Page 4 March 27, 2014 By Joe Snyder Hawthorne High’s baseball team swept its road games from Centinela Valley schools. A week after the Cougars topped host Lawndale 9-7 on March 14, Hawthorne romped over another rival, Leuzinger, 14-2 last Friday. The Cougars started fast on the struggling Olympians by taking a 5-0 lead in the second inning and then finished them off with four runs in the top of the fifth and five in the seventh. Steve Leyva and Andrew Banuelos sparked Hawthorne, which increased its record to 7-1-1, while Leuzinger fell to 1-7. Leyva went three-for-four with four runs scored and one run batted in, while Banuelos was three-for-five and drove in four runs. Among Banuelos’ performance was a three-run double in the top of the seventh. Jonathan Juarez added a two-run double in the top of the fifth. Pitchers Charles Phelps and Eric Bradanovic combined for a four-hitter. “We did very good in our non-league games,” Hawthorne assistant coach Oscar Robles said. “I feel that we will do well in league. We played some quality teams, such as Bishop Montgomery and Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara. Phelps pitched six strong innings and our guys are swinging the bats.” The Olympians had a good performance Hawthorne’s Cesar Esquivias slides to third base in last Friday’s non-league baseball rivalry against Leuzinger. The Cougars won 14-2. Hawthorne hosts Vistamar today at 3:15 p.m. Joe’s Sports Hawthorne Rolls Over Leuzinger by junior Angel Vital, a returning two-time all-Bay Leaguer. Vital held the Cougars scoreless in the third and fourth innings, and had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth when Leuzinger scored its only two runs. Similar to the past several seasons, the Olympians continue to be plagued by lack of experience. “We just don’t have that many experienced players,” Leuzinger assistant coach Stewart Surguin said. “We have six players on our team who have never played any youth baseball. Our defense is coming along slowly. Right now, our goal is to get the players to keep improving.” At Bishop Montgomery in Torrance on March 18, winning pitcher Javier Martinez went six and one-third innings, striking out six batters in Hawthorne’s 6-4 victory over the Knights. Jose Sandoval drove in a run with a double. The Cougars will face Vistamar from nearby El Segundo at Alondra Park today at 3:15 p.m. Leuzinger was shut out by host Animo Leadership 10-0 last Thursday at Darby Park in Inglewood. After hosting Animo Leadership on Monday, Leuzinger remained at home against Dominguez on Tuesday and visit the Dons in Compton today at 3:15 p.m. Leuzinger will have two games against Lynwood, visiting the Knights next Leuzinger pitcher Angel Vital prepares to throw to a Hawthorne batter in last Friday’s non-league baseball rivalry. The Olympians fell to the Cougars 14-2. Leuzinger visits Dominguez today at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday and hosting them next Thursday in 3:15 p.m. non-league contests. LAWNDALE SPIKERS OUTLAST LEUZINGER After a few years of absence with their boys’ volleyball teams, Lawndale and Leuzinger revived their programs with the Cardinals resuming last year and the Olympians bringing back their program this season. Last Friday, both teams met at Leuzinger with the Cardinals topping the Olympians in five games 25-20, 25-13, 16-25, 24-26 and 15-12. Lawndale has an overall record of 4-4, but is 0-1 in the Pioneer League after getting swept by El Segundo 25-14, 25-17, 25-10 last Thursday at Lawndale. Top players for the Cardinals include senior outside hitter Isaiah Torres, setter Carlos Imfante and middle blocker Semisi Taufa. “We have progressed,” Lawndale second-year head coach Peter Luong said. “Last year, we lost every match and every game. This year, we are 4-4 overall.” The Cardinals’ victories were over the Olympians (twice), Hawthorne Math and Science Academy and Pacific Hills from West Hollywood. Lawndale is playing in the Pioneer League with El Segundo, South Torrance, North Torrance, Torrance and Compton Centennial. The Cardinals will seek wins Hawthorne batter Jose Sandoval connects with the ball in last Friday’s non-league baseball rivalry against Leuzinger. The Cougars routed the Olympians 14-2. Hawthorne centerfielder Steve Leyva makes a catch on a fly ball as leftfielder Max Riley comes to aid. Photos by Joe Snyder. over the Apaches, but the others could be very hard. The Spartans, who usually do well in league, are currently ranked 10th, while the Eagles are 11th in the CIF-Southern Section Division II. Up to about five years ago, the Olympians had to compete in the rigorous Bay League that include three of the top programs in Southern California in Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Redondo before opting to be put down to the Pioneer where they did not fare very much better. Leuzinger did not have boys’ volleyball the previous few seasons, but brought it back and will play a freelance schedule. Head coach Gil Saldivar will have the Olympians play in tournaments at Venice, Milken Jewish Community in the Sepulveda Pass area and Culver City. Against the Cardinals, Leuzinger had three kills and seven blocks by Emeka Aniagwa and 14 assists by setter Ashton Selali. The Olympians visit Beverly Hills next Monday at 3:15 p.m. CULVER CITY SWEEPS LAWNDALE Lawndale High’s baseball team lost two games to Culver City last week. At Culver City on March 19, the Centaurs nipped the Cardinals 2-1. At Lawndale last Friday, Culver rolled to an 11-0 win. Lawndale visits Beverly Hills in non-league action today at 3:15 p.m. •
Lawndale 03_27_14
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