Ed Torres and the St. Joseph High boys/ basketball team have made a long journey in clinching this year/s CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA title, but the Knights/ travels aren/t quite finished yet.

The Knights begin their trek to a possible CIF state title tonight at Hancock College, opening the Division IV state playoffs against Caruthers. In the meantime, however, Torres and the Knights are happy with the way things have gone so far.

"It/s been a very interesting last few weeks," Torres said at Monday/s meeting of the Northern Santa Barbara County Roundtable at Giavanni/s Pizza in Orcutt.

That included last Thursday/s 73-60 victory over St. Bernard/s of Playa del Rey at Loyola Marymount, one of the toughest tests in the Knights/ current 17-game win streak.

"It was a great CIF championship game," Torres said. "We ended up winning by 13, but it was a lot closer than the score indicated."

St. Joseph/s next test will be against Caruthers, the West Sierra league co-champs (24-6) and the runner-up in the CIF Central Section Division IV playoffs, losing 80-51 to San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno last Thursday.

Tuesday/s game will be broadcast live on KUHL 1440 AM and KTME 1410 with Brad Memberto, beginning at 7:05 p.m.

Before that, however, Torres brought his entire squad to the meeting, led by seniors Joe Tilley and Stewart Kussler.

Meg Hoffman brought four players off the Knights/ tennis team with her to the first spring meeting, joined by Tim Schweigert, Graham Ortiz, Brandon Kiser and Bobby Merrell.

The Knights/ swim team was also represented, with coach Nicole Latham bringing Serena Montano and Peter Dentith.

Joining them was baseball coach Bob Fystro at the well-attended luncheon, totaling almost 60 participants.

SANTA MARIA

Baseball coach Scott Nickason felt that his team had their opportunities in last Friday/s season opener against Righetti, but couldn/t make their move in an eventual 12-6 loss to the Warriors.

"We had our chances: we had the bases loaded two or three times, and we couldn/t get that big hit," Nickason said. "Still, other than the one bad inning, I was encouraged by the performance."

Joining him were seniors Johnny Robles and Bobby Ferrel.

David Swain spoke of the Saints/ tennis program, while swim coach Adrian Salazar brought six athletes 7 Dena Lougee, Samantha Lougee, Antonio and Bianca McNeil, Jessica Pardo and Dean Garcia 7 with him.

RIGHETTI

Athletic director Eric Albright spoke about both his baseball team/s win over Santa Maria and their split of a non-league twinbill at Dos Pueblos.

"We/ve gotten off to a good start this year," Albright said of the 2-1 baseball team, represented by Jimmy Mittelberger and Blaine Wilson. "We kinda exploded against Santa Maria."

VALLEY CHRISTIAN

David Kiger, speaking on behalf of the baseball team and coach Stan Bickley, said the Lions were looking forward to the season, largely because of the returning class.

"We/ve got five returners coming back, which is a lot in a school of only 70 students," said Kiger, joined by teammate A.J. Stoddard. "Less than half of those are guys, so when you get five returners, it/s pretty cool."

HANCOCK

The Bulldog baseball team, represented by coach Chris Stevens, is in good shape after picking up back-to-back wins over Cuesta last week, highlighted by last Saturday/s 3-1 win in 10 innings.

"Saturday/s game was a fun game to watch," Stevens said. "It was one of those games where you/d just love to sit in the stands, in the great weather, and watch the game. It was a great game played by both teams."

Joining Stevens from the Bulldogs were pitchers Jeremiah Ventresca, Andrew Jones and Todd Nelson.

Tennis director David Dantzer was on hand with women/s coach Ginny Barnett, who is pulling double-duty with her job as Santa Maria girls/ coach, and men/s coach Christian Kelly, one of Dantzer/s former players. Joining them was women/s singles player Lori Valadez and men/s player Steve Howell.

SANTA YNEZ

Dave Kuehn/s baseball team attended the luncheon after a pitcher/s duel of a twinbill split against Carpinteria last Saturday, with each team winning by 1-0 scores.

Joining Kuehn were his three starting pitchers, Bret Jenkins, Anthony Martin and Jason Lambert; Lambert won the opener Saturday, going all nine innings for the win, while Martin struck out 11 and gave up five hits, but lost the nightcap despite going all eight innings.

Matt Rogers represented the Pirates/ swim program and spoke of the team/s eagerness to get going after its season opener against Righetti was scratched due to pool issues.

CABRILLO

The Conquistadores/ baseball team was on hand with coach Jonathan Osborne, joined by starters Brian Stieber, Isaac Simmons and Matt Hansen.

March 9, 2004