sports/sports_6_5

The LookOut sports

Santa Monica Sports Notes

Play began this weekend in the Watts Summer Games and will continue next weekend. Crossroads is among the favorites in the basketball competition, led by 6-foot-10 center Isiah Fox. Santa Monica and St. Monica also have strong teams. The Mariners are led by 6-8 Sean Cole...

There was a time when girls high school basketball consisted of primarily in-season competition but now it has become practically a year-round endeavor too with summer leagues and tournaments...

Pacers forward Austin Croshere, who played at Crossroads, has elevated his status for the summer free agent recruiting period with his performance against the Lakers...

http://www.samohi.org http://www.nba.com/
lakers/index.htm

CIF Defeats City, 5-1, In Annual Westside Ballgame

By Mitch Chortkoff

In a game featuring several Santa Monica players the CIF defeated the L.A. City, 5-1 Sunday in the annual Westside All-Star baseball game at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Jonas Swyer of Samohi pitched the first two innings. His Viking teammate Eric Snow had a single and Crossroads right-hander Jon Cohen worked the final two innings.

Henry Angel of St. Monica also helped the winning team.

It looked like the City might duplicate last year's victory when it started fast. Swyer walked the first two batters and Brian Barton of Westchester, the co-MVP of the Western League, hit a towering double to right.

The City led, 1-0, and had runners on second and third with no outs. But Swyer escaped further trouble and the City didn't score again against Swyer, Brian Boardman of Brentwood, Cohen and Tony Walsh of Culver City.

The game is a highlight of the sports year. It brings together the best players on the Westside in a showcase. It gives them a chance to play in a beautiful stadium which is UCLA's home park.

It's a grand occasion for family and friends. And volunteers such as game director Bob Yarnall, the St. Bernard High baseball and coach and his new assistant, former Crossroads coach Rudy Valentino, help make it possible.

All the players received T-shirts courtesy of AIS, which makes athletic uniforms.

When this game is played it etches into my mind that the high school season is over and American Legion baseball is about to begin.

Bill Keep, who manages the Santa Monica Legion team, was on hand finalizing his roster. He will be assisted by Samohi coach Mike Czarnetzki.

The team plays Monday at Palisades High and Tuesday at Jackie Robinson Stadium against University High.

It seems like there's never an off-season in high school sports. When the regular school year schedule ends players move on to competition under a different umbrella.

Maybe that's why California has so many players in major league baseball. With our weather youngsters can play the year-round. Often, the more they play and the more instruction they receive the better they get.