Valley Dodgers Open Tournament Against San Diego

The San Fernando Valley Dodgers will meet San Diego Rainbow Steel at 4 p.m. today in the first round of the third National Baseball Congress Southern California tournament at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino.

The 12-team, double-elimination tournament will continue through Sunday at both Fiscalini Field and UC Riverside.

The Dodgers (20-6), who play in the Golden State League, are ranked second in the state behind Santa Maria, the Central California titlist. Eight teams from the Golden State League and four at-large teams are participating in the tournament. San Bernardino, the host club, is the defending champion.

The Dodgers will be without pitcher Lorin Jundy (4-0), who Friday signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals. Jundy’s loss has sent the Dodgers on a statewide hunt for another pitcher.

Other first-round games include the Brea Brewers vs. San Marcos Kings at 10 a.m. at UC Riverside, the San Diego Gems vs. the Riverside Pioneers at noon at Fiscalini Field, the South Bay Blue Jays vs. the Las Vegas Americans at 1:30 p.m. at UC Riverside and the Pacific Coast Earthquake vs. the San Bernardino Indians at 8 p.m. at Fiscalini Field.

The tournament winner will receive an automatic berth for the 34-team NBC World Series held Aug. 3-15 in Wichita, Kan.