Sports Scoop
Torrance 13s are eliminated in Pac-SC regionals
By Joe Snyder
GVN Correspondent
The Torrance 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-star baseball team saw its season come to an end with an eight-inning 3-2 loss to Santa Maria in the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament last Saturday in Surprise, Ariz.
Torrance, the Southern California champion, began with a loss to Santa Maria, before winning two consecutive games. Torrance, again, fell to Santa Maria, the Central California champion.
Sports Scoop
Torrance 13s are eliminated in Pac-SC regionals
By Joe Snyder
GVN Correspondent
The Torrance 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-star baseball team saw its season come to an end with an eight-inning 3-2 loss to Santa Maria in the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament last Saturday in Surprise, Ariz.
Torrance, the Southern California champion, began with a loss to Santa Maria, before winning two consecutive games. Torrance, again, fell to Santa Maria, the Central California champion.
The Torrance 15-year-old team, which also captured the Southern California title, began the Pacific Southwest Regionals last Tuesday in Ukiah against Northern California champion San Benito.
The winner of the 10-team double elimination tournament advances to the World Series, which will be held from Aug. 17-24 in Loudoun, Va.
Serra, Gardena begin football practice: After a so-called “Dead Week”, Serra and Gardena High’s football teams, along with other local squads, began their practice on Monday.
The Cavaliers have several other returnees, including senior running back Malik Roberson who is coming back from a torn ACL he suffered while long jumping at the 2013 CIF-Southern Section Masters Track and Field Championships. Roberson returned to track and field late last season.
Serra also has a few key transfers.
The Cavaliers begin their season on Aug. 29 at home against Lakewood.
Serra stays in the Mission League but with a different look that will move up to the prestigious PAC Five. Its opponents include Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, La Puente Bishop Amat, Encino Crespi, Mission Hills Alemany, Chaminade and Los Angeles Loyola.
Last season, the Cavaliers finished at 13-1 and were the top seed in the CIF-Southern Section Western Division playoffs. Serra was upset by its Del Rey League foe West Hills Chaminade in the division finals. The Eagles went on to capture the California State Division II title.
During last season, Serra was ranked as high as seventh in the United States. This year, the Cavaliers begin rated 19th in the nation by Maxpreps.
The Panthers struggled with a 2-8 overall record and 0-5 in the Marine League but return several key top players in quest to improve from that.
Gardena starts its season on Sept. 5 at home against Verbum Dei from South L.A.
The Panthers continue to play in the rigid Marine League that includes Wilmington Banning, Carson, Harbor City Narbonne, San Pedro and South L.A. Washington.
Did Dodgers need to trade for starting pitcher?: The Los Angeles Dodgers ended up backing down in a trade for a starting pitcher thinking that what they had was enough for contention for a pennant and World Series.
So far, starters Dan Haren and Josh Beckett have been struggling with losses to the lowly Chicago Cubs last weekend at Dodger Stadium.
Beckett was injured for awhile after a successful late May and June that included a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Haren has five losses in a row and things appear not to get any better for him.
The trading deadline passed by last Thursday. However, they can get some luck if any other teams’ place a starting pitcher on waivers or they can trade for a player to be named later.
Their other pitchers, ace Clayton Kershaw, Zack Grienke and Hyun-Jin Ryu are doing well.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers began their annual four-game Freeway Series against the Los Angeles-Anaheim Angels last Monday and runs through tonight. The series began in what should be a good pitching duo between the Angels’ Garrett Richards and the Dodgers’ Grienke last Monday at Dodger Stadium.
The two teams continued on Tuesday at Dodger \Stadium with last night and tonight at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Kershaw pitched last Tuesday.
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Bullock captures Hermosa to Manhattan Pier Ocean Swim
By Joe Snyder
GVN Correspondent
Ryan Bullock of Torrance captured the Hermosa Beach to Manhattan Beach Pier Two-Mile Ocean Swim last Sunday.
The 30-year-old Bullock was timed in 37 minutes and 54 seconds in mostly glassy but good ocean conditions. Bullock was able to defeat last year’s champion Kevin Fink of San Pedro, who was second at 38:57. Fink, who is 18 years old, just graduated from Mary Star of the Sea High in San Pedro.
Cory Mayfield, 20, of Torrance finished third in 39:17
For the women, 28-year-old Mallory Mead from West L.A. topped her field clocking 43:21. Mead won a thrilling race by one second over runner-up and long time lifeguard Diane Graner-Gallas, who was a close second in 43:22. Placing third was Isabella Siering from Santa Monica timing 43:35.
Taking fourth through 10th, respectively, were Amy Dentzler (Rancho Palos Verdes, 22, 44:07), Kelly Perry (Weaver, Illinois, 35, 45:17), Danielle Wong (Rancho Palos Verdes, 22, 45:45), Cara Davidoff (Los Angeles, 28, 46:55), Myka Winder (Los Angeles, 28, 48:13), Heather Kube (Oxnard, 36, 10th, respectively, were Amy Dentzler (Rancho Palos Verdes, 22, 44:07), Kelly Perry (Weaver, Illinois, 35, 45:17), Danielle Wong (Rancho Palos Verdes, 22, 45:45), Cara Davidoff (Los Angeles, 28, 46:55), Myka Winder (Los Angeles, 28, 48:13), Heather Kube (Oxnard, 36, 48:23) and Hanna Kim (Torrance, 13, 48:50).
The top finisher from Gardena was 41-year-old Arthur Krispia, who took 582nd overall and 69th for the male 40-44 age group at 1:12:09.
The event also included a wetsuit division. That was won by 29-year-old Jonathan Harmse in 43:57. Katie Gage (age 26) won the women’s wetsuit clocking 51:54.
The race was done in cloudy weather with some light rain.
