Eighth grader Krista Hernandez won Most Valuable Player awards for the Culver City Middle School varsity volleyball and softball teams for the second straight year. She earned the school’s Presidential Award for grade excellence and the Top Athlete award.
After leading the volleyball team to a 30-1 record, Hernandez closed out the Delphic League softball season with a 26-0 win over Village Christian. Hernandez, the squad’s ace pitcher, missed hitting for the cycle by a double against the Crusaders. Leadoff hitter Alyssa Hernandez, Krista’s sixth grade sister, went 5-for-5 in the shutout. Alyssa also is the starting libero for the varsity volleyball team, as the team’s only sixth grader. She has a 4.0 grade point average.
The Culver Middle School Panthers finished the softball season with a five game winning streak, notching wins against traditional powerhouse Oaks Christian and a heart-pounding 5-3 come from behind victory against Heritage Christian.
Krista Hernandez, Natalie Capa, Mariko Rooks, Meigan Whitcomb and Amel Gibson will tryout next spring for the Lady Centaur varsity softball team.
Hernandez also will vie for the Centaur varsity volleyball program this fall. The setter plays for the Culver Volleyball Club 14’s, which won the Bronze medal in the Gold division, June 22-23, at the Summer Soiree tournament in Anaheim. Club Director Marty Siegal is conducting clinics for youth in grades 4-12, July 22-25 (4:00-7:00 p.m.), July 29-August 1 (4:00-7:00 p.m.), and August 5-8 (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at Culver City Middle School and Culver City High School gyms. Krista and Alyssa’s father, Tino, coaches for the club.
“Krista has bested some of the toughest volleyball competition in Southern California this summer,” said Siegal.
Returning to a strong Culver City Middle School softball team next season are incoming seventh graders Alyssa Hernandez, Marissa Mejia, Solana Palma, Brook Francis, and eighth graders Emily Piera, Natalya Tapia, Savana Aguayo, and Georgette Gaxiola.
Alyssa’s Culver Volleyball Club team finished in the Silver division among the top 24 teams in the Summer Soiree Tournament.
DOUBLE HONORS: Eighth grade scholar athlete Krista Hernandez displays her Most Valuable Player awards for the Culver City Middle School varsity volleyball and softball team.
SOFTBALL TEAM: The Culver City Middle School Panthers finished the Delphic softball league with a five game winning streak. Pictured (back row, from left) are Coach David Ross, Marissa Mejia, Natalya Tapia, Amel Gibson, Krista Hernandez, Natalie Capa, Meigan Whitcomb, Mariko Rooks and Coach Andy Collett. (Front row) Brook Francis, Savana Aguayo, Solana Palma, Alyssa Hernandez, Emily Piera and Georgette Gaxiola.
BASEBALL: Culver City Little League All Stars play this week in the Sectionals after last week winning the District 25 Championships. Culver City All Stars and coaches are (from left) Nick Iverson, Omar Contreras, Bryon Minoda, coach Aaron Minoda, Donovan Haase, Benny Mosqueria, Adam Freidenthal, Myles Rothfarb, Jordan Armstrong , coach Robb Rothfarb, Bobby Capa, Kai Jacinto, Austin Davis, Leo Bristow, and Manager Vince Capa and Carlos Fructuoso.
Photo by Ulrika Akander
