NBC State Tournament Opens Today

The Valley Dodgers open play in the National Baseball Congress state tournament at 1 p.m. today against the Orange County A’s at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino.

The Dodgers, defending tournament champions, are 15-3 overall and 9-3 and in first place in the Golden State League. To qualify for the NBC World Series in Wichita later this month, the Dodgers must finish atop the league standings or win the eight-team state tournament. Last season, the Dodgers finished seventh in the World Series.

The San Bernardino Indians, also from the Golden State League, are playing host to the double-elimination tournament, which runs today through Sunday. If the Dodgers defeat Orange County, they may face league rival San Diego in the second round. San Diego (14-4, 6-2) split a four-game series with the Dodgers last weekend. In all, six teams from the Golden State League are entered.

Left-hander Fred Riscen is scheduled to start today for the Dodgers. Riscen is 3-0 with a 3.43 earned-run average and has 15 strikeouts and one walk in 21 innings.

Third baseman Lorenzo Lesky leads the team with a .500 average and has 11 hits in his past 19 at-bats. First baseman Rob Scott is batting .485 and shares the team lead in home runs (5) and runs batted in (14).