With additional reporting by George Laase.
If the first pre-season softball games are an indicator, the Culver City High School girls softball team may be ready to accomplish something special.
Combining young talent and veteran leadership, they have developed a combination that could lead to a top three finish in the Ocean League and a playoff berth.
The Lady Centaurs are 2-0 and play three times this week, at Leuzinger on Thursday at 3, at home Friday for a 3 o’clock game at Vets Park against Notre Dame Academy, and at Beverly Hills on Saturday.
“Our young players are blending in with the veteran players this year,” said longtime head coach John Sargent. “We still are a long way from what we have to do.”
In sports, young players sometimes are not serious, failing to understand that high school sports is the beginning of a level where scholarships can be won or lost on one play. Attitudes and the way you approach the game are crucial.
If a team has a good coaching staff and strong team captains, the result will be satisfying. Culver City appears to have that combination.
Breana Dunlap, Melody Rodriquez, Lissa Serna and Alex Thomas are the Lady Centaur captains. “Our captains provide strong leadership,” said Serna after a 6-2 victory over Palisades. “We have a lot of talent. We are bonding very nicely. The freshmen who have come into the program are focusing on what we are trying to do. We communicate well. If one of us is down, all of us must pick that person up.”
Serna, a senior who is a four-year varsity player, added that “our subs are as important as our starters.”
Several freshmen ware playing well, especially backup catcher Eva Fairbanks. The six-foot Fairbanks possesses a very strong arm. “I have been playing softball since I was five,” she said. “I have been a catcher since I was nine.
“I am focusing on throwing runners out from my knees. And I have been working on my mental determination to be a better leader.”
Another young player is sophomore Mariko Rooks. She had three hits, three RBIs and scored a run against Palisades on a special day for her. “Nice to get a win on my birthday,” said Rooks. “I r like this group of girls. We work well together and we get along well off the field.”
Assistant coach Duane Briggs, who has coached a lot of Culver City softball teams, likes what he sees.
He says it is “a fantastic team. Young but they have a lot of energy. If we stay healthy, play solid defense, get key hits and good pitching we should challenge Santa Monica, El Segundo and Hawthorne in the Ocean League.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
