Five County Teams Will Compete in Upper Deck Classic

Westminster Christian School of Miami, the top-ranked prep baseball team in the nation by Collegiate Baseball, is among the 16-team field in the third Upper Deck Classic scheduled to begin today.

Tustin, El Dorado and Ocean View, ranked in the top 10 by the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn., are also entered. Other county schools participating include Fountain Valley and Esperanza.

Westminster Christian (22-1), which won the tournament in 1990, has won 20 consecutive games. Pitcher Steve Butler, shortstop Alex Rodriguez and second baseman Mickey Lopez are among the team’s top players.

Also competing are third baseman Tyson DowDell (El Dorado), shortstop Brian Dallimore (Las Vegas Clark), shortstop A.J. Hinch (Midwest City, Okla.) and pitcher J.D. Arteaga (Westminster Christian). DowDell, Dallimore, Hinch and Arteaga played in the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.

Eight games are scheduled daily during the four-day tournament. Semifinal games are scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 and 7 p.m. at Amerige Park in Fullerton. The championship game will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Amerige Park.