It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Union Oil Company Building (California Historical Landmark #996) gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Santa Paula, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I have partnered with Tom in Thousand Oaks for a couple years now, I can”
“Caring and sensitive. David is so focused on helping families. He is such an asset”
“Always Best Care has been helping my 94 year old Mother very much! The Caregivers”
“Been with the company for approximately like 6 months ,love it , great supervisors n”
“I’ve worked with a few agencies and my experience with Always Best Care has been”
“I've worked with ABC for over a year now. I've worked for other organizations”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa was a great friend to my father and”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa is the best. Upbeat, knows what she’s”
“After researching several Home Health Care companies in my area, I choose Always Best Care”
“First let me say that this review was not solicited by any one at Always”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does”
“I am a current client of this provider We are with Always Best Care. We have”
“Tom and his team of caregivers do a great job. I highly recommend Always”
“I’m a registered nurse and having Erin help me with this process was seamless. She”
“I've been with the company a lil over 3months maybe longer and love the respect”
“This is the finest company in home care, I would highly recommend it for your”
“Stellar service and care! Highly recommend!”
“This is truly a team you can trust to take care of your loved one.”
“I have partnered with Tom in Thousand Oaks for a couple years now, I can attest that he strives to provide the best quality care for his clients and a positive work environment for his employees. Great agency! Highly recommend!”
“Caring and sensitive. David is so focused on helping families. He is such an asset to our hospital. Families don't know where to start and David gets the ball rolling and smooths the way. What a blessing to these families.”
“Always Best Care has been helping my 94 year old Mother very much! The Caregivers are wonderful and helpful and willing to go the extra mile. I am so happy to have their team a part of our lives! Thank you!”
“Been with the company for approximately like 6 months ,love it , great supervisors n boss , overall great company for work for , great communication from supervisors ,n always a pleasure to work with wonderful clients”
“I’ve worked with a few agencies and my experience with Always Best Care has been phenomenal. The professionalism.and respect they show to us caregivers makes me feel appreciated as well as giving me opportunity to learn and grow in my services I provide to my clients with the workshops they provide every month.”
“I've worked with ABC for over a year now. I've worked for other organizations that provide senior care services but the Always Best Care Thousand Oaks location has been a wonderful place to work. The working relationship between staff, client and ownership/management is that it's important for us all to be happy. I've been placed with so many wonderful people that I can say are not only my clients but also my friends. They really try to provide the right client with the right caregiver and with me it has been a wonderful experience and a great place to work.”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa was a great friend to my father and treated him like family. It was reassuring to us to know he was looked after by a loving and caring person. She was always available to us and she was able to adjust her schedule to his needs. Nisa allowed my father to stay in his home longer and provided him new freedom he had not had previously.”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa is the best. Upbeat, knows what she’s doing, was great with my mom. We all felt very comfortable when she was caring for mom.”
“After researching several Home Health Care companies in my area, I choose Always Best Care and was extremely pleased with the decision I made. Always Best Care checked every box on my list and was the absolute best choice for my post-surgery needs. Start to finish, the entire organization was professional, responsive, and provided the services I was in need of. Caregivers were exceptional in responding to my needs in addition to providing warm companionship that aided in a worry free recovery. Always Best Care delivered as promised and I highly recommend them for Home Health Care needs. MMD”
“First let me say that this review was not solicited by any one at Always Best Care Senior Services. The services provided by Always Best are both personal and professional. All of my calls were always answered by Tom ( the owner). Never was I left to wonder if I was going to get assistance for my mother and her significant other. From the top down I found everyone to be patient, kind, attentive, accessible, problem solvers, with an “I can get it done” attitude. The services provided by Always Best, required end of life care. The care givers worked seamlessly with Hospice. Every step of the way I could see both my mother and the patient were lovingly cared for. I look forward to using this agency as needed for my mother. Thank you, Tom and all of your care angels!”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does not currently have a Gmail account. Always Best Care has been a true blessing with providing a wonderful caregiver who is kind, patient and supportive with my 95 year old mother's needs which include a downward cognitive slide. My mom enjoys the support and care too. I've heard horror stories about such services, but have been beyond pleased with Tom and his caregiving agency. Lori Robinson- Ventura County”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does not currently have a Gmail account. Always Best Care has been a true blessing with providing a wonderful caregiver who is kind, patient and supportive with my 95 year old mother's needs which include a downward cognitive slide. My mom enjoys the support and care too. I've heard horror stories about such services, but have been beyond pleased with Tom and his caregiving agency. Lori Robinson- Ventura County”
“I am a current client of this provider We are with Always Best Care. We have been with them for two weeks now. They were great, and we have had a good experience so far. The caregiver is great. She has been like a lifeline for us; she has been nice. The scheduling has been fine, and everything has been working great.”
“Tom and his team of caregivers do a great job. I highly recommend Always Best Care of Thousand Oaks.”
