The defending CIF champion Culver City varsity football team kicks off the 2019 season in five weeks against West Torrance on the road. This year the Centaurs will continue to have a balance attack running and throwing the ball.

When they put the pigskin in the air junior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus will have plenty of weapons to throw to. Senior wide receivers Khari Crump and Chris Miller are just two of the many talented wide outs on the 2019 team. Add running back Mekhi Evans-Bey to the mix and the Centaurs should light up the score board once again.

For the past seven years Culver City has produced two of the best quarterbacks in school history in Jonathan Martin and now Eckhaus........

The Dodgers still have the best record in baseball. They start a six game road trip on Friday and they return home on Thursday August 1 against San Diego for a four game series. They continue their 10 game home stand against the St Louis Cardinals on August 5, 6, and 7. They finish the home stand when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 9, 10 and 11.

Versatility has helped to keep the Dodgers on top with a record of 67-35 at press time. Manager Dave Roberts has so many interchangeable players it's like watching musical chairs on the baseball field.

Seven of the Dodgers 13 position players play multiple positions. Chris Taylor, Max Muncy, Kiki Hernandez, David Freeze, Alex Verdugo, Joc Pederson Cody Bellinger all play different positions.

"The versatility is something we have done the last four years," said Roberts last week at Dodger Stadium. "We have a roster that lends itself to that. It makes my job much easier. To have these guys have that ability to understand that this is what makes our ball club better. It poses matchup problems."

With the combination of versatile players, a very good starting pitching rotation and lively bats the Dodger still need to play better defense, Last week the Dodgers had committed at least two errors in seven consecutive games. "I can't recall the last time we played a clean game," said Roberts last week. "We are going to keep working to get better. I see a clean game in the future."

The Clippers held a press conference last Wednesday to introduce their two superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. What made that press conference unique is it was held at Green Meadows Recreation Center in south Los Angeles.

Not only will the players be there, the owner, Steve Ballmer, President of Basketball Operations, Lawrence Franks and Clipper coach Doc Rivers will also attend the press conference.

Green Meadows is one of over 340 Los Angeles Recreation Centers that the Clippers have renovated their basketball courts.....

George Laase

Dodger's manager, Dave Roberts, finds some quiet time before the game last Saturday against the Marlins to make out the starting line up. He has plenty of options because so many of his players can play different positions.

The LAFC will battle Atlanta on Friday at the Banc of California Stadium at 7 p.m. and the Sparks of the WNBA will send two players to Las Vegas to play in the WNBA All-Star game on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray will represent the Sparks.

This sports column is dedicated to former Culver City Observer Editor and Sports Editor Mitch Chortkoff.

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