Venice High Teams Await Their Playoff Fates

The second week of May means it's playoff time at Venice High School. Some teams are entering the heart of the playoffs, while others anxiously await their postseason fate. Here's a closer look: 

Baseball

The Gondoliers will be on pins and needles all week, as they have a bye week to end the season. With 18 teams in the City Section Division I playoff bracket, Venice is currently on the outside looking in according to maxpreps, as they are ranked 19th in the section.

“We are right square on the bubble right now, and it’s going to be tough to get in," Coach Walter Fujita said. "There are a lot of good teams out there, and we will be fortunate to get in.”

Garfield, which is currently ranked 18th, has two games left this week and those results will have a bearing on whether or not Venice makes the tounament.

Softball

The Gondoliers wrapped up the regular season last weekend at the Spring Fling Tournament after going 8-4 in Western League play, with all four losses coming at the hands of first-place Palisades and second-place Westchester. The City seeding meeting is Monday night.

Boys Volleyball

The Gondoliers are preparing for their first-round playoff matchup against Monroe at 7 p.m. Tuesday in North Hills. Coach Allen Hunt is focused on controlling what his team can do to spring the upset. Venice is the No. 10 seed and Monroe is No. 7.

“We can focus all we want on our opponent but in the end it comes down to us," Hunt said. "If we get focused and buckle down on our mistakes, we should be just fine. If not, we're in trouble, but if they can’t get up for this game, I don’t know when they will.”

Boys Tennis

The Gondoliers' season ended last Friday at the hands of league rival Hamilton. The second-seeded Yankees defeated Venice, 17 1/2 to 12, in the quarterfinals of the City Division II playoffs.

Swimming

The boys and girls swim squads are preparing for Tuesday's league finals meet at Palisades. The results will determine where individual swimmers and relays are seeded for the City preliminaries.

Now let’s take a closer look at the week ahead for Animo Venice Charter:

Baseball

The Pirates come into the week on the heels of their disappointing 9-3 loss to Community Harvest. The team wraps up its season with two more games, hosting Animo Robinson on Monday at 3 p.m., then traveling to Animo De La Hoya for another 3 p.m. game Wednesday.

Softball

The girls wrap up their tough season Monday at 3 p.m. with a road game at Animo Robinson.