The pandemic cannot stop the Culver City varsity sports machine. It keeps rolling along. During the past week, seven Culver City teams played and ran in the prestigious CIF playoffs. Baseball, boys’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, girls’ softball and boys’ and girls’ track and field teams tried to keep the Culver City name alive in Southern California high school sports world.
Last Saturday, the girls’ lacrosse team lost to Murrieta Mesa 13-9 on the road and last Tuesday, the boys’ basketball team lost to Crean Lutheran of Irvine 75-55 away from home. On Thursday, the 14-6 girls’ softball team plays 12-4 Grace Brethren on the road.
“Crean Lutheran was a very well coached team,” said boys’ head basketball coach Roy Walker. “They were long and tall. I just tried to keep our players focused but the other team was better. We will regroup and get ready for another deep run into the playoffs next year.”
The boys’ lacrosse team advanced to the CIF semifinals by winning their first two games 20-0 last Friday at home against El Dorado and 17-3 against Bay league foe Redondo Union last Tuesday on the road. Their semifinal game is Friday against Aliso Niguel Wolverines.
If they beat the Wolverines, they will play for the CIF championship on Tuesday, June 8. The Centaurs go into Friday’s game with a record of 16-2 and Aliso Niguel will match that with a record of 17-2. The Centaurs are led by a group of seniors that have been together since their playing days in elementary school.
The 9-9 baseball will be on the road against the 23-5 La Sierra Eagles on Friday. The baseball team played in the tough Bay league against teams like Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Redondo Union. Hopefully, that tough competition will get them ready to face the Eagles.
The boys’ and girls’ track and field teams will compete in the CIF prelims on Saturday at Moorpark High School. The prelims and the finals will be held at Moorpark. The boys will be led by Zaire Waring. He will compete in the 200 and 400 meters, and he will be part of the 4×100 meter relay and the 4×400 meter relay.
The girls track team will be led by Alero Soaris and Morgan Maddox in the 200 and 400 meters and Ayahna Bahati in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. The lady Centaurs will also compete in the 4×100 meter relay and 4×400 meter relay.
Culver City girls head track coach Rayfield M. Beaton is looking forward to the prelims on Saturday after competing in the Bay league finals last week. “Both the girls and boys did a good job in the league finals and we will be ready for the CIF meet. We are in a good position. We just have to take care of business. I like our chances.”