Honors: Ortiz soars for Eagles

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Estancia High senior Armando Ortiz, who collected

seven varsity letters in baseball and soccer and helped the Eagles win a

CIF Southern Section Division IV soccer title as a junior, has been

selected by school administrators as the Eagles’ Boys Athlete of the

Year.

A versatile midfielder in soccer and a shortstop and pitcher on the

diamond, Ortiz played four years of varsity baseball.

As a freshman, he garnered Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week

recognition, proving himself worthy of varsity competition.

He added pitching to his role as a sophomore, when he became the

Eagles’ No. 1 starter, while continuing to play shortstop.

As a junior, he hit .320 (24 for 75), scoring 19 runs and collecting

six RBIs and five stolen bases. He also continued to pitch, en route to

second-team All-Pacific Coast League recognition.

As a senior, he hit .296 (21 for 77), with 22 runs, five doubles, two

triples, 15 RBIs and nine stolen bases. He began the year as the team’s

No. 1 hurler, but was limited to shortstop duty due to elbow pain that

cropped up early in the league campaign.

An otherwise disappointing 2001 season included the Eagles winning the

best-of-three series with crosstown rival Costa Mesa to claim the

perpetual Troxel Trophy that goes to the series winner.

In three varsity soccer seasons, he helped the Eagles extend their

streak of CIF playoff appearances to eight years and compile a combined

40-13-11 record.

As a sophomore, he helped the Eagles finish 10-7-5 and earn an

at-large berth in the CIF playoffs.

As a junior, he was first-team All-Pacific Coast League as a

midfielder and helped Coach Steve Crenshaw’s Eagles claim the CIF

Division IV championship.

His contribution helped Estancia outscore opponents, 122-14, during

that 1999-2000 season, in which they posted a glistening 20-1-1 record

and also claimed the Pacific Coast League crown.

As a senior, he stepped into a leading role and controlled things at

midfield.

“Armando has been the best player on the field, every game we’ve

played,” Crenshaw said before the Eagles entered the playoffs.

After leading his team to the second round of the CIF Division IV

playoffs and a 10-5-5 record, Ortiz was named Co-Most Valuable Player of

the Pacific Coast League by the circuit’s coaches.