PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Leuzinger High Baseball Team Again Forfeits to Hawthorne

The Leuzinger High baseball team, after forfeiting last Thursday’s Bay League game with Hawthorne because of a disagreement between then-Coach Derrel Thomas and several of his players, on Wednesday forfeited the rescheduled game.

Leuzinger Principal Sonja Davis decided not to play the game Wednesday morning, according to Athletic Director Steve Carnes, although the Centinela Valley Union High School District had ruled that the game would be replayed.

“I thought it was in the best interests of both schools,” Carnes said. “I think it was a good decision.”

Carnes said Davis wanted to reschedule the game because she felt the players were being unfairly punished.

“She was trying to do something to boost the kids’ morale,” he said.

Hawthorne Coach Lester Sakurai, whose team is in a four-way tie for second place in the Bay League, was happy to bury the problem. If the Cougars had played Wednesday, it meant they would have had three games in three days.

“I’m relieved,” he said, “because we’ve gone through quite a crisis the last couple of days. But our kids got through it and I think it has helped them mentally and emotionally.”

Hawthorne faces Inglewood today in a game the Cougars must win to strengthen their playoff chances. Leuzinger, which has been eliminated from playoff contention, finishes against Santa Monica.

Last Thursday’s game was declared a forfeit by Thomas after only six players arrived to take the team bus, while the remaining seven members drove to the game in their cars. Nine players quit after they were not allowed to play by Thomas but were reinstated after Thomas resigned Friday.

“Hawthorne was in a tough position,” Carnes said. “They were basically being punished for our problem.”

Miraleste 4, Cantwell 3--Sophomore Paul Lemire drove in two runs and junior right-hander Jason Mavar pitched a complete game as the Marauders clinched a tie for second place in the Camino Real League at Miraleste.

The playoff-bound Marauders (17-8 overall, 9-2 in league play) took a 4-0 lead through three innings, getting a leadoff homer from Lemire in the first and three runs in the third when Mike Bronaugh squeezed home a run, Lemire had an RBI single and Mike Ryan walked with the bases loaded.

Mavar, who gave up three runs in the fourth, allowed seven hits and struck out seven to improve to 8-3 on the season.

Cantwell dropped into third place with its third Camino Real setback.

Mary Star 14, Salesian 0--The Stars clinched the Camino Real League title and extended their winning streak to 16 games behind a one-hitter by Rick Ibarra and six RBIs from George Pisano, who hit a three-run homer, at Fromhold Field in San Pedro.

Mary Star improved to 19-5 overall and 11-0 in league play heading into its regular-season finale at 3 p.m. Friday at Miraleste.

Ibarra (9-2) lost a no-hitter with two outs in the sixth. Miguel Galaz and Rich Negrete each went four for four and doubled for the Stars.

Culver City 8, Mira Costa 0--Right-hander John Wade pitched a four-hit shutout and the Centaurs broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning en route to an Ocean League victory at Mira Costa.

The loss dropped Mira Costa into a third-place tie with Redondo with 8-5 records. The teams meet at 3 p.m. Friday at Redondo for the final playoff berth from the league. The Mustangs fell to 12-8 overall.

Culver City, which had clinched the Ocean title, improved to 19-6 overall and 12-1 in league play.

Redondo 3, Centennial 1--Sophomore Brian Fitzgerald threw a six-hitter and Mike Houck went three for three with a triple to lead the Sea Hawks to an Ocean League win at Centennial.

Robbie Zeller and Chris Kimbro had RBI singles, while Brian Davison drove in a run on a groundout for Redondo (14-12 overall, 8-5 in league play).

St. Paul 4, Bishop Amat 0--Bishop Montgomery, needing a St. Paul victory to clinch the Angelus League’s third and final playoff berth, got it as Pepperdine-bound Steve Duda pitched a shutout at St. Paul.

“We’re happy to get in,” said Bishop Montgomery Coach Bob Anderson, whose team completed league play last week with a 5-7 record. Fourth-place Bishop Amat dropped to 3-8 and out of playoff contention.

It marks the first time the Knights have qualified for the playoffs in football, basketball or baseball in 14 years in the Angelus League.