Prep Wrap-Up : Serra in Hunt for Playoffs

Darren Fleming was a freshman at Serra High the last time the Cavaliers qualified for the CIF baseball playoffs. That was in 1974.

Fourteen years later, Fleming is in his first season as Serra’s head coach, and the playoff drought could be nearing an end.

Serra moved into sole possession of second place in the Camino Real League on Saturday by defeating Verbum Dei, 15-2, at Jackie Robinson Park in Compton. With six games left, the Cavaliers (6-2) have a good chance to secure one of the league’s three guaranteed spots in the 2-A Division playoffs.

“We seem to be gaining confidence with each game,” Fleming said. “We lost to Mary Star in the first round of league play and (Wednesday) we beat them, 12-0.”

Fleming took over the team five games into the season when Bob Flemming, the coach for the previous four years, resigned following a verbal dispute with Serra track Coach Gilbert Cabaong over use of the locker room.

Since then, Serra (9-13 overall) has played .500 ball. Saturday’s victory was the Cavaliers’ fifth straight in league play.

“Darren Fleming is doing a really good job over there,” said Coach Bob Yarnall of league leader St. Bernard (9-0). “He’s got them swinging the bat and running and playing pretty good defense.”

Yarnall should know. Serra threw a scare into St. Bernard on April 9. The Cavaliers took a lead into the seventh inning, but the 2-A’s top-ranked team pulled out a 6-5 win on a two-run homer by Royce Clayton.

“I think we’re capable of playing with anyone in league,” Fleming said. “Even though we lost, that game proved a lot to our players.”

Serra’s balanced lineup is headed by pitcher/second baseman Paul Beaman, third baseman Chris Jones, catcher Kevin Kay, shortstop Cris Aldridge and outfielder Torrie Sweet.

The Cavaliers will get another crack at St. Bernard when the teams meet at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Serra.

Fleming, a scout for the Atlanta Braves and a former pro player, was asked to project when the South Bay’s top major-league prospects would be taken in the June draft.

* St. Bernard shortstop Royce Clayton: “He’ll definitely be a first-round pick.”

* Redondo pitcher/infielder Scott Davison: “He’ll probably go in the first round. If not, he’ll go in the second.”

* El Segundo first baseman Heath Jones: “He’ll be one of the first 150 players drafted.”

South Torrance softball Coach Jerry McIlvaine says a mid-season position change has helped his team surge into first place in the Bay League.

The Spartans were no better than the third-best team in the league early this season, but since moving freshman Gillian Boxx from catcher to shortstop, they have won eight of their last nine games.

South continued its torrid pace on Friday. Ginger Ales pitched a three-hitter and Boxx drove in two runs to help the Spartans (8-3) beat West Torrance, 6-0, and maintain a one-game lead over Torrance (7-4) in the standings.

Boxx again led the defense, making all the routine plays and the difficult ones, too. Her nicest play came when she went into shallow left field to catch a fly ball tailing away from her.

“She’s super,” McIlvaine said. “She knows all the little intricacies of the game. I hope she continues to improve because she’ll be a superstar.”

Boxx tops the team with a .333 batting average and is among the leaders in runs batted in (eight) and stolen bases (13).

Another underclassman, sophomore pitcher Julie DeJaifre, also has played a big role in South’s hot streak. She is 4-1, including 3-0 in league.

McIlvaine debated Friday whether to start DeJaifre or Ales against West. He opted for Ales, the senior, and it turned out to be a good choice.

Ales shut out the league’s third-place team, striking out nine and walking none. Said McIlvaine: “She pitched her best game of the year.” Ales is 8-5 overall and 6-3 in league.

South (12-6 overall) completes league play with two games this week against Rolling Hills and two the following week against North Torrance. Since neither opponent is considered particularly strong, McIlvaine feels good about South’s shot at a title.

“We’re in control of our destiny,” he said. “If we tie with Torrance, they’ll get the nod (as the league’s top playoff representative) because they beat us two out of three.”

If South wins the championship, it will be McIlvaine’s first Bay League title since 1984. That’s the year he was an assistant coach for the South baseball team that captured the CIF 4-A championship.

Coach Ron Tatum guided Morningside to its fourth consecutive Pioneer League track title on Friday, as the Monarchs romped past Miraleste, 86-17, to finish with a 5-0 record in dual meets.

Ray Wakefield won both hurdles races, anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay team and was second in the 100 for the defending CIF 2-A champions.

Another impressive track effort was turned in Thursday by Rolling Hills and sprinter John Sabio.

The Titans edged rival Palos Verdes, 65-62, to wrap up the Bay League dual meet championship with a 5-0 record. Sabio contributed by winning the 200 and 400 and anchoring both first-place relays.

Brett Austin of South Torrance earned a reputation as a hitter last fall when he played tight end and linebacker for the football team. He was named the Bay League most valuable player.

Now he’s earning kudos as a volleyball player.

The 6-5 senior had 20 kills Thursday to help South (5-3 in league, 13-8 overall) stay in second place with a 15-7, 15-13, 4-15, 4-15, 15-4 win over Palos Verdes.