By Joe Snyder
After strong showings at the Los Angeles Chargers Classic at their team camp in Costa Mesa and in the University of Southern California Classic, Serra High’sfootball team had a very challenging tournament at the prestigious St. John Bosco Eight (eight-team tournament) last Saturday in Bellflower.
The Cavaliers found things tough going with a 1-3 record in the classic that was hosted by a school, St. John Bosco, that had three MaxPreps United States national championships including last season. Serra did not play the Braves, but had just one win against Mater Dei Catholic from Chula Vista — but losses to Downey Warren, San Clemente and in the quarterfinals to Newport Beach Corona del Mar in a 29-28 tiebreaker.
Serra has three outstanding returning offensive players in seniors, running back Cincere
Rhaney along with wide receivers Zac Williams and Dakoda Fields. Rhaney scored two touchdowns, and Williams and Fields each had one as the Cavaliers and Sea Kings ended regulation tied at 28.
Both went into the tiebreaker where each team had one play on who went the furthest. Quarterback Jim Butler’s pass to Williams went only one yard whileCorona del Mar’s pass went about five yards and the Sea Kings edged Serra as they advanced to the semifinals against Carlsbad. Corona del Mar lost to Carlsbad, which went on to fall to St. John Bosco 21-13 as the Braves continued their dominance in their own classic.
St. John Bosco, which won the CIF-State championship by blanking San Mateo Serra 45-0 in 2022 at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, is, again, expected to be a top contender for the California state and national championships.
Also due back for the Cavaliers is junior defensive back-wide receiver Otis “Tre” Harrison. Harrison also caught a few passes as well as making several defensive plays in the four games.
“All three of losses came down to one play,” Serra head coach Scott Altenberg said.
Two weeks earlier at USC, Serra advanced to the semifinals before falling.
The Cavaliers rest for two weeks before beginning their practice for the 2023 season on July 24.
Serra begins its season on Aug. 18 against Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. The Cavaliers include the same schedule as last season with non-league games against Warren, L.A. Cathedral, Long Beach Poly and Westlake Village Oaks Christian. The Cavaliers continue to be in the Mission League with West Hills Chaminade, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, La Puente Bishop Amat, defending league and Southern Section Division II champion Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and Mission Hills Alemany.
Rosecrans Jrs. down Green Meadows; are No. 2 in region
The Rosecrans Junior Dodgers routed host Green Meadows 7-1 in the season finale of the Los Angeles Dodgers Dream League Region but had to settle for a second-place finish on July 5 at Green Meadows Park in Baldwin Hills.
That was due to an earlier forfeit loss to Green Meadows from a few weeks earlier due to numerous players out of action, most of them away with the families on vacation trips.
The Dodgers had a fine pitching performance by winning pitcher Angel Garcia who went six innings with nine strikeouts. At bat, he hit a two-run home run.
Daniel Avila was 3-for-3 with a single double and home run. Gardena High bound freshman Nathan Mata, son of team manager David Mata, picked up the save striking out all three batters he faced. He also went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a single and two runs batted in.
In another league game at Jackie Robinson Field in Compton, Team Cody Bellinger topped Team Mookie Betts 7-4 last Friday.
Nathan Mata had a two-run double and Andre Alvarez was the winning pitcher, allowing one unearned run in two innings of relief. Jordan Hernandez had one hit and scored a run. Daniel Sarna had an RBI (run batted in) single.
Cavs wins nine of last 12 games
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team is seeking a big improvement from a disappointing 2022-23 season and is enjoying a good summer.
At Fairfax on July 1, Serra won three of four games. After losing to host Fairfax, one of the top powers in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section, the Cavaliers recorded wins over Oakwood Academy, Lakewood Mayfair and La Canada-Flintridge St. Francis.
In the last game against St. Francis, the Cavaliers recorded a 63-51 victory.
After going 9-18 and finishing last at 0-10 in the Del Rey League the past regular season, Serra fielded a young team and has a large majority of its players back, including sophomore Kaleb Kearse, a first-team all-Del Rey League selection last season as a freshman.
Other returning players include senior Devin Shell, who is averaging 17 points and three steals per game, and sophomore Andre Nickerson. Nickerson is also on Serra’s football team as a tight end and wide receiver.
In beach volleyball, Gardena resident Chaim Schalk, a Canadian Olympian in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and partner Tri Borne, entered the Hermosa Beach Open as the top seed, but ended up only in third behind teams that included the Crabb brothers.
After winning their first three matches in two straight sets on Friday and Saturday, Schalk and Borne lost their Sunday morning semifinal to Taylor Crabb and T.S. Sander 17-21, 22-20, 15-12.
Taylor’s older brother, Trev- or and partner Theo Brunner won the championship in three sets against Taylor Crabb and Sander 19-21, 21-13, 15-10.
Winning the women’s championship were Corinne Quigne and Sarah Scherhorn who swept past Megan Rice and Souie Simo 21-15, 21-16.
