Prep column: Flory gets some glory

Barry Faulkner

Paul Flory received the game ball and I would not be surprised to

learn he clipped and saved the Daily Pilot article and line score after

pitching the Eagles to Monday’s momentous 12-1 baseball win over

crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

But the senior right-hander hardly needed a W before his name in agate

type to indicate he is a winner.

For that, one need only ask anyone associated with the two-sport

performer, or anyone who watched him compete in the center of the diamond

as losses mounted in Charlie Brown proportions.

Flory, whose best fastball might not leave a mark if it struck you

from 60 feet, 6 inches away, had gone 0-11 heading into his final mound

start Monday. He was 0-5 on the varsity last spring and did not win a

game as a sophomore on the junior varsity, despite starting every other

game.

Add that to his role as a starting offensive lineman on the Eagles’

0-9 football team last fall and one could understand how the kid could

get a complex.

But Flory didn’t give in to personal pity any more than he’d give in

to hitters. Rather than shrink from the growing infamy associated with

his lopsided pitching record, he kept taking the ball and stepping to the

rubber, anxious to not only compete for himself but to help his team.

This often meant starting back-to-back games for the Eagles, who lost

their No. 1 pitcher to ineligibility for all but the final week of the

season.

Estancia Coach C.K. Green said he and his assistant coaches, as well

as the players, made a point to continually encourage Flory, whom Green

said pitched well enough win a handful of games, had a break or two gone

his way.

But all Flory needed was the sight of an opposing uniform to remain

focused on competing.

Former Estancia coach Doug Deats spoke glowingly of Flory’s

competitive nature, which he often used as an example to try to inspire

similar commitment from the rest of his players.

Estancia football coach Jay Noonan, who watched Flory tackle his sport

for the first time last fall, said Flory’s ability to compete is clearly

his strongest athletic asset.

“His work ethic was very good, he never missed a practice and he

became a leader,” Noonan recalled. “He improved by leaps and bounds and

he became one of our Golden Eagles. Usually that’s an honor we would

reserve for kids who have spent years in the program, but, in talking

with my assistants, we decided there was no way we could keep him off

that (Golden Eagle) list. He was a very coachable young man who was very

determined and wanted to succeed. He’s the type of kid you wished you had

back for another couple years.”

Noonan, though happy for Flory’s first varsity victory, was not among

those surprised by his ability to persevere.

“He wanted the baseball,” Noonan said. “He’d pitch (tonight in the

regular-season finale against Mesa) if you’d let him, because he loves to

play and compete. To go through what he’s gone through this year, you

could understand if the kid started going through the motions. But there

was no way that was going to happen with Paul.”

Newport Harbor High senior Jim Rothwell, who shares all the qualities

people admire in Flory, has had almost the total opposite athletic

experience this school year.

An All-Sea View League and All-Newport-Mesa District defensive end in

football, the Purdue-bound Rothwell has been a member of Sea View title

winners in football, basketball and volleyball. He played sparingly in

basketball and volleyball, but started for the Sailors in Friday’s

regular-season-ending volleyball victory over Back Bay rival Corona del

Mar.

The championship trifecta is a feat veteran Harbor Boys Athletic

Director Eric Tweit believes is unique during his more than two decades

at the school.

Estancia’s baseball triumph, only its second in the Pacific Coast

League and fourth overall this season, was only part of a noteworthy

Monday for Eagle athletics.

Coach Marc Rodig’s softball team earned a 3-1 PCL victory over Laguna

Beach, ending a league losing streak that had reached 20 games, dating

back to April 27, 2000.

In addition, the Estancia football team finished second, ahead of

third-place Costa Mesa, in a three-school weightlifting competition held

Monday at Orange High.

Noonan reports senior quarterback Lewis Bradshaw (power clean), Bobby

Estrada (squat) and newcomer Roger Belanos (bench press) won individual

events in their respective weight divisions. Noonan said the 145-pound

Estrada bench-pressed 265 Monday.

Costa Mesa event winners included Paul Martin, Jorge Quiroz and

Phillip Waterman, all of whom were tops in the dead lift in their

respective divisions.

Waterman is a transfer from out of state, whom Coach Dave Perkins said

could contribute on both sides of the ball next season.

The Newport Harbor High boys volleyball team was honored before

Tuesday’s Anaheim Angels game for posting the best cumulative GPA among

large-school boys volleyball programs within the CIF Southern Section.

Sailors Coach Dan Glenn reports all eight of his seniors will be

attending four-year schools next fall.

Among the Newport boys volleyball contingent to have all but finalized

collegiate plans is senior football standout Brian Gaeta. Gaeta has been

invited to walk-on by Colorado State, which, after showing initial

interest in him at outside linebacker, has now warmed to idea of him

playing receiver, his preferred position.

Gaeta, who was also being recruited by Montana, said he plans to visit

Colorado State later this month. He expects to finalize details then.

Senior Morgan Craig, a two-year starting quarterback for the Sailors

who was Newport-Mesa District MVP last fall and will join Gaeta in the

Orange County All-Star Game July 12 at Orange Coast College, has also

made a decision on his college future.

Craig told Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley Monday he will walk on at USC.