Western State Conference
Through April 3

Baseball
WSC North
Standings DIV OVR
School W-L GB W-L
Cuesta 9-3 -- 19-7
Moorpark 7-5 2.0 12-15
Oxnard 6-7 3.5 12-15
Ventura 5-6 3.5 14-11
Santa Barbara 5-7 4.0 12-15
Hancock 4-7 4.5 8-17

Softball
WSC Gold
Standings DIV OVR
School W-L GB W-L
Ventura 10-1 -- 25-5
Santa Barbara 7-3 2.5 17-13
Oxnard 5-5 4.5 10-13
Moorpark 4-4 4.5 10-18-1
Hancock 5-6 5.0 13-17
Cuesta 3-8 7.0 7-23
L.A. Pierce 1-7 7.5 5-20

Men's tennis
Standings DIV OVR
School W-L GB W-L
Ventura 8-0 -- 15-4
L.A. Pierce 5-3 3.0 13-6
Santa Barbara 4-3 3.5 5-3
Glendale 2-5 5.5 5-10
Bakersfield 0-8 8.0 0-8

Women's tennis
Standings DIV OVR
School W-L GB W-L
Ventura 8-0 -- 15-0
Santa Barbara 5-2 2.5 11-2
Glendale 4-3 3.5 5-6
Bakersfield 2-6 6.0 2-6
Santa Monica 0-8 8.0 0-9

Men's golf
Standings
School W-L Total Ave
Canyons 28-2 1897 379.4
Glendale 19-11 1938 387.6
Ventura 18-12 1962 392.4
Santa Barbara 18-12 1963 392.6
Hancock 12-18 1993 398.6
Citrus 7-23 2003 400.6
Bakersfield 3-27 2037 407.4

Men's volleyball
Standings DIV OVR
School W-L GB W-L
Long Beach 6-1 -- 13-1
El Camino 6-1 -- 10-3
Santa Barbara 4-4 2.5 9-6
Moorpark 3-4 3.0 8-6
L.A. Pierce 3-4 3.0 8-6
Santa Monica 0-8 6.5 3-12

It has been a rollercoaster of a season on the links for the Ventura College men's golf team.

The Pirates won the Glendale Invitational March 16 and finished second in the Southern California Invitational March 14. But they've also slumped to fifth- and sixth-place finishes in WSC play at Citrus March 28 and Santa Barbara City Feb. 21, respectively.

The top three of Andy Bennett, Brett Silvernail and Kevin Dann, who have combined to average a 76 in WSC play, have been strong.

But the Pirates have struggled for consistency at the bottom half of the lineup.

"It hasn't materialized," said Ventura coach Bob E. Smith. "I don't know what it is. They start second guessing themselves, they get a little negative and that puts more pressure on their entire golf game."

Coming off a third-place finish Monday at Elkins Ranch, Ventura (18-18), which sits in fourth place, remains hopeful of a postseason berth.

"That's progress," said Smith of Monday's performance, which included a 1-under 70 from medalist Andrew Garcia and a 78 from Vince Rodriguez. "I think they're going to peak at the right time."

Paul Misko left the Oak Valley Golf Club Monday feeling like he was one decision from winning the state championship.

The Ventura College sophomore shot a 3-under 141 over 36 holes to finished tied for third at the California Community College men's golf championships in Beaumont.

"I hit the ball really well," said Misko, who was tied for the lead after 18 and 35 holes and finished one shot behind champion Connor Covington. "I hit everything stiff. I made a lot of putts that were crucial."

"That's the only thing that makes me sad. I haven't hit the ball this good when I've won tournaments."

Having lost the card off for third place, Misko, who officially finished fourth, is VC's second straight All-State selection. Alton Anderson tied for the medal last year, before losing a card off for the title. The Top 6 finishers make up the All-State team.

The Royal High product was 4-under and tied for the tournament lead stepping into the 36th and final tee box. Setting up for his second shot, 237 yards from the pin, Misko reached for his 3 wood, rather than the hybrid that had served him so well all day.

"I knew I had adrenline," said Misko. "I knew I had to hit a shot."

The shot flew over the green, carrying nearly 260 yards, leaving him to chip back onto the green and two-putt for just his fifth bogey of the day.

"I could have hit a hybrid, made birdie and won the tournament," said Misko. "But I'm not really disappointed. It's a lesson learned."

Misko didn't bogey a hole until the par-4 15th in the morning. He finished the first round with a 2-under 70.

Misko credited Ventura coach Bob E. Smith for his good day.

