Shadowlands

March 11-17

Looking back, 5 years ago this week.

The Newport Harbor High softball team gets a strong pitching

performance from Molli Mullen and defeats Estancia, 17-3. At the end of

the previous season, Mullen is diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. This is

her first time in the circle in 11 months. She isn’t supposed to be there

because of a stress fracture in her foot. In the fourth inning, she comes

off the bench. Sailors’ catcher Stephanie Gosselin goes 2 for 3 with an

RBI and a stolen base. Audra Adams and Kristen Smith each have an RBI for

Newport, while Smith scores twice with a single and a walk. Later in the

week, the Newport Harbor softball squad crushes Newport-Mesa District

rival Costa Mesa, 25-4. The Sailors are coached by Molli’s father, Mike

Mullen. Newport’s Kyle McNichols, the Sailors’ ninth batter, goes 5 for 5

with four RBIs. The Sailors pound 24 hits. Smith has a pair of hits,

including a three-run home run and Gosselin is 4 for 5. Molli Mullen

fires a complete-game victory and drills three hits. Julie Collett paces

Costa Mesa with a 2-for-3 performance.

For the first time in three years, the Orange Coast College men’s

volleyball team is swept in three games. The Pirates lose to visiting Los

Angeles Pierce, 15-13, 15-12, 15-8. The loss also snaps the Pirates’

10-match winning streak.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week.

The Corona del Mar High baseball team walks all over Back Bay rival

Newport Harbor, 14-9, in the second round of the Newport Elks Tournament.

The game is called after 5 1/2 innings because of darkness. Newport’s

Matt Stewart slams a solo home run in the first inning, which is the

Sailors’ only lead of the game. The Sea Kings lead, 9-1, after two

innings, receiving three runs from Newport errors. Tim DeCinces collects

a single and an RBI. Newport scores eight runs in the fifth inning, but

CdM holds off the Sailors, thanks to the pitching of Bryson Broat.

The Estancia High boys basketball team finds its rhythm in the second

quarter and races to a 59-41 victory over University High of San Diego in

the first round of the Southern California Division III regionals at the

University of San Diego. Estancia goes on a 17-2 run to grab a 34-19

halftime lead, then cruises to victory. Matt Fuerbringer, who has seven

rebounds, leads with 17 points in the first half, dropping in nine in the

Eagles’ blitz. Estancia then turns La Canada High away with a 55-51

victory in the regional semifinals. The Eagles advance to the Los Angeles

Sports Arena, where they will face Morningside. Fuerbringer scores 23

points and grabs a game-high 12 rebounds. His scoring comes easier

because Jeff Byrne guards 6-foot-7 Indiana University-bound senior

Richard Mandeville, allowing Fuerbringer to roam free. Morningside ends

Estancia’s state title hopes with an 84-67 win. Morningside is led by

future USC standout Stais Boseman, who scores 25 points. Fuerbringer, who

helped bring a state title to Estancia the previous year, finishes with

26 points.

-- compiled by Steve Virgen