El Segundo, St. Bernard to Play Title Game Today

One of the South Bay’s most heated prep rivalries will be rekindled today at 3:45 p.m. when El Segundo and St. Bernard meet for the Camino Real League baseball title at Loyola Marymount.

Last month’s game, won by El Segundo, 13-4, was punctuated by taunts, finger-pointing and the ejection of St. Bernard third baseman Jeff Richardson after he tried to pull the ball out of El Segundo shortstop Mark Lewis’ glove following a hard tag at second base.

Because emotions were running high, both coaches mutually agreed to forgo the customary postgame handshake between players.

El Segundo Coach John Stevenson said he will start right-hander Tate Seefried (6-1, 1.52 earned run average), who pitched a complete game in the first meeting against St. Bernard.

The Vikings will start junior right-hander Andy Diver (9-1, 2.51 ERA), who was roughed up for 14 hits, including three home runs, by El Segundo.

El Segundo, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section 2-A Division, is 23-3 and 12-1 in league play. St. Bernard, ranked fifth, is 17-5 and 12-1. The teams are rated 1-2 in The Times’ South Bay top 10.

This marks the second consecutive year that the schools will decide the Camino Real title in the final game of the season. El Segundo won last season’s game and has a 3-0 record against St. Bernard since it joined the league in 1989.