"He talked me through every single shot, every single yardage," said Misko. "It took a lot of pressure off me. It was a tremedous."

One round from qualifying for the California Community College championships, the Ventura College men's golf team suffered through a season-spoiling afternoon in the 36-hole Southern California regionals at SGCA Golf Course in Murrieta.

Sophomore Paul Misko shot a 71 and 71 for a 2-under 142 to tie for the medal, but lost a cardoff to Riverside's Nick Paez for the regional championship.

"Everything inside 100 yards, I wasn't playing my best," said Misko. "That kind of killed me... But I was making a lot of pairs, not doing anything stupid, hitting the ball straight."

The Royal High product advances to the state tournament next week in Beaumont individually, but the moment was spoiled by the Pirates missing their team goal by six strokes.

With three 79s and an 80 in the second round, Ventura finished with a 41-over 761, six strokes behind fourth-place Cypress. The top four teams advanced to next week's championships.

"I've never been an individual player," said Misko. "It's just the fact that our team's not going ruins it."

Santa Barbara, which finished third in the Western State Conference behind Canyons and Ventura, won the regional title with a 744, followed by Orange Coast (749), Riverside (753) and Cypress (755).

After a strong morning, Ventura sat tied for third at 373, three shots behind leaders Santa Barbara. Jonathan Lum shot a 72, Chad Gillespie shot a 74 and Ryan Turner and Dan Dress both shot 78.

But everything evaporated in the afternoon.

"The wind started blowing and the scores started going sky high," said Ventura coach Bob E. Smith. "Everyone thought they had to shoot 72, but it turns out we just had to shoot 77. That means everyone just needed a shot here or there."

Misko, who said the wind blew between 25 and 40 miles per hour "non-stop," started the second round with a par and two bogeys before getting going with an eagle on the fourth hole.

"Paul played his heart out," said Smith. "Other than that, I don't know what to say."

Misko singled out freshman Andy Bennett, who finished the front half of the first round 3-under par.

"We had a good season," said Misko. "Not what we wanted to do, but that's how it goes. That's golf for you."

The Ventura College men's golf team is in Murrietta today for the 36-hole Southern California regional tournament.

The Pirates are tied for third after the morning round. The top four teams advance to next week's state tournament.

Team standings: Santa Barbara City 370, Orange Coast 372, Ventura 373, Cypress 373, Riverside 374, College of the Canyons 375, College of the Desert 379.

Ventura, first round: Paul Misko 71, Jonathan Lum 72, Chad Gillespie 74, Ryan Turner 78 Dan Dress 78.

Sophomore Paul Misko shot a 3-under 69 to earn medalist honors the Western State Conference men's golf tournament Monday at Santa Maria Country Club, hosted by Hancock College.

Chad Gillespie added a 75 as Ventura (28-8) finished second to WSC-leading College of the Canyons, 376-367.

Ventura will host the WSC Championships April 26 at Spanish Hills C.C.

Alton Anderson shot a 4-under 140 Monday to lead the Ventura College men's golf team to third place in the California Community College championships at Sierra View Country Club in Roseville.

Participating in the state meet as a team for the first time in 20 years, Ventura finished with its highest finish in school history.

"It's the best team in Ventura College history," said assistant coach Chad Ishikawa.

The Thousand Oaks High graduate finished in a four-way tie for the tournament title, sharing the spoils with Tom Richardson of Fresno, Kendall Jenkins of Riverside and Scott Sexton of Cypress. He finished fourth in the tiebreaking card-off.

Zack Kanney and Russell Boring both followed with 1-under 143s to give Ventura three finishers under par.

Ryan Turner and Rob Tovias both scored 153s.

Anderson continued a fantastic postseason. He shot an even-par 144 at the 36-hole Southern Southern regional tournament at Marshallia Ranch G.C. in Vandenberg Air Force Base last week.

Anderson's first-round 68 was tied for the low number in the morning. The Pirates were tied for sixth, at 372, after the first round.

Ventura rebounded with a 357 in the second round.

The top three places in Monday's WSC golf match at Debell Golf Course in Glendale were separated by a single stroke, as Canyons (369) edged Ventura (370) and Santa Barbara City (371).

Ventura's Zack Kanny earned the match medal with a 69, which moved him into fourth in the WSC's individual standings at 72.75 per round.

Ventura (25-10) sits five matches behind co-leaders Canyons and Santa Barbara (30-5) entering Monday's home match at Saticoy Country Club.

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