Watching the Stars Fade Away

Newport Harbor’s three-game victory over Stockton St. Mary’s in the State Division I volleyball championship also ended an era.

Four-year starters Misty May and Melissa Schutz--who had helped the Sailors win the State Division III championship in 1992 and reach the State Division I final in 1993--were two of the 10 Newport Harbor seniors.

“I’m sure there are a lot of Orange County coaches glad to see them go, but I know there’s at least one sad one,” Sailor Coach Dan Glenn said.

Newport Harbor finished 33-1, lost only one of 13 games during the State tournament, and scored the most lopsided victory in Southern Section major division final history with a 15-5, 15-1, 15-7 victory over Mira Costa--the state’s second-ranked team.

There was a similarly bittersweet feeling at Calvary Chapel after it beat Miramonte Orinda to win the State Division IV title.

Courtney Owens and Sara Roberts--both four-year starters--and senior Lynn Lovingier are among those who helped the program win its first girls’ volleyball State title.

“I have mixed emotions,” Coach Jim Downey said. “You’re happy because you won, but it will be hard to see them go.”

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Talk about your full-court press, Erika Tillman turned in the play of the day Friday.

In the fourth quarter of Dana Hills’ 39-33 basketball victory over Troy, play was stopped because there was a wet spot in front of the Troy bench. While Troy Coach Brad Sand and his players tried to dry the spot with the soles of their shoes, Tillman ran to the spot, dropped on her seat, and rubbed back and forth, getting the job done in more efficient manner.

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The winter sports season has brought with it several injuries. Troy, ranked No. 10 in The Times’ preseason poll, lost Mississippi-bound center Jennie Gadd for five games because of a sprained ankle, but she should be able to play Wednesday against Valencia.

Players who won’t be back so quickly include Servite’s Mark Seaton, a 6-9 Stanford-bound center who broke a small bone in his right foot in Saturday’s 63-55 loss to Nogales in the Tournament of Champions. Seaton is out eight to 10 weeks; he could return for the playoffs, but the Friars will probably have to get there without him.

“Within the week we’ll decide what form of treatment to choose, and that will affect whether he can come back in 10 weeks or eight,” said Mark’s father, Bruce.

Capistrano Valley girls’ basketball was dealt a similar blow with the loss of guard Kim Brown for the season with torn ligaments in her left knee.

Another player faced with reconstructive knee surgery is San Clemente’s Kate Turnbull, a 5-10 forward who gave the Tritons hope for being better than expected.

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Los Alamitos softball coach Jami Shannon owns racehorses with her husband, Mark. One, Brotherly, won three consecutive stakes races, including two victories over the two-time defending world champion, Refrigerator, before Saturday’s $250,000 Champion of Champions race at Los Alamitos.

Brotherly finished in a dead heat for second place, losing by a nose to Refrigerator in a photo finish. Brotherly is one of three nominees for World Champion by the American Quarterhorse Assn. in March.

Brotherly on Sunday was named the 1994 Champion Aged Gelding for horses four years and older.

* Times staff writer Martin Henderson contributed to this story.