Culver City’s 19-7 varsity baseball team has the pitching and hitting to make a deep playoff run in the CIF Division 3 playoffs that begin Friday for the Centaurs. They will host the winner of an at- large play in game between Xavier Prep (11-14) who finished third in the Desert Valley league and 12-18 Elsinore who finished third in the Sunbelt league. Game time is set for 3:15 p.m.
The Centaurs will be riding a 13-game winning streak when they start the playoffs. They won the Ocean league with a perfect 10-0 record and their tough pre-season schedule should help them in the playoffs.
Although they played some of the top teams in Southern California in the pre-season their pitching and hitting will decide which direction they go in the playoffs. With the one-two punch of Nolan Martinez and Eli Saucedo on the mound and several players that are getting timely hits Culver City hopes to reach the CIF finals.
Leading the way at the plate is Michael Netzel, who is batting .459 with nine triples. Ryan Weiner is batting .365 followed by Max Sterner at .345. Kevin Murillo is hitting .397, Martinez is batting .300 and center fielder Mason Mulvihill is batting .299 with 12 stolen bases.
Their defense has been solid all season so the Centaurs will be going into the playoffs with momentum.
If the Centaurs win on Friday their second round game will probably be against 24-8 San Luis Obispo, the number one team in the Pac-8 league on Tuesday, May 24. To find out if that’s a home or away game call Culver City High School.