Shadowlands

Looking back, 5 years ago this week.

George Yardley reaches the pinnacle of a 54-year odyssey which begins

at Newport Harbor High school in 1943, culminating with enshrinement at

basketball’s Hall of Fame at the Civic Center in Springfield, Mass. After

a vintage video of Yardley owning the floor, and master of ceremonies

Billy Packer introducing him as “a pretty free-spirit,” Yardley opens up.

He gives NBA Commissioner David Stern a few suggestions on how to improve

his product and likens sports agents to drug dealers. He also jokes with

the crowd. Before the event, in private conversation, he reveals his true

feelings for the moment. “It means a lot to me,” the Newport Beach

resident says. “But nowhere near what it means to my family. They’re

really proud of me and that means a lot. I take pleasure forever in

that.” Yardley is among the class of 1996 that includes George Gervin,

David Thompson, Gail Goodrich, Nancy Lieberman-Cline and the deceased

European Kresmir Cosic. Yardley’s credentials include: an All-Star six

times during his seven-year career; breaks George Mikan’s NBA record for

scoring in one season (1,932) with 2,001 points in 1958 with the Detroit

Pistons. He averages 27.8 points per game and 10.7 rebounds a game that

year.

Newport Harbor High softball pitcher Molli Mullen receives her initial

chemotherapy after learning she has three Hodgkin’s Lymphoma three days

prior. Mullen, who earlier in the season pitches a no-hitter against Los

Amigos and wallops a grand slam against Costa Mesa, will eventually

overcome the disease. “She doesn’t like to lose,” says Mike Mullen, her

father and coach of Newport Harbor’s softball team. “This is just another

game, but only with higher stakes and there’s more on the line. She’s a

winner and she’ll do whatever’s necessary to win.”

The Corona del Mar High boys volleyball team begins its postseason

with a 15-1, 15-1, 15-4 rout over Redondo Union in the first round of the

CIF Southern Section Division I Playoffs. Brian Coleman leads the Sea

Kings with nine kills as CdM uses a balanced attack to dominate Redondo.

Sea King senior John Con adds seven kills, junior Blair Hoppe has six and

sophomore Greg Burden contributes four. Burden also serves an ace to

close out the second game.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week.

Rivalry Week In Baseball ...

The Estancia High baseball team completes a most successful week.

First, the Eagles trounce crosstown rival Costa Mesa, 18-2, at Estancia’s

diamond. The Eagles have four hits in 14 innings prior to breaking out

with 18 hits against the Mustangs. Estancia bats around twice and scores

in every inning but the sixth, with contribution from Ruben Mora (2 for 4

with three runs scored), Paul McDaniels (3 for 4 with four runs and three

RBIs), Colby French (3 for 5 with five RBIs), Chris Watson (3 for 3 with

three RBIs). The Eagles then win the Pride of the Coast Tournament with a

5-4 victory over Marina. Estancia rallies from a 3-0 deficit and Jeff

Kraus comes up with the clutch hit in the sixth inning which scores

French for a 5-3 lead. Closing out the week, the Eagles shut out Costa

Mesa, 6-0. The victory ensures Estancia a share of the Pacific Coast

League title and clinches a spot in the CIF 3-A playoffs. Watson strikes

out 12 Mustangs, walks nobody and allows four hits. Costa Mesa’s Matt

Jaglowski is able to finish 3 for 3 with a triple.

The Newport Harbor High baseball team delivers the first punch with a

6-5 victory over Back Bay rival Corona del Mar. Sailors’ outfielder

Branon Coluccio singles home Chris Carden to make a winner out of

starting pitcher Matt Palaferri. Coluccio, who is hitless since his first

at-bat two games earlier, steps to the plate with two outs in the eighth

and the bases loaded. Three days later, CdM answers with a knockout. The

Sea Kings remove the Sailors from postseason consideration with a 9-5 Sea

View League victory, winning their eighth in the past 10 games and

clinching a CIF 3-A playoff spot. CdM is also headed to the playoffs for

the first time since 1987. The Scott Magers-coached Sea Kings collect 11

hits, blast two home runs and commit just one error in the swirling

winds. Corona’s C.W. Ramsay and Brady Lamar rip back-to-back home runs in

the second innings as the Sea Kings grab a 4-0 lead. They add four more

runs in the third inning to make it a quick rout.

-- compiled by Steve Virgen