By Chris Chandler

Mirror Contributing Writer

   The Santa Monica East All-Star team is having trouble putting their best game together in the playoffs. Leading up to the District 25 Championships last Thursday at La Cienega Park, the team averaged less than 3 runs a game. Luckily, behind strong pitching (Cody Decker threw 2 no-hitters), and good team defense, the team only gave up a total of 2 runs over those four games.

   In last Thursday's game, the Santa Monica team defense couldn't hold up against the Culver National team's hitting -- they gave up two early runs on errors -- but their own bats came alive as they prevailed 13-6. Cody Decker and Shaun Wild combined for 5 home runs, including back-to-back blasts in the third inning. Decker got the win and gave up only 2 hits in his third strong pitching performance of the playoffs.

   The win put a Santa Monica team into the Section 3 tournament for the first time since 1982. "I think the expectation has been that the Santa Monica teams just aren't good enough to move on," says coach Mike White, "but we got a huge lift when Cody no-hit the traditional winner [North Venice] in the first game 4-0."

   Unfortunately, things did not start off so well in the Section tournament on Saturday, as Santa Monica went down to defeat 14-10 to the team from Torrance. Problems began before the game when the teams' #2 starting pitcher, Michael Walsh, came down with the flu. Santa Monica jumped out to a 7-run lead in the first inning, but was unable to hold on against a determined Torrance attack.

   But anything can happen in a double elimination tournament, and a measure of redemption came on Sunday in the form of a 10-4 win over El Segundo. Decker, the star of the District tournament, turned in another fine performance, pitching a 3-hitter and going 3-4 at the plate. "I was really proud of the way they all came together today after losing that big lead against Torrance," coach White said on Sunday. "All the teams in these tournaments are good," White continued, "but what separates the good from the special is teamwork, and our kids have really showed a lot of team spirit so far."