In a Pickle About Where to Play? Plus More Sporty Happenings

It’s a bit of a schlep from Montecito to Fairview Ave. in Goleta, but given that it can often be hard to find an available pickleball court at Muni, or worse yet, have a game go belly up before it begins because of bad weather, The Picklr (yes, that’s the spelling) might be a valuable option, particularly given its upgraded amenities. The seven-court professional-grade indoor pickleball center is set to have its grand opening on May 2, but its Founder Memberships go on sale on March 18. Only 400 spots will be available, with the first 150 going for $179/month, rising to $197 for the remainder. Regular membership will cost $225 and likely begin with a waiting list. 

Memberships include unlimited playing time, court reservations, leagues and tournaments plus four free clinics and four guest passes per month, and access to all Picklr locations across the United States. The May 2 celebration is an open house with open play opportunities, facility tours, a food truck and giveaways before the regular schedule launches May 3. Your serve. 

Visit https://thepicklr.com/location/santa-barbara

Flora is Flourishing, Gauchos Going Strong

I hope I’m just imagining things, but it turns out I might be something of a jinx when it comes to baseball teams I root for. The curse dates back to the Red Sox almost invariably losing whenever I tuned in – which wasn’t exactly a rarity prior to their insane run of World Series titles beginning in 2004. (It’s my fault they lost in such anguish in 1986, but that’s a story I won’t rehash here.) 

The thing is, when I headed to Isla Vista to watch Tyler Bremner pitch for UCSB last year, he had one of his worst outings of the year. Things turned out OK, of course, as he was drafted second last June. Then last Friday I showed up just in time for the first pitch of the game from current Gaucho great Jackson Flora, who has been touted as high as No. 2 in this summer’s draft. Unfortunately, that first offering was lashed for a single, and by the time I settled into a seat, Flora had given up two earned runs with only one out, matching the total he’d allowed in the previous 18 innings over three games. 

Fortunately, for both me and UCSB, Flora turned things around, proving his mettle even without his best “stuff,” holding Long Beach State scoreless for another five innings. The junior now boasts a perfect 4-0 record, an outstanding 1.5 earned run average, a stellar WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of 1, and a solid 28 strikeouts over 24 innings pitched. Meaning the blip shouldn’t cause consternation among pro teams that might envision him on their roster.

It was great fun to sit maybe 20 feet away from the catcher and watch his blazing fastballs and knee-buckling curves along with the two dozen mostly way-too-serious scouts on hand sizing him up for the draft. But I don’t want to be anybody’s bad luck charm, so maybe I’ll come a little late next time. 

Meanwhile, the two former local high school standout hurlers are also standing out on the mound at Caesar Uyesaka Stadiumso far this season. Junior Chase Hoover is sporting an ERA of a stringy 1.8 as a high-leverage reliever, while starter Kellan Montgomery, the former Dos Pueblos High star who transferred back to town from Long Beach for his senior year, beat his former teammates on Sunday afternoon and now has a very reasonable 3.24 ERA and enviable 1.0 WHIP, matching Flora’s. 

After tearing off 11 straight victories by last weekend on a then 10-day homestand, the Gaucho’s record stands at 12-2, one of their best starts in many years. I was only at one of those games. Of course.

You Can See Ex-UCSB Stars in MLB

Former Gauchos currently playing in the majors include pitcher Shane Bieber, winner of the Cy Young in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season for Cleveland, who re-upped with Toronto for a way-below-market $16 million, exercising his option rather than testing free agency after coming back from Tommy John surgery (UCL reconstruction) and experiencing the World Series atmosphere for the first time. Dillon Tate, who until last summer was the highest ever draft choice for a UCSB product when he was taken at No. 4 in 2005, also pitched for Toronto the last two seasons – though quite sparingly, as the reliever only appeared in six games in 2025. He’s currently a free agent. 

Bremner, the Gaucho pitcher who eclipsed Tate’s record when he was nabbed as the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft by the Los Angeles Angels, is the Gaucho’s only prospect ranked among MLB’s Top 100. He’s a non-roster invitee to spring training, and while he won’t make the opening day team, odds are we’ll see him in the Big A by mid-summer. Meanwhile, Michael McGreevy, drafted in 2021 and debuting three years later, is part of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation. (Yes, they’re all pitchers. Gaucho coach Andrew Checketts, who notched his 500th victory at UCSB earlier this month, was a former pitching coach.) 

Opening Day of the 2026 Major League Baseball season – and maybe the only opening day for two years if the much-anticipated lock out results in lost games for 2027 – is less than two weeks away. Batter up! 

AVP Adds Extra Excitement to East Beach

After a decade devoid of an AVP professional beach volleyball tournament in town, the AVP Next version hunkered down at East Beach last October, finally bringing top-flight volleyball back to the hallowed sands where legends Karch Kiraly and Todd Rogers learned the game. Now comes word that East Beach is stepping up to the top level of competition as the last stop on the 2026 AVP season schedule. 

The Santa Barbara Open is slated for October 2-4 as part of the AVP’s new Contender series. That suite of contests features eight tour stops in such major cities as Denver and Austin. The only non-league events of the spring-fall season will sport the new category of Heritage events – encompassing legacy tourneys in Huntington Beach, Laguna, and Manhattan Beach, the latter effectively the Wimbledon of beach volleyball. Part of an expanded 2026 AVP season, the Santa Barbara Open boasts a prize purse of more than $30,000, a solid increase from the AVP Next events. 

Visit https://avp.com for details.

In other volleyball news, the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club will be among the beneficiaries of a dedicated youth sports facility and indoor gym to be built at 4550 Hollister Avenue, west of Santa Barbara on county property. SBVC, which has been around for more than 30 years, was revitalized last spring with new leadership and an exciting partnership with the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy (LAVA), marking a return to attracting the best and brightest coaches and athletes in the region. Construction on the new gym is expected to begin this year with a target of completion in 2027, when the facility will serve as a year-round space for training, skill development and league play for the junior and high school age players.  

Visit https://santabarbaravolleyballclub.com