You know about spring cleaning. The Culver City High School baseball team hoped to start a clean winning slate this afternoon at Palos Verdes Peninsula.
The Centaurs went into the game 5-9, and they are a looking forward to Ocean League play.
If their bats wake up, Culver City should be able to battle for a playoff spot. “We have enough quality batters to be able to get more hits,” said Coach Rick Prieto. “We hit too many balls in the air. Baseball is a game where you need to hit the ball on the ground so the other team can make mistakes.”
While praising the Centaurs’ pitching, Prieto said that “the key is to get timely hits and to play solid defense. We are not going to win many games if we give up five or six runs.”
With a coaching staff of former Culver City players, Prieto hopes this will help the offense and the overall direction of the program.
One of those men is Devaughn Wallce, assistant varsity coach, a former baseball and football star.
“It feels good to be home,” said Wallace. “I wanted to give back to the program and to the Culver City community.
“I wanted to share that love with the players. We have a lot of potential.”
Although West Torrance beat the Centaurs last week, winning coach Juan Cueva commended Prieto. “He does a great job,” Cueva said. “Culver City comes out and plays hard.
“They have good lefthanded pitchers and we have lefthanded hitters, so we knew they would be tough to beat. They are always in the playoffs.”
Elsewhere
Culver City’s 9-7 boys volleyball team was in Lawndale this afternoon, and they return home for two matches against El Segundo on Thursday and Serra on Friday in at 3:15 matches.
The girls lacrosse team met this afternoon, and they play Downey tomorrow at 3.
The boys’ lacrosse team will play Palos Verdes Peninsula on Wednesday and Viewpoint of Calabasas at 4 on Friday.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
