EL Segundo Beats SLO in Its Own Tournament

After host El Segundo beat his team, 7-2, in the championship game of his own San Luis Obispo Tournament, SLO Coach Dale Overland punctuated the post-game interview with a fit of doublespeak.

Even though it was SLO’s tournament, Overland agreed to play the final in El Segundo on Saturday because El Segundo would play another tournament game earlier in the day.

“(I have) no regrets at all,” Overland said. “It was a great opportunity to come down here and play at this beautiful field against a great program.”

Then he added: “The key part of the game was the home-field advantage they had with those sloping banks for warning tracks. They made a couple of nice plays on those banks, and we just didn’t.”

Perhaps. But in truth, SLO had trouble with El Segundo right-hander Rick Clark, who tossed a five-hitter, walked two and struck out two to raise his record to 3-0.

Clark, who was named tournament MVP, induced 11 ground-ball outs Saturday and was the beneficiary of several solid defensive plays.

Said El Segundo Coach John Stevenson, who has guided the team to two San Luis Obispo Tournament championships in the past three years: “(Clark) was right there, and the team played very, very well behind him.”

The Eagles (8-3) got on the board in the third inning when Pat Llamas and Steve Mortesen opened with walks. One out later, Erik Evans beat out a bunt to load the bases. Eric Stevenson grounded to short for what looked like a sure double play, but Evans’ hard slide upended second baseman Charley Salem and Llamas scored. Garret Quaintance doubled home Mortesen and Stevenson.

SLO (7-3-1), got one run back in the fourth when Jim Hunsaker singled, went to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on Tim Kubinski’s single.

Chris Lane led off the El Segundo fourth with a single, and two outs later shortstop Mark Lewis belted a long homer to right center to put the Eagles ahead, 5-1.