Segota Probably Will Miss Finals, Team Doctors Say

SAN DIEGO — Team doctors said Sunday that Socker forward Branko Segota will probably not be able to play in the Major Indoor Soccer League finals series against the Cleveland Force. The finals begin Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

Segota separated his left shoulder 19 seconds into Game 7 of the Western Division finals Saturday night against Kansas City when he fell over a tackle by the Comets’ Kim Roentved and landed hard on the playing surface of the San Diego Sports Arena.

Segota isn’t scheduled to have an X-ray again until Tuesday. However, team doctors have told Segota that it is unlikely he will be able to recover in time to face Cleveland.

Segota was upset Saturday at Roentved’s tackle, but Roentved said it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“You make a tackle like that a lot of times and nothing happens,” Roentved said. “I’m very sorry if he can’t play in the finals. It’s a shame. But I wasn’t going after him. It was just the way he hit on his shoulder.”

Sockers’ Coach Ron Newman said that either Zoran Karic or Keder would take Segota’s spot.

DIVING

Monte Vista High diver Kristen Walls scored 399.85 points Sunday to win the Kramer Club Invitational diving championship at Palos Verdes.

For Walls, who won the San Diego Section diving championship last Saturday, it was the fifth competition she’s won this month. Her other victories came in the Industry Hills Invitational May 8, the Grossmont League championships May 9, the Irvine Invitational May 15, and the San Diego Section finals May 20.

Sara Marsh of Mission Viejo finished second behind Walls Sunday with 379.59 points.