Rain Puts El Toro’s Game, Hopes on Hold

Two outs short of taking sole possession of first place in the South Coast League, rain halted El Toro’s immediate hopes of winning its second title in three years.

The Chargers held a 4-1 lead over fourth-ranked Mater Dei with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning when umpire Wally Divino suspended Friday’s game at Mile Square Park.

“Right now we’ll treat it as a suspended game, pending a decision from (Southern Section administrator) Karen Hellyer,” Divino said. “There’s some confusion in the National Federation rules as to how the game is to be treated.”

The game will be resumed at 3:15 p.m. Monday at Mile Square Park, or replayed, depending on Hellyer’s decision.

“I guess we scored too many runs,” quipped El Toro Coach Jim Daugherty, whose team scored two more runs than it needed in the top of the fifth.

The Chargers (18-8, 6-1) scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Mater Dei is 17-4, 6-1.

Hellyer’s decision also will affect the resumption of the Ocean View-Huntington Beach game, which was tied, 0-0, with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Those teams will meet again at 3:15 p.m. Monday at Worthy Park.