The Culver City High School baseball team held an early lead, but host Mira Costa rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull off a 4-3 win over the young Centaurs in the first round of the South Bay Summer Baseball League Division I playoffs last Friday.
The Mustangs had a 2-1 lead, but Culver scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning. It took a 3-2 advantage when Jacob Weiner hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Juan Alcala, who led off the inning with a walk.
Starting pitcher Eli Bowie allowed two runs (one earned) through four innings. Reliever Jake Wells held the Mustangs scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, but Mira Costa tagged Wells for two runs in the sixth. The Mustangs, who were the league’s No. 5 seed in the 16-team event, tied the game on a double by Kevin Lopez and took the lead when Lopez scored on a single from Austin Henning.
“Bowie kept us in the game,” Culver head coach Rick Prieto said.
Three Centaurs were represented for the Homers in the league all-star game on July 17 at Marine Park in Manhattan Beach.
Nathaniel Matthews, who will be a senior, pitched one inning. Senior Alcala and junior Daniel Hennessey also played.