“I’m a registered nurse and having Erin help me with this process was seamless. She is comforting, empathetic, and very knowledgeable. Thanks again Erin! Natalie Schauwecker, RN”
“I've been with the company a lil over 3months maybe longer and love the respect they give us caregivers and employees. We are a team as they say welcome to the team and it truly is a team more like a family here. They take our schedules and work with us and don't pay us low as all other places. You get what you pay for. I've worked for Disneyland Resorts and this is much like the atmosphere there very friendly and non judgemental and truly caring understanding team. Tom the owner is one of us he doesn't put himself above us neither does Erin. They are both friendly. Moving up in the company is possible as i have already and my kids are much happier because mommy actually loves her job. No one is paying me to write this i don't do reviews typically because the time it takes but i believe in our team amd if you want great care and affordable care please try us for a week and I personally guarantee you, you'll be the next to write a review.”
“This is the finest company in home care, I would highly recommend it for your family!”
“Stellar service and care! Highly recommend!”
“This is truly a team you can trust to take care of your loved one. It is obvious, Tom and his team have a passion for the work they do. They are so patient and kind and treated us and our loved one like one of their own members of the family. We are forever grateful.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Las Piedras Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Best Bar-BQ or visit Teague Mansion, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Santa Paula, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Santa Paula, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Santa Paula, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Paraeducator at Adams Elementary Arrested for Allegedly Arranging to Meet 15-year-old BoyUpdate by the edhat staff March 18, 2025A Santa Barbara teacher was arrested for arranging to meet with a minor for the purpose of lewd acts on Monday.The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office stated that at approximately 3:35 p.m., deputies responded to the 6800-block of Hollister Ave in Goleta to meet with a “reporting party who had been pos...
Update by the edhat staff March 18, 2025
A Santa Barbara teacher was arrested for arranging to meet with a minor for the purpose of lewd acts on Monday.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office stated that at approximately 3:35 p.m., deputies responded to the 6800-block of Hollister Ave in Goleta to meet with a “reporting party who had been posing as a juvenile online and arranged to meet with the suspect with the plan of engaging in lewd acts.”
The suspect, 34-year-old Adam Escarcega, was detained on the scene without incident and booked at the Main Jail for soliciting a minor for lewd acts, a felony.
The reporting party has been identified as an online vigilante group that calls themselves “CC Unit” or “Creep Catching Unit.” This group, founded by a person who goes by “Ghost,” operates online in Southern California posing as minors in an attempt to identify child predators.
CC Unit reached out to edhat with photos and information of their latest sting against Escarcega.
“We are an organization that decoys, confronts, and exposes online child predators since 2018. Our most recent exposure took place in Goleta on Monday,” a CC Unit representative stated.
According to CC Unit, Escarcega scheduled to meet up with a 15-year-old boy, a CC Unit decoy, for sexual purposes. CC Unit representatives turned over their chats and a video confession from Escarcega to the Sheriff’s Office who then made the arrest.
In a conversation with edhat, CC Unit stated that Escarcega detailed sexually explicit desires and actions he wanted to take with the decoy, knowing that he was underage.
CC Unit also stated that Escarcega admitted on video that he worked as a teacher at Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara.
Edhat reached out to the Santa Barbara Unified School District who confirmed Escarcega is a paraeducator at Adams Elementary and the District is aware of a video circulating on social media regarding alleged improper behavior.
“We are still learning all the facts regarding this delicate situation and assure parents, students and staff that we are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate these serious allegations. This staff member will be on administrative leave while the investigations are completed by both the District and law enforcement,” said Sandra Trujillo, Executive Assistant to Superintendent Maldonado, in an email to edhat. “Santa Barbara Unified School District does not have additional details to provide at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement.”
Edhat has also confirmed that Escarcega was hired as a teacher by Storyteller Children’s Center in 2022. Storyteller offers early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, as well as support services for families at three locations throughout Santa Barbara. It is unclear how long Escarcega was employed at this center. Storyteller has not responded to our request for comment at the time of this publication.
Additionally, Escarcega reportedly worked as an Assistant Stage Manager at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in 2022. It’s unclear if he is still affiliated with the college. SBCC has not responded to our request for comment at the time of this publication.
CC Unit states they have exposed 460 child predators that have led to hundreds of arrests and convictions. They set up online decoy profiles posing as minors on all social media platforms, dating and meetup apps, then wait for the potential predators to make first contact.
“After the conversation starts we let them know the [decoy’s] age, usually posing as minors from 13-15 years old and sometimes as young as 9 years old. The predators often talk very graphically, send graphic photos and videos, then try to meet,” said CC Unit.
The team gathers the evidence, prints out the chat logs, and confronts the suspects with their evidence at the arranged meeting time and location where the decoy is supposed to arrive.
“We record all of our interactions using GoPro‘s. Most of the time we can get a full confession out of them. Once we have enough we’ll notify law enforcement and they’ll show up and make the arrest based on the evidence. We normally operate in Southern California, but we do go to Northern California and many other states to catch these guys,” said CC Unit.
Video and live streams of their confrontations can be found on YouTube where they have over 30,000 subscribers.
