Briefs:

Coach Agustin Heredia received a text message around noon on Thursday he hoped not to get from Kohl Jones’ mom, Marykay.

Jones is out for the remainder of the Estancia High boys’ basketball season.

Heredia said he learned the guard has torn ligaments in the ankle he sprained during practice on Tuesday. The Eagles lost their leading scorer, more importantly to Heredia the team’s heart and soul.

“It’s his senior year and it’s not the way to go out,” Heredia said, as Jones had Estancia in contention to win the Orange Coast League title, the program’s first league crown since 2004-05. “It’s a big loss, especially with us coming toward the end of league. I feel bad for him.

“We’ll have an open competition [for his position], but you can’t replace a player like that.”

Heredia said the rest of the Eagles (14-9, 4-1 in league) know they will be without Jones, who was on crutches Wednesday, when he missed his first game at Estancia. The Eagles have three league games left, and to win league, they will have to do it without No. 3.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza

Eddy, Team USA in final

Midfielder Elizabeth Eddy, a Newport Harbor High senior, helped the U.S. women’s soccer team reach the CONCACAF under-20 women’s final with a 2-1 victory against Costa Rica Thursday in Guatemala City.

With the win, Team USA earned a berth in the Under-20 Women’s World Cup to defend its title.

In the final Saturday, the Americans will have a rematch against Mexico, who in extra time beat Canada in the semifinals, 1-0. Team USA beat Mexico, 2-1, Monday in the Group A finale.

Eddy, bound for USC, is a two-time first-team All-Sunset League honoree. As a freshman she was named Orange Coast League MVP while playing for Calvary Chapel.

— From staff reports

Wilson bench planned

A memorial fund has been established to honor the late Pat Wilson, a former tennis coach and teacher at several Newport-Mesa schools who died Jan. 10 at age 73.

Proceeds from tax-deductible donations will be used to buy the Coach Wilson Memorial Bench, to be permanently placed in the quad at Corona del Mar High.

For $25, each donor will have his or her name, the year they graduated, and the nickname given to them by Wilson, engraved on the bench.

Wilson, who taught seventh-grade social studies at CdM in the latter years of his career, was known for nicknaming every one of his students.

Donors are asked to complete the information at giveforward.org/coach/, placing the nickname he gave them in the comments portion. They are also encouraged to share a brief story about Wilson.

Any leftover proceeds will be donated, in Wilson’s name, to the American Diabetes Assn.

Wilson also coached and taught at Newport Harbor and Estancia high schools. He guided the Newport Harbor boys’ tennis team to the CIF Southern Section championship match in 1968, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, and ’75 and won CIF titles in 1970 and ’71.

There is also a tribute page for Wilson on Facebook.

— From staff reports

UCI baseball No. 8

UC Irvine has been ranked No. 8 in the Baseball America preseason poll.

The Anteaters were 45-15 last season, including the program’s first Big West Conference championship, a No. 1 national ranking and playing host to an NCAA regional for the first time, were also ranked No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.

UCI returns 17 lettermen, including All-American pitchers Danny Bibona and Eric Pettis. Bibona was also Big West Pitcher of the Year.

Coach Mike Gillespie’s Anteaters open the season Feb. 19 at home against Loyola Marymount.

— From staff reports

Pettis singled out

UC Irvine senior pitcher Eric Pettis is among 40 players named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. Stopper of the Year watch list.

The award, given to the top relief pitcher, will be announced on the opening day of the College World Series on June 19.

Pettis is a two-time finalist of the Stopper of the Year award. The right-hander finished third in the nation last season with 17 saves and posted a 5-2 record with a 3.86 earned-run average. He was named first-team All-American by the NCBWA.

Pettis has been tabbed a 2010 preseason All-American by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball. He enters the 2010 season with 34 career saves which ranks second UCI annals.

— From staff reports