Venice Squads Launch into the Season

It’s the middle of March, meaning for many of the spring sports, it’s time to bear down and begin league play. At Venice High, baseball is the only sport that is not opening league this week, but several teams will start to see where they stand. Let’s take a closer look:

Baseball

The Gondoliers bounced back from a 5-0 defeat to Bell to defeat Lincoln 12-7 on Friday. This week, the team has just one game at Granada Hills on Wednesday, before getting set to open Western League play against L.A. University next Monday.

“Granada Hills will be another great test for us," Coach Walter Fujita said. "We need these games before we go into league. I’m excited.”

Softball

The girls are preparing for league play this week, starting with Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Venice High. LACES has yet to win this year and the Gondoliers will have revenge on their minds as the Unicorns swept them last year.

Tennis

The boys tennis team has had 10 days off since its last match as it prepares for its Western League opener at Fairfax at 2:30 on Monday. Coach Randy Chew will once again not have his full lineup, but he is not concerned going into the match. 

“I’m feeling good about it," Chew said. "One of my top seven will be on a field trip, but we have beaten Fairfax before and I think we can do it again.”

Volleyball

Coach Allen Hunt and the boys team can finally let some butterflies out of their stomachs after finally getting on the court following a preseason that was full of injuries and ineligible players. Even though the Gondoliers lost to Sylmar in five sets last week, the match showed that they have both heart and talent. The team will have its first Western League test Monday when it travels to Fairfax at 4 p.m.

Venice continues league play at home on Wednesday against Westchester at 2:30 p.m. before hosting a nonleague match against St. Monica on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Now let’s take a look at the week ahead for Amino Venice Charter:

Baseball

Just like many of the Venice High sports, the Pirates' baseball squad starts league play this week. After a 10-day break, Animo Venice travels to Central City Value in its Crosstown League opener Monday at 2 p.m. The Pirates play Port of Los Angeles, away, on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. 

 Softball

The girls also begin their Crosstown League schedule on Monday having had 10 days to prepare. They will be on the road at Middle College at 2:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the squad will travel to Port of Los Angeles for a 2 p.m. game.