Santa Margarita Quarterback Might Have Stress Fracture

Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan said Thursday it has not been determined if standout quarterback Carson Palmer has a stress fracture in his left foot. A decision on starting Palmer in the Sept. 12 opener against Trabuco Hills at Saddleback College won’t be made until results of a bone scan become available Monday.

“We’re waiting for word from the doctors as to whether he can play,” Hartigan said. “We have not declared him for sure to be out of the opener.”

Palmer has been restricted to light workouts since complaining of mild foot pain after an Aug. 27 practice. An X-ray, taken three days later, was inconclusive, Hartigan said. Doctors recommended that Palmer have another X-ray the day before the opener, but Hartigan said he requested the bone scan.

“Obviously, we don’t want to wait that long to [find out whether he can play],” Hartigan said.

Palmer passed for 2,084 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to the Southern Section Division V championship last season.

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Charlie “Tex” Bleiker, Newport Harbor boys’ tennis coach for 24 years, has announced his retirement, effective after the 1998 spring season. Bleiker also coached the girls’ team, but he left that position two years ago. Bleiker said Thursday he will continue to teach history at the school.

“It’s time to change over a little bit,” Bleiker said. “I’ve been here 24 years. I think that’s enough. It’s not for health reasons. It’s burnout.”

Bleiker’s boys’ teams never won a Southern Section title, but he had an individual singles champion--Brett Hansen-Dent in 1990. Bleiker also coached Geoff Abrams, who won two Sea View League titles and is now playing at Stanford, and Chris Rabbitt, who won a Sea View singles title in 1986.

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Scott Gorton has resigned as Corona del Mar softball coach for personal reasons, according to Athletic Director Jerry Jelnick.

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The Mighty Ducks’ fourth annual charity golf tournament will be Monday at Coyote Hills Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit Disney GOALS. Mighty Ducks players, coaches, broadcasters and front office staff will play in the event. Tournament sponsorships, tee-sponsors and tee-times are still available. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the shotgun start begins at 11 a.m. GOALS is a nonprofit program devoted to removing barriers so underprivileged youths can enjoy organized sports and a quality education. For information about the tournament, call Paul Desaulniers at (714) 940-2910.