At the final Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Roundtable luncheon of the year at Giavanni's Pizza in Orcutt, it was a finals winner that took the Male athlete of the week award.

Coming into the Los Padres League tennis finals, Lompoc junior Alex Jensen was seeded third, behind league MVP Juan Ferrer of Santa Ynez and St. Joseph's Jake Eszes. Both players had defeated Jensen twice during the league schedule and Ferrer had beaten Jensen in last year's final.

Jensen stepped up and defeated Eszes in the semis and Ferrer in the finals to win his second LPL singles title. After winning as a freshman, Jensen fell to Ferrer last year, but got his revenge.

“I want to thank my teammates and especially my parents,” Jensen said while accepting his award. “If it wasn't for them I couldn't have done it.

Jensen and the Braves are coached by his mother Loretta Jensen.

Sophomore swimmer Erica Brannon won the LPL league championship in the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.

“She won every event she swam this season,” said St. Joseph coach Jennifer Best.

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For winning both races last week at the LPL Finals in CIF qualifying times, Brannon was named the female athlete of the week.

“I want to thank the St. Joseph coaching staff - they've been great this year,” Brannon said while accepting her award.

Cabrillo

Athletic director Bob Boyer led off the festivities introducing tennis doubles partners senior Andrew Shewell and junior Ryan Anderson, who made it to the semi-finals and were a tie-breaker away from the finals in the LPL tournament.

“They did a fine job for us all year long,” Boyer said.

Boyer talked about his swim squads, both who won team titles last week.

“Basically we had lots of kids in the finals,” Boyer explained. “Not a lot of firsts, but a lot of kids who scored points.”

He introduced Daniela Alvarado and Michelle Buss, who scored several points for the Conquistadores all year long.

Boyer then presented baseball coach Jonathan Osborne.

Osborne introduced four players from his team senior catcher Trevor Sullivan, senior pitcher Justin Boggs, junior infielder Zach Pecyna and sophomore pitcher Brian Engler, as well as longtime assistant Shane Gallimore.

He explained that going into the last week of the season, there are five teams that are within one game of first. The Conqs (7-4 LPL) play their last game this afternoon when they host Lompoc. The Braves (7-3) are a half game ahead of the Conqs, tie for first with Santa Ynez with two games to go.

Righetti

Athletic director Eric Albright introduced all four of the baseball team's seniors Chris Rivera, Richard Easton, Ricky Cabigon and Timmy Dwyer.

“Last week they swept Nipomo and put themselves in a spot for a playoff spot,” Albright said.

This week the Warriors finish league play with a three-game series against Atascadero.

“The winner of two out of the three will earn the last playoff spot in the PAC 7,” explained Albright.

Albright also introduced Righetti principal Steve Molina.

Santa Maria

“Today I brought some of our CIF swimmers,” said swim coach Jamie McGray.

Paty Vogel qualified in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, Martin Eged won both the 50 and 100 free in the LPL finals and Kevin Pasko, “helped qualify our relay team.”

Santa Ynez

Assistant baseball coach Dave Bisbee talked about two of his pitchers who have been pitching well as of late.

“These two guys have had an outstanding season,” Bisbee said, “especially in our last three games. We've had three complete games between the two of them.”

Juniors Sean Rowan and Todd Whitmore have helped the Pirates get into a tie for first with two games remaining.

Lompoc

In addition to Jensen, athletic director Jesse Davis brought two other athletes

Scott Aguailar, the catcher from the baseball team is batting .370, “and is a real team leader,” Davis said.

Senior Ryan Lynch, “just missed out on CIF, but was one of our team leaders.”

Lynch swam in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.

Pioneer Valley

Swim coach Bob Nelson brought, “my two studs,” Shyla Motley and Zac Toomay.

Motley, a junior, placed first in the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 200 freestyle by .03 of a second.

“I may be a biased coach,” Nelson joked, “but I think she touched the girl out.”

The freshman Toomay was second in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.

Both swimmers will compete in the CIF prelims on Friday.

Baseball coach Mike Glenn has always been a strong advocate of the roundtable.

“I would like to thank the roundtable for all the years that we've been together,” Glenn said before introducing sophomore Joe Perez, who plays outfield and pitches.

The Panthers finish the regular season with three games against Paso Robles.

St. Joseph

Assistant athletic director John Osborne covered a variety of sports.

He talked about the co-champions of the LPL tennis season and introduced doubles players Samuel Orozco and Kji Hamill, finalists in the LPL tournament and James Xing. They open CIF team play on Thursday at home against Downey.

Osborne presented junior outfielder Nick Garcia and sophomore infielder Michael Reyes from his baseball team. He was still a mite bitter that his son's team beat him last week.

He also introduced a future shortstop for St. Joseph High, his grandson Cole, who was present at his father's Cabrillo table.

Swim coach Jennifer Best brought senior Jeremiah Palmerston along with Brannon.

“He hasn't lost an individual event in league swimming for the past two seasons,” Best said. “And in his freshman year he only lost to his senior teammates.”

Palmerston was league champion in both the 200 IM and 100 butterfly last week.

“He is league champion in both his events this year and last,” Best said.

Valley Christian

“Going into our doubleheader Friday against Cuyama we had to win both to get into the playoffs,” said athletic director Pete Fortier. “We though we would get it done leading 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but they came back scored nine runs in that inning. We did tie it back, but they beat us in the bottom of the sixth.”

Fortier introduced two freshman that have come on strong in the last part of the year second baseman Bryson Scheetz and third baseman-outfielder James Kerley.

Fortier ended the last roundtable paying tribute to the weekly host Mike McKean of the Times staff.

“We thank roundtable a lot and we are thankful to them for hosting this,” Fortier said, “but there is one guy that doesn't get a lot of credit and we don't applaud enough for Mike. Mike has done a great job this year.”

May 6, 2008