gotten off to a strong start as its five-set win over San Luis Obispo on Thursday, March 27, gave the Pirates a 2-0 record in the Mountain League and 6-2 record overall
The Pirates defeated the Tigers, last year’s CIF Central Section Division 2 runner-up by the scores of 25-27, 27-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-7. Ben Stuerman had 18 kills with 5 blocks, Nate Biron 16 kills with 5 aces ), and Anders Dietenhofer 14 kills. Senior setter Manny Sanchez had 61 assists on the night along with 7 digs, and defensively Will Losson and Nate Biron each had 17 digs.
“We passed well tonight with Will and especially Nate just keeping things really steady,” said SYHS head coach Chip Fenenga. “Both Anders and Ben really rallied after a close first set loss and played so maturely the rest of the way.”
Girls beach volleyball stays undefeated in league
SYHS’s beach volleyball squad picked up wins over Paso Robles (3-0 on March 25) and Morro Bay (2-1 on March 27).
In the sweep over Paso Robles, Scarlett Ollenburger/Jordan Gann (SY) defeated Kai Stoltzfus/Pricilla Utter (Paso) 21-5, 21-11; Arelie Perez/Natalie Bailey (SY) defeated Macoy Sill/Kate Harrington (Paso) 21-8, 21-16; and Helina Pecile/Kailyn Snekvik (SY) defeated Khylan McKee/Presley Hienbach 13-21, 21-9, 16-14.
“The girls played some solid volleyball today!” SYHS head coach Melissa Rogers said. “They did a really nice job of staying in system and executing aggressively. Our offensive game is pretty physical at all three levels, but in order toutilize that physicality, we have to pass and set well. Today we were firing on all cylinders. In addition, Scarlett Ollenburger’s jump spin serve was on fire. She literally took over the game at the 1’s position with her serve.”
SYHS golfer Armenta co-medals at dual vs. Arroyo Grande
The Santa Ynez boys golf team played a non-league 18-hole match March 26 against Arroyo Grande at the par-72 Alisal River Course. Arroyo Grande won the match 388-422, but Cody Armenta of Santa Ynez was co-medalist with Shane Moncrief of Arroyo Grande, both shooting 74s.
Other Pirates on the links that day included Brayden Mlodzik, 79; Seb Perez, 83; Ernesto Suarez, 92; Max Andrade 94; and Elijah Navarro, 94.
Santa Ynez also began Mountain League play, finishing fifth out of six teams in each of the first two league tournaments.
In the second league event on March 24, at the par-72 Santa Maria Country Club, the Pirates had a team score of 443, led by Brayden Mlodzik with an 80. The low score of the day was from Nate Tartar of Arroyo Grande with a 67.
Other Pirates golfers were Cody Armenta, 86; Seb Perez, 90; Ernesto Suarez, 92; and Max Andrade, 95.
The Mountain League “tour” will stop off at Alisal Ranch, the Pirates’ home course, next Monday, April 7.
