Compton Baseball, Watts kids, Aussies & American College Cricket !
Centennial High School in Compton’s alumni include Dr Dre and baseball players Tony Franklin, Reggie Smith, and Roy White. Among the many famous people Compton itself has produced are Venus and Serena Williams ,Ice Cube, Packers’ BJ Raji, Knicks’ Tyson Chandler, and former NFL-er and current ESPN analyst Marcus Wiley. PHOTO : Coach Pickins
If its up to David Sentance, Coach Gerald Pickins or Mustafa Khan we could see an American College Cricket star from Compton or Watts. Coach Pickins believes in the benefit of cross-training the Centennial HS Baseball team in cricket ! Coach has sent over 35 players to MLB iincluding mega stars such as Darryl Strawberry,Eric Davis & Coco Crisp so he knows what’s talking about !
This past Saturday, working with American College Cricket’s David Sentance and covered by TV Asia’s cameras Coach Perkins’ HS Baseball boys met a touring team of Australians boys (aged over 60 years) for some coaching, fun and a brief cricket match. As David described it,
“Aussie cricket coaches teaching Watts youngsters cricket, Compton baseballers playing cricket to cross train and finished off with a 60+ cricket game, all are something to celebrate. The finest touch, Mama Sheen singing Kookaboro along with the Aussies as she cradled her gift of a Kookaboro in her arms. Special day, the hood coming together as a Long Beach police helicopter flew above to witness.”
Sentance has for years taught cricket to kids in Watts, and with Mustafa Khan (a 6’6 former Harlem Globetrotter) specifically with the kids at Sheenway School & Culture Center. Now, with American College Cricket, and the support of TV Asia,Coca Cola & Dish Network, the effort to bring the game to kids in the “inner-city”, as well as connect with baseball players has been extended greatly.
Back on June 5, 2011 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah and 4 of his players played cricket with Little League boys on the lawns as part of the “Swinging Away – How Cricket & Baseball connect” Exhibition.
Jodah said, “Thanks to David Sentance, Mustafa Khan,Coach Pickins, Mama Sheen & all who made this event happen. We hope to continue coaching the Centennial HS Baseball team, and have them as special guests at the next American College Cricket West Coast Championship.
Opportunities to connect high school kids with college, through sports or otherwise, are valuable.”
