Hall is the man for JSerra

Newport Beach resident Jake Hall, a junior at JSerra High, is the Lions’ starting quarterback this year.

Hall got a chance for a reunion of sorts Thursday night, as his Lions played host to Newport Harbor in a scrimmage. Hall grew up with several of the current Sailors in the Newport-Mesa Junior All-American Football program. He was on the 2006 Pee-Wee level team that made it to the Super Bowl.

Hall, who threw one touchdown pass against Newport Harbor in the scrimmage, will lead the rising Lions, who won their first Trinity League game in four years last season.

Dent, Ball, Glatch in action at U.S. Open

Former Corona del Mar High tennis standouts Taylor Dent and Carsten Ball are both alive in men’s singles at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.  Newport Beach resident Alexa Glatch is playing women’s doubles.

Dent, 29, beat Alejandro Falla of Colombia 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 in his first-round match. He is scheduled to play No. 5-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round Thursday.

Soderling swept Dent in three sets at the French Open this year on his way to the final.

Ball, 23, beat Milos Raonic of Canada in his first-round match, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. He’ll face No. 21-seeded Albert Montanes of Spain in his second-round match. An upset win against Montanes, and Ball would advance to the third round of a Grand Slam event for the first time.

Ball is also in the men’s doubles at the U.S. Open with fellow Australian Chris Guccione.

Glatch, 20, is in the women’s doubles draw with teammate Coco Vandeweghe. They won their first match over Tatjana Malek and Andrea Petkovic, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.

Newport tennis player Beblie improving

Tracy Beblie

Beblie had knocked off No. 1-seeded Anthony Lee of Gardena in a semifinal, 6-0, 6-2.

Beblie, who played No. 1 singles last year for the Sailors, has played several summer junior tournaments and seems to be improving quickly. Bart Bowen said in an e-mail that Beblie, who has been coached by his father, also named Tracy, has been serious about his game.

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Mustangs turn up defense

The Costa Mesa High football team, which scrimmages Corona del Mar tonight (Friday), has a new defensive scheme under first-year defensive coordinator Wally Grant.

Grant, a Mesa alum and former defensive coordinator at Tustin High, has the Mustangs running a defense similar to the “Desert Swarm” made famous by the University of Arizona in the 1990s. Coach Jeremy Osso said Mesa now longer uses its 30-stack defense and that Grant’s defense is more aggressive.

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CdM construction affecting tennis

The construction at Corona del Mar High School has caused the demolition of three of the Sea Kings’ eight tennis courts, as the school is expanding the parking lot along Eastbluff Drive.

CdM Athletic Director Don Grable said Wednesday that the construction is part of the CdM enclave project for the middle school. The three tennis courts will be rebuilt behind the Sea Kings’ pool, in an area that now has blacktop and basketball hoops.

Grable said the school wants to have the expanded parking lot done by the start of school Sept. 7. The plan is for the three new tennis courts to be ready for the boys’ season in the spring.

Gutierrez moving to linebacker for Estancia

Omar Gutierrez, left, a two-time Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection, is moving to linebacker.

Estancia High football coach Mike Bargas thinks his offensive and defense line play will be strengths in 2010. Bargas’ top returning player, though, is moving off the line and into an outside linebacker spot.

Senior Omar Gutierrez, who also plays tight end and was a Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection the past two years, is moving to strong-side linebacker for the Eagles. He said he is fine with the change.

“I always wanted to be linebacker but I was good at [defensive] end,” Gutierrez said. “He just switched me and I’m just standing up now. I like it because I’ll be able to rush and also hopefully get some [interceptions].”

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Gatica named Estancia girls’ AD

Jessica Gatica has been named the girls’ athletic director at Estancia High, the school announced today.

Gatica has been the girls’ soccer coach at Estancia the past two years. She will take over as athletic director for Jeff Perry, who will be the school’s new activities director.

Tim Parsel remains as the Eagles’ boys athletic director.

Newport polo goal: top four in CIF

Jason Lynch, center, again has high hopes for the Sailors this year.

After graduating 14 seniors, some may see the Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team as rebuilding this year.

Coach Jason Lynch thinks it’s more like reloading. He said Wednesday that his team’s goal is a top-four finish in CIF Southern Section Division I this year, despite returning just two starters in goalie Chris Whitelegge and Farrel South.

Last year the Sailors, who open practice next week, fell to El Toro in the Division I title game. It was the third time Newport had made CIF finals in Lynch’s nine years, winning it in 2007. Lynch also won a Division III title with the Costa Mesa boys in 1992.

CdM sports rank high

Melanie Powers, left, and Marisa Cummings, second from left, have helped CdM rank near the top of the section.

Corona del Mar High is one of the top 10 schools for both boys and girls in the 19th annual Commissioner’s Cup, the CIF Southern Section office has announced.

The commissioner’s cup is a way of determining the top overall athletic programs among Southern Section schools. Corona del Mar finished fifth on the girls’ side and seventh on the boys’ side.

Corona del Mar had won five of the previous six Commissioner’s Cups for girls, and the five titles is the most all-time on the girls’ list. This year, Harvard-Westlake won the honor with 19 points; the Sea Kings girls earned 10.

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Newport girls already in top form

Maddy Brown is a key returner for Newport Harbor this year.

It’s still just mid-August, but the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball team is already performing at a high level.

The Sailors have advanced to the semifinals at the Ann Kang Invitational tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Last year, the Sailors played at another tournament in Hawaii, but they’re back at the Ann Kang this year.

Newport Harbor looks to have another strong team, although it will be tough to top last year, when the Sailors won CIF section and state titles.