The pre-season is almost over for the Culver City baseball and softball teams and that means the beginning of league play is around the corner. Both teams have played a tough pre-season schedule and sometimes that’s a good thing. If the Centaurs can learn from playing some of the top teams in Southern California that means there will be no surprises when league play starts.
The baseball team has one more harsh reality they must face before they start league play. They travel to Los Angeles City power Chatsworth Saturday for a 11 a.m. game. The 7-7 Centaurs beat St. Monica last Tuesday 4-1 so they have some momentum going into the lion’s den on Saturday. Chatsworth is ranked No. 29 in the state and 123rd nationally.
Even if ace pitcher Nolan Martinez is not on the mound on Saturday he thinks his team can still win the game. “Even though I cannot pitch every game I think this team is going to go far,” said Martinez a few weeks ago. “We have a lot of good pitchers and good hitters this year.”
The Centaurs will start Ocean league play on Tuesday when they host Lawndale at 3:15 p.m. and on Thursday they travel to Lawndale at 3:15 p.m. At press time Lawndale had a record of 7-4.
The girls’ softball team is 5-6-1 and they start Ocean league play when they host Lawndale on Wednesday, April 13 at 3:15 p.m. and travel to El Segundo on Friday, April 15 for a 7 p.m. game. The Centaurs are coached by first year coach Javier Gabby Chacon who replaced long time coach John Sargent.