Samo defeats Culver City 6-5 to win the crown

The Samo boys’ baseball team are crowned league champions. The Vikings beat Culver City 6-5 on Tuesday, Apr. 28 to clinch the Ocean League title and finish league play at a perfect 7-0, sitting 13-9 overall on the season.

It is the program’s second straight league title, extending their Ocean League win streak to 25-0 over two years. 

Head coach Jordan Sigman knew coming into the season that his roster would be young. Three or four sophomores get regular playing time alongside a mix of juniors and just a handful of seniors. Getting that group to compete—and come together—was the challenge. Sigman elaborated on the team’s journey throughout the year. 
“As we’ve gone through some ups and downs through the season, they’ve really started to come together,” Sigman said.

Key player Jack Waterstone (’26) expanded on the idea of brotherhood among players.

“It’s probably the closest team I've ever played with in my entire life. We've got guys from every different grade level,” Waterstone said. “The fact that everybody comes from a different place has made everybody closer.”

That growth showed up against a tough non-league schedule. Wins over Simi Valley, Newbury Park and Calabasas gave the team confidence heading into league play, and Sigman says the experience will matter when CIF arrives. 

A big part of the team’s success has come from unexpected leadership. Senior Kaveh Naini (’26), who saw limited time as a junior, has emerged as one of the team’s most complete players—leading the team with a .491 on-base percentage while contributing on the mound as well. Jack Waterstone has taken ownership of the pitching staff, keeping his fellow pitchers accountable on a daily basis. That culture of accountability shows up in numbers: Ryan Lance (’27) holds a 1.95 ERA, and Jordan Anderson (’27) leads the team in batting average at .377.
With the league title secured, attention turns to CIF. Sigman has been clear about the goal: a CIF championship the program has not won in over 50 years.

“That would be a dream come true,” he said.

Brandon Banks / Contributor

Boys baseball gathers in the dugout.