By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s baseball team kept its hopes for a spot in the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs alive after sweeping Bishop Montgomery last week.
At Serra on April 16, the Cavaliers avenged their earlier 3-0 loss to the Knights with a 10-4 win. At Bishop Montgomery in Torrance last Thursday, Serra completed the sweep of its rival Knights with a 4-2 win.
Last Thursday, Bishop Montgomery grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but the Cavaliers, who are 9-12 overall and 4-6 in the Del Rey League, Kelvin Martinez tied the game in the top of the second with a 2-run single, scoring Marc Emmerman and Terrance Sullivan.
Serra took the lead for good in the top of the fourth when Amari Hackett singled home Finley Jones, who led off the rally with a walk, then stole second and third bases.
The Cavaliers scored their final run in the top of the fifth. It started when Kuleb Romero walked that was followed by a single from Sullivan. Jalen Thomas, then, singled scoring Romero.
The winning pitcher was senior starter Henry Sorman, went six innings allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out 10 batters. Closer Adrian Pineda held the Knights scoreless in the bottom of the seventh,
At Serra, Bishop Montgomery started with a 2-0 lead but the Cavaliers came back with four runs in the bottom of the third to grab the lead for good.
The runs were scored on two-run doubles by Emmerman and Sullivan.
The Knights had their chance in the top of the fourth but their leading home run hitter, Brody Cuellar (five homers this season) flied out to center field.
Serra put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth behind Hackett’s three-run double.
The Cavaliers drew nine walks off three Bishop Montgomery pitchers.
Serra completed league play at Paraclete in Lancaster on Wednesday after hosting the Spirits last Monday. The Cavaliers, however, close their regular season with a non-league game against South Torrance at home on Saturday at 11 a.m. It is a make-up from an earlier rain-out.
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Cavs gear for league finals after Mt. SAC Relays
Serra High’s boys’ and girls’ track and field teams had several athletes compete in last Friday and Saturday’s 64th annual Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut.
The Lady Cavaliers had some strong showings including their 4×100-meter relay team of Jaiya Fletcher, Mia Flowers, Sailee Howard, and Isabella Samuels who finished second at 47.48 seconds in the seeded division. Winning the race was Westlake Village Oaks Christian clocking 46.36. The Warriors, like Serra, are in the CIF-Southern Section Division IV, so the Cavaliers know what they will need to do if they go on to compete against them in the prelims on May 4 at Carpinteria High and May 11 in the finals at Moorpark High.
Fletcher also placed second in the girls’ seeded 100-meter hurdles in 15.03, placing behind winner Larian Hervey of Playa del Rey St. Bernard (14.88).
Flowers finished seventh in a highly competitive invitational 200-meter race with a time of 23.99.
Serra’s boys had some strong showings that included Otis “Tre” Harrison who placed third in the seeded 300-meter intermediate hurdles timing 39.51. Freshman Wesley Ace took fifth in the rated 100 in 10.97.
Ace and Harrison also helped the Cavaliers’ 4×100 relay team to a strong time of 42.64 despite a 14th place finish in the seeded division.
Serra was well-represented as it hosted the Del Rey League Championships on Wednesday, seeking to bring numerous athletes to the Division IV meets and possibly the Southern Section Masters Championships on May 18 at Moorpark and the CIF-State at Buchanan High in Clovis on May 24 and 25.
Former Serra High sprinters, Roderick Pleasant and Brazil Neal, also competed in the collegiate division in the 100 meters for University of Oregon. Both freshmen, Pleasant placed seventh in his heat clocking 10.38 and Neal was only 41st overall in 12.11, so neither were at their best after stellar prep careers at Serra the past few seasons. At Serra, Pleasant ran as fast as 10.09 (wind-aided) and 10.14 (legal) in the 100, and 20.4 in the 200. He was a two-time California state champion in both sprints and won the Nike national championship in the 100 timing 10.21 at Oregon in Eugene last June. Neal placed third and fifth in the nationals in then 100 and 200, in order.
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McCrumby resigns as Serra boys’ hoops coach
Bernard McCrumby announced his resignation as Serra High’s boys’ basketball coach after eight seasons with the team.
After previous head coach Dwan Hurt passed away in his sleep shortly after Thanksgiving 2016, McCrumby took over as an interim head coach. A year later, the school promoted him to head mentor.
McCrumby had several very good seasons with the Cavaliers. This past season despite only a fourth-place finish in the highly competitive Del Rey League, Serra advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division IIIAA semifinals before falling short to Ventura St. Bonaventure 67-64 at home. The Cavaliers, though, advanced to the CIF-Southern California Regional Division III playoffs but lost in the first round at Thousand Oaks 73-53.
Serra also had a very good season in 2021-22 where it made the Southern Section Division IIAA quarterfinals before falling to Sun Valley Village Christian. That squad was led by Jeremy Dent-Smith, now a standout at Carson Cal State Dominguez Hills, which advanced to the NCAA Division II Western Regional playoffs before falling in the first round to Central Washington University 110-90.
Serra is currently seeking to replace McCrumby. For those interested, please contact athletic director Kirk Bertrand at (310) 324-6675, extension 1030. His e-mail address is kbertrand@la-serrahs.org.
In last week’s baseball games, North Torrance kept its slim playoff hopes alive by sweeping Lawndale last week at home. On April 17, the Saxons rallied from a 4-0 deficit to down the Cardinals 9-4. Last Friday, North crushed Lawndale 17-2.
The Saxons close the Pioneer League at West Torrance today at 3 p.m. North needs to sweep the currently first place Warriors for any playoff hope.
Gardena fell to 0-6 in the Marine League after mercy rule losses to Carson last week. At Gardena on April 15, the Panthers were shut out by the Colts 14-0. Last Thursday at Carson, the Colts rolled over Gardena 16-3. The Panthers, however, managed to pull off a 10-inning 8-7 home win over Canoga Park in the San Fernando Tiger Classic last Saturday.
Daniel Serna keyed the Panthers, going 4-for-6 with three runs batted in and two runs scored against Canoga Park.
After hosting Narbonne on Monday, Gardena visits the Gauchos in league today at 3 p.m. Gardena visits Rancho Dominguez Prep in Long Beach next Monday and closes league at home against the Lobos next Thursday.
In the Southern Section prep boys’ volleyball playoffs, North Torrance advanced to the playoffs for the first time in several seasons after placing third in the Pioneer League and is seeded third in Division IV. The Saxons, though, had to start with a wildcard game at home against Pasadena Maranatha last Tuesday. If it won, it will visit Pacifica Christian in Santa Monica today at 6 p.m.
Serra also advanced to the playoffs after a third-place finish in the Camino Real League. The Cavaliers begin today at 6 p.m. at Workman in La Puente.
