Estancia

GIRLS' SOCCER La Mirada 1, Estancia 0 LA MIRADA — The Eagles played strong defense, but saw it season end after allowing a goal in the 65th minute of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 second-round game Tuesday. Estancia (10-3-11) fired off at least nine shots in the final 15 minutes, but couldn't find the back of the net, Eagles Coach Jessica Perry. Seniors Marlene Calderon and Shantel Romero as well as sophomore twins Sarah Leahy and Caitlin Leahy (goalkeeper), and freshman Brandi White led the Estancia defense, Perry said.

The Estancia High girls' basketball team dropped just one game in the Orange Coast League and won the league title. The effort helped the Eagles earn a first-round bye in the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A playoffs, as the playoff brackets were released Sunday. Estancia (19-7), the No. 9 seed, will play host to the winner of Hemet Tahquitz at Ridgecrest Burroughs on Saturday in the second round. Corona del Mar (9-17) finished sixth and last in the Pacific Coast League and is in the Division 3-AA playoffs as an at-large entry.

NEWPORT BEACH - The last time Estancia and Newport Harbor played each other in a high school boys' basketball game, their current head coaches were assistants. One team also only suited up eight players. That team was Estancia, and with a depleted roster last season, it had enough to come back and beat the Sailors for the second straight season. The Eagles brought nine players to Newport Harbor on Saturday. The extra body didn't help them rally against the Sailors again. A day after suffering a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer in a Sunset League opener at home, the Sailors bounced back.

ANAHEIM — Playing a high school baseball game under the lights is rare. But that was the situation for Estancia Wednesday night and it shined in the unlikeliest of places. The Eagles traveled to Anaheim and accomplished something they had not done in 19 years. The postseason drought is over for Estancia after it prevailed, 5-3, in a CIF Southern Section Division IV wild-card game at La Palma Park. The last time the Eagles won in the playoffs, their current players were not even born.

COSTA MESA — After pleading for a timeout from the sideline with less than three minutes left in the first half, Costa Mesa High Coach Bryan Rice got it a little too late. Rice yelled toward the referees when Estancia took a two-point lead. No one heard him. The lead then grew into double digits in just 43 seconds. The whistle finally blew for Rice. The Mustangs never recovered and it cost them a share of second place in the Orange Coast League and the Battle for the Bell.

The Estancia High football team got plenty of good ink last year on the way to capturing its first outright league title in 21 years. Star tailback Robert Murtha spent part of the off-season getting a good amount of ink permanently placed on his upper right arm. Murtha got a large tattoo with the word "Boy. " It's the name he's called by his father, Robert Sr., who Coach Mike Bargas said did the tattoo. Around the "Boy" lettering are what Murtha said are Filipino tribal designs.

GIRLS' GOLF Dana Hills 219, Corona del Mar 245 NEWPORT BEACH — CdM junior Emily Turner shot eight-over par 43 for the Sea Kings in their nonleague season opener Wednesday at Newport Beach Country Club. CdM Coach Mike Starkweather said Turner is the oldest player on his team; the other players are freshmen and sophomores. Ann Kim (47), Kelly King (50), Hanna Hogan (52) and Katherine Webb (53) also scored for CdM. Dana Hills' Elizabeth Soewondo was medalist with a 38. CdM will again play Dana Hills at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, at El Niguel Country Club.

BOYS' TENNIS Laguna Beach 11, Estancia 7 COSTA MESA - Seniors Robert Marrone, Matt Thomas and Joseph Kidane each won two of three in singles for the Eagles in the Orange Coast League match Thursday. Estancia dropped to 8-3, 1-1 in league. * BOYS' GOLF Newport Beach 193, Huntintgon Beach 205 NEWPORT BEACH - Landon Knight shot even-par 36 to earn medalist honors for the Sailors in the Sunset League match at Big Canyon Country Club Thursday. Brad Tapfer (37)

Re. "School Flight," Sept. 4, 6, 7: The fact that many (it used to be about 50%) Westside Costa Mesa kids go to Newport Harbor High School is an important piece of the total Costa Mesa schools issue, in my opinion, when analyzing white flight from Mesa Verde and where we go from here. For many years, NHHS and Ensign Intermediate School have been raising the bar with high expectations for all students regardless of race or if they live in Costa Mesa. NHHS parents have been digging in, donating and helping where needed with the NHHS well-funded foundation for years.