Smoke, ash pull plug on events

Steve Virgen

While fires continue to eat up acres upon acres of San Bernardino and

Rancho Cucamonga counties, the Newport-Mesa School District reacted

to the effects to the air with cancellations of practices and

sporting events Tuesday.

Connie Duddridge, the district’s risk management manager, sent out

an e-mail to all school administration Tuesday morning, stating,

“Please curtail all outdoor physical activities and athletics for

students today due to the air quality.”

Duddridge said she was advised by the South Coast Air Quality

Management District, which told school officials to err on the side

of caution. The Newport-Mesa District will continue to gather

information on whether to cancel outdoor activities on a day-to-day

basis. Tuesday’s decision was made by 9 a.m.

Tesoro High canceled its home boys water polo game against Corona

del Mar for today, Sea Kings boys athletic director Jerry Jelnick

said. A make-up date for the Pacific Coast League match is being

planned for early next week.

At Newport Harbor High, every game was canceled Tuesday except for

a home girls volleyball match against Aliso Viejo. The sports teams

are trying to reschedule games, but it is difficult as the end of the

regular season is approaching, Judy Ayers, the school’s athletic

secretary said.

The Sailors’ girls field hockey game against Edison, which is for

the Sunset League championship, has been tentatively rescheduled for

today at 3:15 p.m. at Harper Park.

At Estancia, the girls tennis match against visiting Los Amigos

has been canceled, and the nonleague event will not be made up, while

boys water polo, the Eagles hosting Golden West League counterpart

Orange, will be rescheduled Nov. 6.

At Costa Mesa, the girls tennis match against Saddleback will not

be made up. Mustangs girls athletic director Sharon Uhl and Estancia

boys athletic director Tim Parsel both said they are concerned for

Thursday, when the Eagles and Mustangs play their Battle for the Bell

football game at Orange Coast College at 7 p.m.

Aside from the high school events, Orange Coast men’s and women’s

soccer teams played, while UCI women’s soccer team also competed.