The advancement of Santa Monica’s American Legion baseball team in the playoffs has ended.
Santa Monica, operating without several key players who had schedule conflicts, lost to Azusa and Panorama City in the double elimination event.
The team was comprised primarily of Santa Monica High players and coached by Samohi’s Kevin Brockway. It had a 10-2 record in league play.
“We played very well most of the season,” said Brockway.
Many of the players will be in weight training in August and will take a baseball class at Samohi when the semester begins in September. Some will play in a fall league where high school coaches are not permitted to guide teams.
Brockway said efforts are being made to upgrade next season’s Samohi baseball schedule. Most positions will be manned by seniors and strong opposition in non-league games is being sought.
Joe McGrew, an all-CIF first team choice, will head the Vikings’ pitching staff. The 6-foot-3 lefthander will be a senior.
Last season Samohi finished second to Culver City in the Ocean League. The League’s MVP, Jeremy Burrell of Culver City, is strongly considering pitching for Loyola Marymount U. next season, but hasn’t committed officially.
Samohi was the league champion in 2004, Brockway’s first season.
