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| I like what I see of Alex Cora By Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor As the Dodgers try to figure out which young players are going to be prominent in the future Alex Cora is doing his best to impress them.. Culver City Prep Sports Alex Cora |
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 I like what I see of Alex CoraBy Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor As the Dodgers try to figure out which young players are going to be prominent in the future Alex Cora is doing his best to impress them. The native of Puerto Rico is a 24-year-old former third round draft choice (1996) who is getting to play regularly now. The Dodgers are in a pennant race but have chosen Cora over veteran Kevin Elster, which shows they believe in him. Recent visits to Dodger Stadium have given me a chance to watch Cora closely. First, I like his size (6-0, 180) and his swing. He's hitting about .260 but has the look of someone who could hit for a higher average with added confidence and experience. What separates Cora from the competition at shortstop is his range. He's a graceful athlete who flows in either direction to run down grounders. Cora got off to a slow start this season. He was demoted to Aluquerque after Elster won the job in spring training. When Elster hit three home runs opening day in San Francisco it appeared he'd keep the job. But an injury to Elster, combined with Cora's good work in the minors leagues led to a change. Cora was brought back and following some more uncertainty moved up in the club's plans. Last season Cora batted only .167 in 11 games with the Dodgers. He missed half the season at Albuquerque with a fractured right hand after being hit with a pitch in spring training. With three hits in Sunday's game he extended his batting streak to nine games. Cora has the look of a kid on the rise. MOVING DOWN -- If the Dodgers hope to get into the playoffs they can't do what they did last weekend -- lose a series to a lowly opponent. The Dodgers won the first game over the Milwaukee Brewers but lost the next two. The Sunday defeat, 9-6, occurred when starter Ismael Valdes had an awful outing. If your pitching falters you can lose to anyone. The Brewers are last in the National League in hitting but took a 7-0 lead in the first two innings. The Dodgers are in the race but won't pass the Diamondbacks or Giants until their pitching straightens out. FAST START -- The 8-0 start by Matt Herges is the best by a major league rookie since Livan Hernandez won his first nine decisions in 1997. The last Dodger with an eight-game winning streak was Pedro Martinez in 1993. Herges leads all National League rookies in wins. NOT PLAYING FAVORITES -- When Gary Sheffield homered against Milwaukee last weekend it gave him at least one homer against all 29 major league teams that he has faced. He has never played against Tampa Bay. HOW IT BREAKS DOWN - The Dodgers are currently playing a 31-game strecth against teams from the East and Central divisions. Then they'll conclude the season with 22 against the West. ADAMS IS SHARP -- Reliever Terry Adams has allowed only one run in his last eight appearances. He has pitched 13 innings in that stretch with an 0.69 ERA. DODGERS THIS WEEK -- Thursday: off. Friday through Sunday: at Atlanta. Monday through Wednesday:at Florida. ANGELS THIS WEEK -- Thursday: off. Friday through Sunday: home vs. New York Yankees. Monday: off. Tuesday and Wednesday: at Toronto. |
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| Summer Leagues Give Coaches Chance To Evaluate Players for Next Season Nakanishi Impressed with Talent By Mike Cohen Where the strain associated with fielding winning teams is reserved for the regular season, summer leagues offer Culver City High School coaches the stress-free opportunity to evaluate player talent in game scrimmages. Records and game scores are kept, but quickly dismissed when the leagues end several weeks later in the heat of summer. Providing ample playing time for incoming freshman along with former junior varsity students, Lady Centaur varsity head coach Jack Nakanishi has this past month evaluated some 30 basketball players at workouts and "under fire" in summer league games. "I can see what fundamentals they need to learn. There’s a lot of potential with some of the raw kids in the program. These girls can help the program," said Nakanishi. What Nakanishi could not diagnose two weeks ago was his sweating bouts. After checking into the hospital, Nakanishi was diagnosed with heart failure, which was resolved with angioplasty to clear an artery. He has resumed much of his normal activity, and after next Monday’s checkup, is expected to be a lot better. "I’m watching what I’m eating—vegetables fruits and chicken," said Nakanishi. In summer league games against westside schools, freshmen Bianca Schofield and Angelie Lequang impressed the Centaur mentor. Schofield rebounds and hustles. Lequang shoots well from the perimeter, gets in good position for rebounding, and handles the ball well, according to Nakanishi. Junior Valerie Harada showed on the courts this summer that she has improved since last season, according to Nakanishi. "Valerie handles the ball well, is smart, and has good court sense," said Nakanishi. Junior guard Jennifer Tanaka also possesses good court sense and shoots well, noted Nakanishi. Junior Vanessa Zayas and senior Ivy Baldeo have been scrappers, this summer, diving after balls with abandon. "Ivy and Vanessa get banged up, and they bounce back," said Nakanishi. Starter Audrey Lewis has picked up her game since last season, noted Nakanishi. Sophomores Kelly Kawashima, Amber Moffett, Leilani Horino, and Joy Gold played well this summer and are expected to contribute on the junior varsity and varsity squads. Freshmen Julie Horino, Jaymie Heyl, Harmony McIntyre, Nickey Nelson, Annette Reyes, and Sarah Taylor will learn the system quickly and star on the freshman squad and possibly jump up to the upper class teams. Starters Crystal Lewis, Tiffany Porter, and Candace Sargent saw limited summer league action, because of conflicts with other sports and vacations. "They didn’t have to play much this summer, because we know what they can do," said Nakanishi. In summer leagues hosted by Culver City and Santa Monica, the Lady Centaurs played Hamilton, Santa Monica, St. Monica, Notre Dame, Pacific Hills, Brentwood, New Roads, Windward, Mary Star of the Sea and Mt. St. Mary’s. Culver City reached the CIF playoffs, last spring, losing in the first round to South Hills. The Lady Centaurs were tied for third in the Ocean League. |
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