By Joe Snyder
North Torrance High’s baseball team had a fine pitching performance by Justin Olivar through six innings, but the Saxons were unable to hold off El Segundo in a 2-1 Pioneer League loss Friday at El Segundo’s Stevenson Field.
Olivar was very effective as he took a one-hit shutout into the top of the seventh inning and North leading 1-0.
In the bottom of the seventh, however, Olivar got tired as he surrendered a base hit that just got off the glove of third baseman Fabrizio Arakaki and into left field. Olivar gave up a walk to Chase Mattoon and first-year head coach Diego Alarcon replaced him with sophomore Raden Flores, who was brought up from the Saxons’ junior varsity team.
Flores surrendered a walk to Lincoln Quaintance to load the bases with no outs before Logan Brooks finished off North with a two-run single.
“Justin got tired,” Alarcon said. “We outhit them (El Segundo). Our record (6-6 overall and 1-1 in league) doesn’t indicate what we are.”
After a scoreless four innings and a very good pitching matchup between Olivar and the Eagles’ junior Alton DeBlanc, North grab the 1-0 lead when Josiah Reed singled home Eric Yamashiro.
Olivar struck out 12 batters through six innings.
Prior to facing El Segundo, the Saxons lost two of three non-league games last week. At Carson on March 9, the defending CIF-Los Angeles City Division I champion Colts topped North 9-6. A day later, the host Saxons fell to Simi Valley Royal 7-5. On March 11 at North, the Saxons rolled over Santa Monica New Roads 12-3.
After visiting St. Monica in Santa Monica in a non-league game last Monday and hosting Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula in Pioneer action on Wednesday, North visits cross town rival and league leading South Torrance Friday at 3:30 p.m. North has an away non-league game at Culver City next Monday before returning to Pioneer play at Wiseburn-Da Vinci, a team the Saxons defeated in their league opener 3-1 on March 6, on March 27.
____________
Serra T&F shows promise in Redondo
Serra High’s boys’ and girls’ track and field team competed against some of the top athletes in California and the United States in the Redondo High Nike Track and Field Invitational last Friday and Saturday.
The Cavaliers continued to excel in the sprinting events but did have to compete against the likes of sprinters from CIF-State powers Long Beach Poly, Anaheim Servite and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Serra, though, had several personal bests including junior Wesley Ace, who won his heat and was fifth overall in the 100-meter dash at 10.51 seconds. It was a hotly contested race that was won overall by Benjamin Harris of Servite clocking 10.27, followed closely by Torrance senior Nicolas Obingba (10.34).
Ace also helped the Cavaliers win their heat and finish fifth overall in the 800-meter sprint relay in 1:33.14 as he ran one of the 100 legs. It included the first two 100 legs, a 200 and 400. Serra edged host Redondo (seventh overall at 1:34.44) in its leg. Torrance was sixth overall timing 1:33.19. He also legged on Serra’s 4×100 relay (fifth overall in 41.47).
“I put hard work into this,” Ace said. “I am looking to challenge Roderick Pleasant’s school record of 10.14.” Pleasant is currently competing in football and track and field at UCLA, after transferring from Oregon.
“We have a very good team and we’re looking to challenge Poly and Servite in state.”
Deon Edwards also had a 10.71 100 for the Cavaliers.
North had a pair of sprinters in Faiz Ogun (10.78) and Kaiden Spires (10.97) but in the steep competition, Ogun managed just 29th and Spires was 56th overall. The Saxons’ best showing was by senior Jason Lewis in the high jump who finished in a tie for fifth place with Nain Middleton (Las Vegas Centennial), Christopher Medina (Downey) and Joshua Harel (Sherman Oaks Notre Dame) at five feet, 11 inches. Liam Sam of Torrance placed 1oth at 5-11 but had more misses before making the height. North’s Elijah Taueestia was 12th in the boys’ shot put with a toss of 51-4.25. Redondo senior Bo Ausmus, who keyed the Sea Hawks football team to the CIF-Southern Section Division V finals appearance, won both the shot put and discus at 60-6 and 181-8, in order.
Serra’s girls had a tough time with the competition but showed some promise with their sprinters, recording a 49.8 in the 4×100 for 14th place overall.
Carson’s Jayden Rendon won the 110-meter-high hurdles in 13.91. South Torrance’s girls were led by Isabella Calballare who won the triple jump at 37-4.5. The Spartans also had a fine showing from sophomore Aiden Miller who was fourth in the 800 meters clocking 1:56.57.
In the girls’ 1600, junior Kanilah Salem of West Torrance was second at 4:55.08.
Serra is expected to compete in Friday and Saturday’s California Relays at Long Beach Wilson High. Most other South Bay teams will be at the Mustang Relays at Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach on Saturday.
___________
Gardena baseball team splits 4 games
After losing its first two non-league games to South Los Angeles Fremont and San Pedro Port of Los Angeles High Schools, Gardena High’s baseball team bounced back to win their last two games at Downtown L.A. Santee 13-4 and visiting Inglewood Animo Leadership 11-4 on Friday and Saturday, in order.
Leading 3-2 after five innings against Animo, the Panthers, who improved to 3-5-1 overall, let loose for eight runs in the top of the sixth.
Senior Chris Alvarez had a big game, going 4-for-4 with five runs batted in, including a home run and two doubles. Junior Anthony Macias went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Senior Jesse Aguayo was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs. He had a double. Junior Max Garcia went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.
Winning pitcher Aguayo went the distance allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out seven batters and walked three.
At Santee, Gardena broke the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth.
The Panthers had a balanced attack led by senior Francisco Pavon who was 2-for-5 with two RBI’s and two runs. Max Garcia went 2-for-5 with one RBI and two runs. Macias was 2-for-4 and scored twice.
In the Panthers’ loss to POLA last Thursday, Alvarez hit a three-run home run, and Aguayo went 2-for-2 with a double, one RBI and one run.
Against the Pathfinders on March 9 at Gardena, Max Garcia was 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run.
Gardena hosted Torres Monday and will be at home for a tournament game against West L.A. University Saturday at 11 a.m.
Serra’s young team continues to struggle with Del Rey League losses to St. Paul and St. Bernard. At St. Paul in Santa Fe Springs, the Cavaliers lost to the Swordsmen 6-3. At Serra, the Cavaliers fell to the Vikings from Playa del Rey 8-5. Serra is 0-4 in league and 3-5 overall.
The Cavaliers are home for a non-league game against South L.A. King-Drew Medical Magnet Saturday at 11 a.m. Serra resumes league at home against Pasadena La Salle next Tuesday and visit the Lancers at Arcadia Park on March 27. Both games begin at 3:15 p.m.
