Sports Shorts

The news that Lance Armstrong has come out of retirement has made it all the way through the press and back again, but there’s one small city that has yet to sing his praises. Solvang is very happy that Armstrong is back and will be racing in the Amgen Tour of California. “We are thrilled […]

This year, the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is adding something new to the competition—besides the funky name. For the first time, the event will include an open qualifier for local professional and semi-professional riders. Racers from around the state can enter and race on the same […]

About 240 cyclists began making their way through California on Sept. 20. Their ride, which will last until Sept. 27, includes local stops in Solvang and Santa Barbara. Don’t get these cyclists confused with the pros, though. The riders in the Amgen California Coast Classic Bike Tour are biking to raise money for the Arthritis […]

The Dunes Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are co-hosting a one-mile round trip hike into the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. Hikers will be taken into the refuge and up to a high vantage point to watch the sunset. They’ll return to the parking lot […]

It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but according to Allan Hancock College, there just wasn’t enough time for recruitment. The women’s soccer season has been canceled due to lack of participation. The announcement was made on Sept. 12, just a month after Rod Garcia was officially named head coach of the women’s team. Garcia […]

Instead of watching the NFL on TV, kids can get a chance to emulate their favorite players at the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick Skills Competition put on by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. The free event will be held on Sept. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hagerman Sports Complex, […]

Every Sunday through December, the pools at Paul Nelson Aquatic Center will be full of water polo players. To join them, just show up to one of their open swims. The players in the masters (18 years and older) division are in the pool from noon to 1 p.m., and kids of all ages swim […]

The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk is coming back to Santa Maria. The last time the walk came to town (in 2003), the event raised more than $100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Central Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has offices in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties, including in Santa Maria. This […]

The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department wants to invite boys and girls ages 6 to 12 to the second annual “Take Me Fishing” event, happening Sept. 21 at Jim May Park. The event is co-hosted by the Santa Maria Valley Sportsmen’s Association and Central Coast Salmon Enhancement. Kids can learn the basics […]

They may deal with pests every day, but in their off hours, the Pest Control Operators of California are hosting their fourth annual golf tournament at Monarch Dunes in Nipomo. The tournament takes place Sept. 20 and is open to the public. The cost is $100 and must be prepaid by Sept. 12. The entry […]

Veteran basketball coach Ernie Wheeler will join the team as assistant coach to Ralph Gorton during Allan Hancock College’s upcoming men’s basketball season. Wheeler was the head coach at Cal Poly for 14 seasons, from 1972 to 1986, and has more than 45 years of experience coaching basketball. At Cal Poly, he holds the record […]

Check out some hot cars and support a good cause. That’s the idea behind the Seventh Annual Lompoc Police Department Car Show to benefit the Special Olympics. There are two parts to the event: the cruise night on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. and the actual car show, held Aug. 30 at Ryon […]