The month of May seems a long time ago. That is when Palos Verdes High School knocked Culver City’s baseball team out of the CIF playoffs, 2-1.

Now is time to regroup and get ready for next season. It starts with summer baseball.

“Summer gives us the opportunity to help improve our returning players,” Coach Rick Prieto said before the Centaurs’ 4-3 win over Santa Monica on Tuesday. “It also gives us a chance to see potential varsity players for next year. We are looking good as far as numbers are concerned.

“Numbers are great,” said Prieto. “We need good players within those numbers.”

Culver City has 42 players in the summer program, including incoming ninth graders through returning varsity players.

The three teams, varsity, junior varsity and freshmen, have separate workout schedules.

“I take great pride in watching young players come into our program,” said Prieto. “I watch them improve. They develop into better players who improve their character and their work in the classroom,” said Prieto.

Once again the Centaurs will rely on their pitching for next season. Nolan Martinez will try to replace one of the best pitchers in Culver City history, Jay Sterner. Good pitching, though, will only take you so far. If the Centaurs expect to advance deep into the CIF playoffs they will need to produce timely hitting.

Their batting cages were under construction for more than half the schedule this past season. A full year in the cages should make a difference.

Prieto said new drills will be implemented.

“Basically it all comes down to baseball 101,” he said. “You have to execute the fundamentals to be successful. It is all about hitting, pitching, running, throwing and fielding.”

Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com