Mitch Chortkoff
Mirror Sports Writer
Santa Monica High gained a share of the Ocean League baseball lead last week by shutting out Inglewood twice while Culver City split with Hawthorne.
Santa Monica and Culver City both have 6-2 league records with one week remaining in the regular season. Both are likely to qualify for the CIF playoffs. The league generally receives three berths and there’s a scramble among several teams for the third berth.
Last week Santa Monica defeated Inglewood, 11-0 and 13-0. Coach Kevin Brockway had hoped someone would defeat Culver City and that happened on Tuesday when Hawthorne came through. Culver City won a rematch on Thursday.
Santa Monica and Culver City split their two meetings and both teams have lost to one other league member.
Santa Monica’s hitting has been outstanding. Centerfielder Dylan Early has 26 RBI. Shortstop David Castellanos is batting .427, first baseman Diego Valdez .365, right fielder Devon Ramirez .355, third baseman Paul Salazar .364 and left fielder Milan De Pillars .346.
Another key to the season is the pitching of junior Joe McGrew, who was on the junior varsity last season but is now the biggest winner on the varsity, with a 7-2 record.
