Page 10 June 24, 2021 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Eagles from page 3
their first league championship and just their
second undefeated league schedule.
The Eagles were well represented on the
All-Pioneer League teams. CJ Hardy was a
unanimous choice for Player of the Year. He was
the league’s leading scorer and was near the top
in most offensive categories, including the top
free-throw shooter. Making the first team was
senior forward Leo Cagan and junior guard
Preston Engel. Junior center JJ Chaikovsky
Jordan Peterson was a four-year starter for the Eagles. Katie Croxall was a four-year starter and was selected as the team’s MVP.
was selected to the second team, and head
coach David March was the Coach of the Year.
It was only natural that Hardy would be
selected as the team’s Most Outstanding Player.
He averaged 32 points a game and converted
92 percent of his free throws during the CIF
Southern Section Division 3A playoffs.
The Most Improved Player award went to
JJ Chaikovsky. His improvement over the
season demonstrated how much potential he
has. Gideon Telahun was presented the Eagle
Award for his character, work ethic, loyalty to
being the team’s best teammate, and his high
basketball IQ.
It was a great season for the Eagles, and
with nine players returning, they should be a
favorite to repeat as league champions.
Girl’s Basketball
had Challenging Season
The Lady Eagles had a subpar season going
6-7 overall and a fourth-place finish in the
Pioneer League that featured two Division
1 teams and another that reached the third
round of the playoffs. They advanced to the
CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs,
where they fell to fifth-seeded Pioneer Titans.
The Lady Eagles struggled with their outside
shots but were still competitive. Jordan
Peterson’s early-season injury caused a void
for the offense, and the team leaned on Story
Noble. She led the team in scoring and was
selected to the second team All-Pioneer
League team.
Baseball Team Suffers
in a Covid Year
The Eagles finished the season with a sub
.500 winning record for the first time in 19
seasons. The Eagle’s woes can be traced to
players deciding to play other sports during
the concise sports season that overlapped one
another. The lack of practice time on the high
school field that was unusable due to construction
work on the field. The lack of maintenance and
repair caused the baseball program’s three teams
to share time at Stevenson Field. It shortened
practice time for each of the three teams, and
it resulted in a losing season.
The Eagles were well represented on the
All-Pioneer League team. Kenny Chung had a
good year and was voted the Most Outstanding
Pitcher. Perhaps his best outing in league
play was the 9.1 innings he pitched in a 1-0
loss to West Torrance. Jake Stolnack earned
first-team honors while Brendan McAndrews
and Dylan Immel were selected to the second
team. Four-year starter Julian Rodriquez was
an Honorable Mention selectee.
The team awards are named after former
players who went on to play professionally.
They were handed out, and Kenny Chung
won the Kemer Brett MVP Award. Chung hit
.357 and had three home runs while pitching
against some of the top teams on the schedule.
The Bobby Floyd Most Improved Award went
to Lloyd Sapanza, who played multiple positions,
including pitching, playing first base,
and right field. The Mike McCready/Craig
Cousins Clutch Player of the Year was given
to Cooper Stolnack and Julian Rodriquez. The
Scott McGregor Most Outstanding Pitcher was
earned by Jake Stolnack.
Softball Team Has an Off Year
The Eagles were hampered by injuries to key
players and the result was a disappointing 11-8
record. It didn’t help that the move from the
Ocean League to the Pioneer League, where
three of the four Torrance schools advanced
deep in the CIF playoffs.
The Eagles finished out of the playoffs but
still managed to get Laila Phillips and Bella
Gridley selected to the All-Pioneer League first
team while Katie Croxall earned second-team
honors. The team awards were presented, and
Katie Croxall was named the Most Valuable
Player. Katie was a four-year starter for the
Eagles, playing shortstop and second base. The
Offensive MVP was sophomore sensation Bella
Gridley who hit a team-high .432. Defensive
MVPs were Kelly Carignan and Laila Phillips.
Most Improved was junior utility player Azzah
Bensrhir. The Unsung Hero Award went to
sophomore Sammie Kleiger, and the Coach’s
Award was three-year starter Mya Bennett. The
Lizzie Garland Scholarship winners were Leah
Abitante, Laila Phillips, and Kelly Carignan.
Bob and Kathy Motta
to be Honored
On Saturday at noon, Bob and his late wife
Kathy will be honored when the press box at Stevenson
Field will be named the Bob and Kathy
Motta Press Box. Between games of the Babe
Ruth League playoffs, a ceremony and unveiling
the name will be presented to the community.
There will be speakers giving the community
a glimpse of what Bob and Kathy have meant
to Babe Ruth League baseball in El Segundo.
Bob will also be receiving the Lefty Gomez
Volunteer of the Year Award from Babe Ruth
League National. The community is invited
to help Bob and his family commemorate
both events. Former players of Bob’s teams
and players from the five Babe Ruth World
Series championship teams and other World
Series teams are asked to come and support
Bob and his family. •
Shortstop Brendan McAndrews made second-team All-Pioneer League.
Kenny Chung was the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the Pioneer
League.
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