Beach Cities Sports
Recent Mira Costa graduate Eric Mochalski, shown with Head Coach Johns Hawks of Long Beach State, was a member of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Volleyball Team that won the NORCECA Junior (under-21) Men’s Continental Championship. Mochalski was the starting middle blocker for the USA squad that defeated Canada in the gold medal final at the Centre-Sportif de Gatineau in Quebec, Canada, on Aug. 21. It is the first time the U.S. has won the bi-annual tournament for North and Central America and the Caribbean which started in 1998. The team finished the tournament with a 5-0 record and qualified the U.S. for the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championships in Brazil.
Volleyball
California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) will be holding its annual California Cup State Championship this weekend at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Saturday’s action features Men’s A, AA, B, Open and Unrated divisions along with Women’s A, AA, Open and Unrated tournaments. Coed competition in A, Open and Unrated divisions compete on Sunday. Play begins at 9 a.m. each day. For more information or to register, visit www.cbva.com or contact tournament director JP Saikley at 310-220-9559.
The annual War of the Roses volleyball tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 a.m. on the south side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Hosted by the Beach Cities Ski Club, the tournament has traditionally been a mixed doubles event consisting of division AA, A, B1, B2 and Coed 4s. There is also a youth division and adult-child team tournament. No membership is required to participate. For more information, visit www.bcskiclub.org or contact Don Abbe, 310-433-3398, donabbe@aol.com, or Nick Gillett, mail@nick-g.com.
Golf
Shooting a 4-under-par 212, Lawrence Ree of Redondo Beach captured the championship at the Junior All-Star tournament held at Marshallia Ranch Golf Course on Vandenberg Air Force Base, Aug. 23-26. Ree battled from a two-stroke deficit after two rounds to win his first American Junior Golf Association title. The 68-player field featured 53 boys and 15 girls from seven states, Argentina, Brazil and Canada.
Football
The South Bay Skulls semi-pro football team travels to take on the Long Beach Lions Saturday at 7 p.m. The Skulls return home to face the San Luis Obispo Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Waller Stadium on the campus of Mira Costa High School. For more information or to purchase tickets, www.southbayskulls.com.
The Prank Monkey coed flag football on the beach tournament is back for its annual random draw event on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 10th Street and The Strand in Hermosa Beach. Individuals are welcome and no experience is necessary. All teams will be picked at random, playing a minimum of two games. The cost of the tournament is $25 per person. Pre-registration available at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. To ensure even teams, please sign up with an opposite sex co-entry. Those that do not sign up with an opposite sex co-entry may be wait listed. Contact Chris at cyj@prankmonkey.org or 310-877-3148 to RSVP or for assistance with registration.
The Smackbowl Men’s and Women’s Flag Football Tournament on the Beach returns Saturday, Nov. 13 at 10th & the Strand in Hermosa Beach. Teams created in advance by captains, 5 on 5 (maximum of 10 players per team) begin play promptly at 10:30 a.m. The cost of the tournament is $160 per team via pre-registration only at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, or online at www.hermosabch.org. Individuals must contact organizers in advance to be assigned a team for the tournament. For more information, contact Chris at cyj@prankmonkey.org or 310-877-3148.
Basketball
Dave Miller, former New Orleans Hornets/NCAA basketball coach will host his Saturday Night Basketball League from Sept. 4 through Nov. 27 for boys and girls ages 6-14. The girls league will be held from 5-6 p.m. followed by the boys from 6-7 p.m. at the Spectrum Athletic Club South Bay. The league emphasizes the fundamentals of the game in a safe, positive learning environment while producing life skills that will last on and off the court. To reserve a spot, call 310-995-2932 or e-mail coach@mvpcamp.com.
The first ever Coed 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament from Smack & Prank Monkey will be held Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Equinox Fitness South Bay, 5400 Rosecrans Ave. in Manhattan Beach. The event benefits the Southern California Foundation for Children (SCFC – www.socalfc.org) by offering a part of the proceeds! Each randomly picked team will play a minimum of three games on a half-court. The cost of the tournament is $20 per person if pre-registered and $25 the day of the tournament. Pre-registration available with Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org, Anna, anna@prankmonkey.org or Bill, bill@smacksportswear.com. ER