HIGH SCHOOLS:

Coach Gannon Burks has two strong goalkeepers.

He chose Jose Castrejon’s gloves in the Estancia High boys’ soccer playoff opener Friday. Castrejon saved the Eagles from another early ouster.

Castrejon made nine saves as No. 4-seeded Estancia held on to beat La Mirada, 1-0, to advance to the CIF Southern Section Division IV second round.

The Eagles (14-1-7) play host to Inglewood (11-9-4) Wednesday.

“J.C. has been with me for four years,” Burks said was his reason for going with Castrejon instead of sophomore goalie Edgar Vega. “As a senior, you expect him to play solid. I had a conversation with him [the] week [leading up to the match] and said, ‘You’re the general out there. You’re the only one who gets to see the whole field.’

“He’s been hungry for this opportunity. He missed out a little bit [in the regular season]. It’s his last year, and you play with a little more intensity and pride when you know that it can end.”

Castrejon provided leadership, communicating well with his players on the pitch.

They all left the field impressed, especially Burks, who in his first four years had had trouble getting out of the first round.

Late in the second half against La Mirada, assistant coach Robert Castellano marveled at how many times Castrejon quickly rolled the ball out to teammates instead of kicking it to them after making big saves.

“That’s the most I’ve ever seen him do that,” Castellano said on the sideline.

Burks hasn’t said who he will start at keeper Wednesday against Inglewood, which shared the Ocean League title with Hawthorne.

One thing he’s happy about is that the match will be at Jim Scott Stadium.

Burks sent two lower-level coaches, Richard Nueland and Bruce Rowe, to scout Inglewood’s 1-0 first-round home victory against Wilson of Hacienda Heights Friday. The Sentinels’ field stood out more than their play.

“Their field is horrible,” Burks said.

Rowe said La Mirada looked stronger than Inglewood. Last season, Estancia was eliminated in the second round, losing at Santa Ana, 1-0.

Burks said the Eagles will get past the second round this time. He said Estancia is headed to the championship.

The program has won section titles twice. The last one came during the 1999-2000 season, when Estancia capped a 20-1-1 record with a Division IV crown.

There are striking similarities, as this year’s club has only dropped one match and is in the same playoff division as the 1999-2000 team.

“This is the best team I’ve ever coached,” said Burks, who’s in his sixth season. “I’m just excited for the boys. We have [17] seniors. We don’t want it to end. Their destiny is definitely in their hands.”

Castrejon’s gloves are ready to grab a title.

 Here are some interesting numbers from some of the local boys’ basketball teams last week:

12: the number of three-pointers made by senior Troy McClanahan in Estancia’s 72-71 loss at Lawndale in the first round of the Division IV-A playoffs.

12: Sean Donovan finished one point short of tying a season-low as Corona del Mar lost at Bonita of La Verne, 51-38, in the first round of the Division III-A playoffs.

One: the number of playoff victories Costa Mesa has recorded in the last 46 years.

 The No. 13 is an unlucky number to some.

It was to the Newport Harbor boys’ basketball team.

The Sailors went into the season trying to reach the playoffs for the 13th straight season. They never came close, finishing 3-21, 0-10 in the Sunset League under the guidance of interim coach Bob Torribio.

Here’s some good news. Eric Tweit, the school’s athletic director, said Larry Hirst will return after taking a one-year sabbatical to spend more time with family.

It was during Hirst’s time at Newport Harbor that it qualified for the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or by e-mail at david.carrillo@latimes.com.