By Joe Snyder
Gardena’s Junior baseball team rolled over Compton 16-8 in a Dodger Dream League game last Thursday at Jackie Robinson Stadium on the grounds of Gonzales Park in Compton.
The Dodgers had a triple each by A.J. Salazar, Juaquin Lomberia and Anyelo Edmonds in their victory. Salazar’s three-bagger cleaned the bases for three runs. Lomberia drove in two with his triple.
Gardena and Compton were tied at five through four innings before Gardena broke the game open with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. They added four more in the sixth.
Josue Rivas pitched four innings to pick up the win.
A day earlier, Gardena’s senior team, which was missing several key players, fell to Compton 9-1.
The Senior team played last Monday and the Juniors on Wednesday against host Gonzales Park.
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GHS volleyball duo makes All-City team
Gardena High’s boys’ volleyball team had two players land on the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division III team, named recently.
Making first-team was outside-opposite hitter Nathan Skyers. On second-team was opposite hitter Shawna Mailo.
Both helped the Panthers advance to the quarterfinals of the L.A. City Section Division III playoffs before falling in four sets to Maywood Center of Enriched Studies.
Gardena still struggled in the Marine League and finished 5-14 overall but did have some competitive matches.
Co-Players of the Year were Jeremy Kim and Shai Lang from champion North Hollywood East Valley.
In baseball, Carson, which won the CIF-L.A. City Section Division I title over Marine League rival Wilmington Banning, swept top player honors in the division. Player of the Year was senior Joziah Agredano and senior pitcher Anthony Dorado was Pitcher of the Year.
Two Colts landed on first-team in junior outfielder Xavier Allen and freshman second baseman Nate Ruan.
Carson topped the Pilots 3-1 for the title on May 24 at Dodger Stadium.
In softball, Carson, the CIF-L.A. City Section Open Division runner-up, had senior outfielder Ry Lee Gardner, junior shortstop Ashannaee Titialili, and sophomore outfielder Kayleiga Allen make first-team.
The Lady Colts, who defeated playoff rival Granada Hills for the championship in 2023 and 2024, lost to the Highlanders in the finals 11-2 on May 24 at Cal State Northridge.
Senior Addison Moornian from Granada Hills was Player of the Year.
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Schools start football practice this week
Last Monday was the first day of high school football practice for locals.
Gardena, Serra, North Torrance, Torrance, West Torrance, South Torrance, Bishop Montgomery, Carson, and Narbonne are preparing for the upcoming season. Week 0 is from Aug. 21-23 and Week 1 is from Aug. 28-30.
The Cavaliers, though, will be forced to have a temporary home stadium with them playing defending CIF-Southern Section Division V and CIF-State Division IIAA champion Palos Verdes on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. at El Camino College. Serra, though, will play its remaining home games at Los Angeles Southwest College against Los Alamitos (Sept. 5), Orange Lutheran (Sept. 12), Westlake Village Oaks Christian (Sept. 19), L.A. Loyola (Oct. 10), West Hills Chaminade (Oct. 17) and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Oct. 24).
That is because a fire at Serra’s stadium that destroyed its press box and part of the stadium. There is an outside shot that the Cavaliers might have a chance at returning to their campus late in league in mid to late October.
North Torrance will have to get used to being without the brother-tandem of quarterback Boogie and wide receiver Kingston Anetema, who are two of several that transferred to Torrance Bishop Montgomery. The Saxons, though, have several experienced seniors that should help them contend for their fourth straight Pioneer League championship but could get stiff challenge from Redondo and Torrance, who both reportedly have some key transfers.
North begins play at home against Summit Academy from Fullerton on Aug. 22.
The transfer-laden Knights, though, begin their season with a bang as they visit national power and defending two-time CIF-State Open Division champion Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Aug. 29. The Monarchs, again, are top ranked in the nation by most prep sports polls.
Gardena is under first-year head coach Terrence Williams and hopes to continue to compete in the always rigorous Marine League with Carson, Wilmington Banning, San Pedro and Harbor City Narbonne. The Gauchos, however, are banned from postseason for three years due to illegal recruiting.
The Panthers start at home against Crespi High from Encino on Aug. 22.
Carson, which many consider the probable favorite to win the Marine League and should be a very strong contender for the CIF-L.A. City Section Open Division championship, begins its season with a tough one against Villa Park at Fred Kelley Stadium in Orange on Aug. 23. The Colts have a non-league game at Palos Verdes on Sept. 5.
Despite several transfer losses and the suspension, look for Narbonne to still contend as it has a tough opener at Los Osos High in Rancho Cucamonga on Aug. 22. The Gauchos host Los Alamitos on Aug. 28 and always very good Culver City on Sept. 5.
Torrance should contend with cross town rival North and Redondo for the Pioneer crown as it begins on Aug. 22 at San Pedro. The Tartars play at West Torrance, defending Ocean League champion and CIF-Southern Section Division VII semifinalist, on Aug. 29. However, do not count out the other three schools; Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula, Santa Monica, and South Torrance.
West will be in only a five-team Ocean as Inglewood Morningside shut down last month. The Warriors are in with Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Hawthorne, and Compton Centennial.
Centennial, meanwhile, is expected to leave the South Bay leagues beginning in the 2026-27 school year to enter the new Hub League with three other Compton schools, Compton, Compton Early College, and Dominguez, along with Lynwood and Firebaugh, located in Lynwood.
There will be re-leagues in the next school year and reports are that it will return to being for all sports in the three South Bay CIF-Southern Section leagues in the Bay, Ocean and Pioneer.
South Torrance, which placed last in the Pioneer with a very young team, should be improved with a more experienced squad as it begins its season on Aug. 29 at home against Arroyo High from El Monte.
Name Correction
The new Gardena High School head football coach was misidentified in the July 17 issue of the GVN.
That issue contained both a misspelling of the coach’s first name and an incorrect last name. The new coach is Terrence Williams.
He has been an assistant coach with GHS since 2019. Williams replaced coach Monty Gilbreath, who stepped down last spring.
We apologize for the errors and any inconveniences they have caused.
