Culver City High School’s team sports ended last week when the softball and baseball teams were eliminated from the playoffs: a few weeks before that the boys’ volleyball and lacrosse teams were also eliminated. Now the Centaurs have to start thinking about 2015.
“We had a good season considering all the injuries we had,” softball coach John Sargent said. “Our top pitcher was hurt most of the season and we had other untimely injuries that really set us back. Regardless, I am really proud of this team.”
The lady Centaurs finished the season 14-11 overall and 6-4 in the Ocean League. They won their first playoff game 11-0 against Gabrielino but lost their second playoff game 11-0 to Dos Pueblos. The Centaurs had no problems scoring runs and leading the way was senior catcher Lisa Kamba. She hit eight home runs and she had a batting average of .570.
The baseball team lost its first playoff game 9-2 against Quartz Hill. The boys were the opposite of the girls’ team: their pitching was outstanding but they had trouble getting timely hits and scoring runs. The team finished the season 17-11 overall and 7-3 in the Ocean League behind Santa Monica. The good news for Culver City is one of their best players this season is returning for his senior year. Jay Sterner’s pitching and hitting should catch the eye of college recruiters next year. The Centaurs are coached by Rick Prieto.
The boys’ volleyball team won its first league title in 15 years under the direction of fourth year coach Joe Manzo. The Centaurs were led by Wesley Dixon, Ryan Allision and Ryan Armstrong. They finished the season 19-14 overall and 8-0 in Ocean League play. However, they lost to Paloma Valley in the playoffs three games to one.
The boys lacrosse team won their first ever league championship. Junior Elliot Stanger was named Ocean League Player of the Year and Casey Chabola was named Ocean League coach of the Year.
In college sports UCLA was knocked out of the NCAA Super Regionals by Kentucky last weekend. The Bruins won their first game of the best out of three series 6-4 on Saturday. Kentucky came back to win both games on Sunday 7-3 and 7-1. The Bruins finished the season with a record of 52-8.
The pro sports, the second place Dodgers continue their home stand this week with a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend and a three game series against the Chicago White Sox starting Monday.
The Kings look like they are ready to win another Stanley Cup after dominating the Chicago Blackhawks in their current series. The Kings are putting together a complete team effort, which means trouble for the team they will face in the finals.
The Los Angeles Sparks will travel to Washington to play the Mystics Sunday June 1 and to Atlanta on Tuesday June 3, before they return home on June 8, to play Minnesota at the Staples Center.
