April 2, 2015 Page 5 Cardinals Enjoy Easy Sweep Over Leuzinger By Joe Snyder Photos by Joe Snyder Lawndale and Leuzinger High’s baseball teams squared off in the first of the Centinela Valley High School District rivalry games last week. For the Cardinals, it was a relief for them as they increased their record to 4-5 with an easy sweep over the Olympians, who have not enjoyed a winning season in more than a decade. At Lawndale on March 24, the Cardinals downed Leuzinger 7-1. At Leuzinger last Thursday, the Cardinals continued to make things look easy with a 14-3 victory. Lawndale had a commanding lead throughout the game last Thursday in taking advantage of eight Olympian errors but also getting some good hitting. Alexis Vallez hit a three-run home run in the top of the third. Tyler Bonsky went two-for-three with one run batted in. The Cardinals held an 11-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning before Leuzinger, which fell to 1-9, scored three runs to continue the game, which went the distant seven innings. Leading 11-3 entering the top of the seventh, Jesus Sanchez put the finishing touches to Lawndale’s easy win with a three-run triple. Leuzinger was led by Francisco Rubio who went three-for-three and Maurice Garland who drove in a run with a base hit. Rubio had two doubles and a single for two runs batted in. “We’re trying to find a way to win,” Leuzinger head coach George Pech, who is in his second season with the Olympians, said. “We have five freshmen. We committed eight errors and allowed 10 unearned runs. We’re just inexperienced and a lot of our players are coming into the program with no previous organized baseball experience.” On March 24, Lawndale pitchers Bonsky and Gregory combined for a one-hitter. Bonsky pitched four hitless innings and Gregory allowed Leuzinger’s only hit, a base hit by David Oliver in the top of the seventh. The only Olympian run was unearned as two errors aided it. Lawndale, Leuzinger and Hawthorne are all on spring break this week. The next Cardinal game will be next Tuesday at Inglewood beginning at 3:15 p.m. Lawndale hosts the Sentinels next Thursday at the same time. Leuzinger had a pair of games against Animo Leadership from Inglewood earlier this week. The Olympians hosted the Aztec- Eagles last Monday and played Animo at the Urban Baseball Academy in Compton Wednesday. Leuzinger plays two games against crosstown rival Hawthorne next week. The Olympians visit the Cougars next Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. and hosts Hawthorne next Thursday at the same time. Hawthorne Takes Two Hawthorne High’s baseball team swept their two non-league home games against Inglewood Morningside and Santa Monica St. Monica last week. On March 24, the Cougars rolled over the Monarchs 14-3. Last Thursday, Hawthorne defeated the Mariners 4-2. Hawthorne dominated Morningside throughout the entire five-inning mercy rule (10-run-plus lead) game. The Cougars scored in four of the five innings, including four in the bottom of the fifth to finish off the Monarchs. The Cougars spent their early part of Spring Break Week playing in the Santa Paula Tournament in Ventura County. Hawthorne opened Monday against Fillmore, then played two games on Tuesday against a pair of Oxnard schools in Channel Islands and Pacifica. The Cougars come home to play crosstown rival Leuzinger next Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. Leuzinger Softbalers Top Lawndale Leuzinger High’s softball team defeated Lawndale 7-4 on March 24 at Lawndale. The Olympians scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning and never trailed from there. At Serra in Gardena last Saturday, Leuzinger fell to the Cavaliers 9-6. Despite the loss, Amaya Eubanks went two-for-four and drove in three runs. Hawthorne Fals to West Hawthorne High’s softball team lost at home to West Torrance 8-4 in a non-league game on March 24. The Warriors started fast with a 5-0 lead before the Cougars scored once in the bottom of the second inning and led 8-1 before Hawthorne scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Cougars play in the Los Angeles Lincoln High Spring Fling on April 11 before visiting Ocean League power Santa Monica in a key league game on April 14. Locals Vie in Hoop Al-Stars Players from Inglewood and Leuzinger were involved in the 22nd Annual South Bay Athletic Club All-Star Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Classic on March 24 at South Torrance High School. The Red Stars swept the Blue Team in the girls’ and boys’ divisions. The Red girls topped the Blues 60-55. In the boys’ game, the Reds downed the Blue Stars 98-79. Leuzinger’s Devonte Carr played for the Red boys scoring four points. Christian Oshita (Bishop Montgomery) and Jason Richardson (Serra) led the Reds with 14 points apiece. For the Blues, Inglewood’s Darae Elliot chipped in 12 points. Caleb Wilson of Serra led the Blue squad with a game-high 17 points. In the girls’ game Tajaheray McMahon from Leuzinger played for the Reds and had four points. Paris Lucci led the Reds with 11 points.• Lawndale High’s Eddie Zambrano leads off second base during last Thursday’s non-league baseball rivalry against Leuzinger. The Cardinals routed the Olympians 14-3. The Cardinals visit Inglewood next Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. Leuzinger High’s Tajaheray McMahon dribbles the ball for the Red All-Stars during last week’s 22nd Annual South Bay All-Star Girls’ Basketball Classic. Her Reds topped the Blues 60-55. Leuzinger leftfielder Maurice Garland prepares to make a catch in last Thursday’s non-league baseball game against Lawndale. The Olympians face Animo Leadership from Inglewood at Compton College today at 3:15 p.m. Inglewood’s Darae Elliott dribbles past Red team defenders for the Blue Stars during last week’s 22nd Annual South Bay All-Star Boys’ Basketball Classic. The Reds defeated the Blues 98-79
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