Four Culver City High School Spring athletic teams are hoping to write their names in the CIF history books starting this week when the baseball, softball, boys’ tennis and boys track teams try to capture that ever-elusive CIF Championship. The action started last Wednesday when the boy’s tennis team played Fullerton in the Division 5 CIF semifinals at Culver City High School.
The athletic action continues on Thursday, May 15, when the softball team takes on Citrus Hill at Culver City at 3:15 p.m. in a game between two CIF Division 7 teams. The Lady Centaurs went into the game with an overall record of 9-14 and they were 9-3 in league play.
The baseball team was 19-8 overall and 14-2 in league play and they will travel to the city of Torrance to battle South Torrance on Friday, May 16, at 3:15 p.m. in a CIF Division 4 game.
“We will buckle down and play it one game at a time,” said Culver City head baseball coach Devaughn Wallace last Tuesday. “I like being in Division 4. We have a good chance to be a powerhouse in that division. This is our second year in a row that we are in that division and if we can make a run like we did last year people will start knowing and asking about who is Culver City.”
According to Wallace the game looks like it will be a pitcher’s duel. “They have a guy that throws really well, and we have our ace, Niko (Webber Smith).
On the road or at home Wallace said his team is ready for the challenge. “It does not matter where we play. We play well anywhere. As long as the bases are 90 feet and the pitchers’ mound is 60 feet we will be ready to go. We just have to play solid defense and stick with our approach at the plate and hit the ball the way we have the last few weeks, we are a tough team to beat.”
The boys’ track team qualified six student athletes in several events, and the girls team qualified four Lady Centaurs for the CIF Division 2 Finals that will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Moorpark High School beginning at 11 a.m. Duaine Mayrant will compete in the 200 meters, 400 meters, the 4×100 meter relay and the 4×400 meter relay. His twin brother will, Dontay Mayrant will run in the 400 meters, 4×100 meter relay and 4×400 meter relay.
Hurdle specialist Kingston Waring will compete in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles and he will also run on the 4×400 meter relay team. The relays team will consist of Zytel Boyd, Duaine Mayrant, Dontay Mayrant and Dominic Bastiste in the 4×100 meter relay and Dontay Mayrant, Waring, Jonah Givens and Duaine Mayrant in the 4×400 meter relay. Running the 4×400 meter relay for the Lady Centaurs are Paris Jackson, May Lynn Gloss, Ryan Carter and Sydney Daniels
Culver City co-head track and field coach Jahmal Wright is hoping the Centaurs can run away with a CIF Championship and break some records along the way. “I am really proud of the performances of our student athletes,” said Wright after practice last Tuesday. “I am extremely proud of the senior leadership of our three boy team captains, Kingston, Duaine and Dontay. They have led the way the whole season.
“Despite having some injuries this year, we can still win the CIF Division II title, and we are hoping to break the Division 2, 4×400 meter relay record. That was a goal that we set at the beginning of the season and it’s a joy to watch great driven athletes stepping up to the challenge.”