Westlake Wins Championship of El Segundo Tournament

The lefty-righty pitching combination of Mike Eby and Tim Falsken provided two short, but sweet, performances for Westlake High on Saturday night.

The duo combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed only four hits, leading Westlake to a 9-1 win over Culver City in the championship game of the El Segundo tournament.

Eby, the starter and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, struck out six while permitting two hits and a first-inning run. But because CIF rules restrict pitchers from throwing more than 10 innings in a week, Eby had to leave after the third.

That brought on Falsken (2-0), who pitched four shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven. The senior right-hander did not walk a batter.

Westlake’s offense got off to a fast start. Leadoff hitter Rob Neal, named as the tournament’s outstanding offensive player, singled. Doubles by Falsken, Mike Lieberthal and a single by Dave Monheim followed to give the Warriors all the runs they would need.

Westlake (5-0) broke the game open with six runs in the fifth inning. A two-run double by Neal was the key hit.