The Sheriff’s Office states their investigation of Escarcega remains ongoing and they will share information as it becomes available.
Escarcega is in custody as of Tuesday afternoon with bail set at $75,000.
—— Original Press Release ——-
Written by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office March 17, 2025
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Santa Barbara man for arranging to meet with a minor for the purpose of lewd acts.
At approximately 3:35 p.m., deputies responded to the 6800-block of Hollister to meet with a reporting party who had been posing as a juvenile online and arranged to meet with the suspect with the plan of engaging in lewd acts.
The suspect, 34-year-old Adam Escarcega, was detained on the scene without incident and booked at the Main Jail for soliciting a minor for lewd acts (felony) and he is being held on $75,000 bail.
This investigation remains ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office will share information as it becomes available.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (9-7) looks forward to hosting their own tournament this weekend at Campus Diamond, playing six games across four days.KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Parking Impacts to Lot 30 — Due to ongoing construction, parking in Lot 30 next to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium and the usual main parking lot for Campus Diamond will be extremely limited. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 22, the garage next to the Thunderdome. UC Santa Barbara Athletics will provid...
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (9-7) looks forward to hosting their own tournament this weekend at Campus Diamond, playing six games across four days.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Parking Impacts to Lot 30 — Due to ongoing construction, parking in Lot 30 next to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium and the usual main parking lot for Campus Diamond will be extremely limited. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 22, the garage next to the Thunderdome. UC Santa Barbara Athletics will provide assistance getting to and from the ballpark for seniors and people with mobility issues.
Introducing the Yardi Youth Pass — In partnership with Yardi Systems, UC Santa Barbara is offering free admission to all home baseball games for young Gauchos in 6th grade or below. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning 60 minutes prior to each game from the Yardi Youth Pass table outside the front gate of Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Availability may be limited due to the stadium's capacity.
LAST TIME OUT The Gauchos played plenty of tough opponents at last weekend's Mary Nutter Classic, especially on Saturday against No. 25 San Diego State and (RV) Washington. Overall, Santa Barbara went 1-4 on the weekend with a 3-2 win over Oregon State.
THE SCHEDULE UC Santa Barbara begins the aptly named UC Santa Barbara Tournament with a doubleheader against Saint Mary's on Thursday, game one beginning at 12 noon. On Friday and Saturday, the Gauchos play one game each day—Creighton and then UNLV—both at 2:15 p.m. They will play both teams again on Sunday, first against Creighton at 10 a.m. before UNLV at 12:45 p.m.
SCOUTING THE GAELS Saint Mary's (6-7) is coming off quite a successful weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic. They beat three Big West foes—Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, and Hawai'i—and (RV) Northwestern. After No. 25 San Diego State beat the Gauchos on Saturday, the Gaels played the Aztecs the following day, losing a close 6-5 game.
The Gaels offense does not have a lot of thump, hitting just three homers as a team, but five of their eight qualified hitters have a batting average over .300. Of those five, four of them have an on-base percentage of .394 better. Sophomore Camille Lara leads the team hitting .341.
In the circle, Saint Mary's has a handful of solid pitching options. Four pitchers have pitched 12 or more innings with an ERA of 3.06 or lower. Odhi Vasquez is their most-used pitcher, logging 28 innings to the tune of a 1.75 ERA and a 3-1 record.
SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS Creighton (7-3) did not play last weekend after their games at the San Marcos Classic in Texas were canceled due to inclement weather. They will not have that problem at this weekend's tournament in Santa Barbara. Naturally, this will be their first action against West Coast opponents.
Catcher Lily West leads the Bluejays in batting average and on-base percentage, slashing .441/.500/.500. Two Creighton hitters—Erika Perez and Sydney Potter—have massive .679 and .656 slugging percentages, respectively, both with two homers. The pair also lead the team in doubles and RBIs.
Pitching-wise, Brooklyn Patchen (five) and Brooke Shifflett (three) have started the majority of Creighton's games, combining for a 2.31 ERA. Once a team gets past them, Abby Rusher boasts a 2.28 ERA in seven relief appearances.
SCOUTING THE REBELS UNLV (9-5) went 2-3 at last weekend's Garnet & Black Invitational, splitting against Boston University and Fordham before losing to host No. 21 South Carolina.
The Rebels have three hitters hitting .400 or better, but senior Ariana Martinez is the unequivocal leader. Her .488/.558/.884 slashline equals a blistering 1.442 OPS. Martinez's four homers, 20 RBIs, nine runs, five doubles, and seven walks are all at least tied for the most on the team.
UNLV has used only three pitchers, all logging considerable work at 19 innings or more. The trio has been incredible with a minuscule 1.60 ERA, each with two complete games apiece. Yanina Sherwood has been their primary pitcher so far with 37.1 innings over five starts and eight appearances.
FOLLOW ALONG All six of the Gauchos' games on the weekend will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available as always at ucsbgauchos.com/SoftballLiveStats.
805-563-6440
