A pair of Eastside baseball players recently returned from a prestigious baseball tournament with eyes towards competing in another this weekend.

Matt Boyd and Mike Englund, who both played for Eastside Catholic last season, represented the Eastside with the Washington Nationals baseball team at the 2008 Area Code baseball tournament in Long Beach, Calif., August 5-10.

The tournament fielded eight teams with Major League Baseball names composed of players from across the country that battled in round-robin style to earn the tournament’s 22nd championship. The Nationals went 2-3 in tournament play, beating the Chicago White Sox 10-1 and Milwaukee Brewers 7-2. Washington lost to the Cincinnati Red 10-1, eventual tournament champion Texas Rangers 4-1 and the New York Yankees 7-4.

Boyd’s play against the Reds earned him a mention on ESPN.com’s high school baseball blog. The left-hander pitched three innings, allowing no runs with one hit and five strikeouts. Englund went 6-14 for Washington with a double and two runs scored.

The tournament features some of the top players across the nation and the event gives wide exposure to Major League Baseball teams. Over 750 scouts registered for the event, according to Boyd’s father Kurt Boyd.

Once they returned from California, both boys played this week at the Mariner’s Cup at Everett Memorial Stadium and Safeco Field, Kurt Boyd said. Both boys played for the Mariners Northwest scout team.

Both were also selected to play this weekend at the 2008 Lasorda Elite Games at Dodger Stadium this weekend. The tournament, named for the legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, selected its players from the teams at the Area Code Games.

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-5045 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com.