Baseball: Gardena Serra is about to become powerhouse

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With the addition of several transfer students, along with the presence of potential first-round draft pick Dominic Smith, Gardena Serra’s baseball team is about to join the football and basketball teams as a Southern Section powerhouse.

Smith is the draw. There were more than 30 scouts watching the Cavaliers at a recent winter game. He’s a pitcher-outfielder with power on the mound and at the plate.

But Serra has also benefited from transfers. Outfielder Trent Hammond has checked in from Mira Costa. Infielders Ryan Dobson and Robert Hunt have come in from St. Bernard. Pitcher Marcus Wilson arrived from Hamilton.

And the best transfers just arrived. The Bates brothers, junior outfielder Roosevelt Bates and sophomore pitcher Solomon Bates, checked in from Victor Valley. They are committed to USC.

So on paper, Serra has become a top 25 team. The big question will be can the Cavaliers play well enough defensively in big games?

-- Eric Sondheimer