SUMMER UPDATE: Former Bruins in Olympics, Saints secure home football field and Rumble on Rosecrans returns

Eric Filia takes a swing while a member of the UCLA baseball team. (Photo courtesy UCLA Athletic Communications)

FORMER BRUINS MEET IN OLYMPICS

Two former UCLA baseball players were on opposite sides Friday in the Tokyo Olympics baseball pool play competition.

Eric Filia (Edison High) is a member of the USA team and Zack Weiss (Northwood High) plays for the Israel squad. USA won the game 8-1.

Filia started in right field and went 2 for 4 and had a stolen base and a run scored for the USA in its opener, according to a release from the UCLA Athletic Communications. Weiss did not pitch in the game but pitched two innings in Israel’s game on Thursday, according to the release.

“I was so happy to hear that Zack would be playing in the Olympics,” said former Northwood Coach Rob Stuart. “Zack was so excited to be given the opportunity to represent team Israel. He pitched two innings in their first game, and I thought he threw the ball well against a very talented South Korean team. He made some great pitches, and they just had some better swings.

“He is amongst an elite group of people to say that they played baseball in the Olympics and is a member of the first to group of baseball players to represent Israel at the Olympic Games. It has been such a treat for me to watch him continue to compete at such a high level, battle through adversity and continue his pursuit of making it back to the big leagues.”

Weiss is currently playing for the Tacoma AAA team in the Seattle Mariners organization, Stuart added.

Filia, from Huntington Beach, played for UCLA from 2012 to 2016 and is also with the Seattle Mariners organization.

SAINTS SECURE PORTOLA FOR HOME GAMES

Crean Lutheran High school officials have secured Portola High School as the home site for the football team’s first three home games, football coach Rick Curtis confirmed Friday.

The Saints will open the season Thursday, Aug. 19 hosting Ontario Christian at Portola. Additional home games at Portola include the games against Valley Christian on Friday, Sept. 3 and Kennedy on Friday, Oct. 8. Curtis said school officials are working on securing a home site for the other home game on Friday, Oct 22 vs. Pacifica. Curtis said the tentative location is Irvine Stadium.

RUMBLE ON ROSECRANS RETURNS

Sunny Hills basketball team will host the fourth annual Rumble for Rosecrans Avenue boys basketball tournament Nov. 15-20, team officials announced Friday on Twitter.

There will be 32 teams playing in four different sites.

Besides the host school Sunny Hills coached by Joe Ok, Orange Lutheran, Marina, Beckman, Canyon, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, El Dorado, Sonora, Kennedy, El Toro, Troy, Valencia and Katella will compete in the event.

Brackets for the tournament will be released on Oct. 1.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com