HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW : Birdsong’s Rule: Stay Cool in Pool : Water polo: Calm demeanor helps make Newport Harbor senior one of the county’s best goalkeepers.

Tim Birdsong admits he’s low-key. Maybe even mellow. But that’s just the characteristic that helps make him one of the top goalkeepers in Orange County.

“You’ve got to have consistency when playing goalie, and that’s what Tim has,” said Brian Kreutzkamp, who coaches water polo with Bill Barnett at top-ranked Newport Harbor High. “He’s calm and doesn’t lose sight of what he’s supposed to do in the goalie box.”

Kreutzkamp said the last thing a coach wants is a goalie who loses his cool.

“He has good size, is quick and aggressive in the goal,” the coach said. “But maybe more important is his attitude. He’s exactly the kind of person you want to play goalie.”

Birdsong said he can get excited, “but I guess I don’t really show it that much.” That attribute helped make him a Times all-county second-team selection last season. A senior this year, he is considered by county coaches to be among the area’s top goalies.

“He’s a big reason why Newport Harbor is ranked No. 1,” Foothill Coach Jim Brumm said. “He’s very strong in the goal and is one of the county’s top goalies.”

Said Birdsong: “I guess I’m good because I’m not afraid to get in front of the ball. I’m also pretty good at stopping the corner shots. Anyway, when I feel confident, then I really don’t feel the need to get pumped up.

“We’ve got a good defensive team,” he added. “We have a fast team. They’re good on defense and they get back on the counters, so when you have a team like that, it makes my job that much easier.”

Kreutzkamp gives more credit to Birdsong.

“Tim is the backbone of our team,” the co-coach said. “He had a really good summer [playing club water polo] and has improved a lot. He also provides senior leadership.”

Birdsong, 17, began playing water polo in the eighth grade for a club team in Newport Beach. From the beginning, he has been a goalie.

“I knew right away that this was the position for me,” he said. “I like to be in position to stop the shots and help my team win.”

Birdsong credits not only his coaches, but also a former teammate, Jon Pharris, for his growth in goal.

“I used to watch him play when I was a sophomore,” Birdsong said. “He was so good in the goal, you could learn a lot from just watching him.”

Said Kreutzkamp: “They used to practice side by side, and Jon was always there to help Tim. And that’s exactly what Tim is doing for some of our younger players now. He’s giving them tips and helping any way he can.”

Acknowledging that his position can be thankless, as many remember only the game-winning goals, Birdsong said he is content with his role.

“When you stop a goal or make a good pass to a teammate, it’s very satisfying,” he said.

So satisfying that he wouldn’t trade duties even for a quarter.

“I like my position. It’s just you and nobody else. It can be very exciting at times.”

Naturally, Birdsong would like to finish his high school career with a Southern Section title. It appears that road will once again go through defending Division I champion Long Beach Wilson, which is led by senior Tony Azevedo. He is currently playing with the U.S. national team and won’t return to Wilson’s lineup until October.

“We’re a young team, but we have a lot of speed, and I think we could go far,” Birdsong said.

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Among other county water polo players expected to make an impact this season are El Toro seniors Trevor McMunn (two meter), who scored 86 goals last season; Tim Kraycraft (driver), the team’s best outside shooter who had 61 goals last season, and Andy Terpstra (two-meter defender), one of the county’s top defensive players. . . . Newport Harbor junior Pete Belden (driver) and senior Brenden Hansen (two meter) are both second-team All-Sea View League players who are expected to provide the offensive and defensive push for the Sailors.

Saddleback’s Julian Gonzalez (two meter) is a 6-foot-4 junior who was first-team All-Golden West League and second-team All-Southern Section last year. He was also a member of the 18-and-under ORCA club team that won at the Junior Olympics in San Jose last month. Joining Gonzalez is 6-4 senior teammate Daniel Noon (two meter), who scored 96 goals last year. . . . Trever Wawrzynski, a senior from Los Alamitos, hopes to follow in his brother Tyler’s footsteps as a top two-meter man for the Griffins. . . . Senior Michael Kim (two meter), a Division II co-MVP and Servite’s leading scorer with 87 goals, helped lead the Friars to their first Division II title since 1982.

Senior Ted Peck (hole), at 6-5, 250 pounds, scored 75 goals last season in helping University to the Division II semifinals. . . . Juniors Charlie Fisher (two meter), Villa Park’s second-leading scorer last season with 61 goals, will join goalie Jarred Jones, whose precise passing and quickness make him one of the county’s top goalkeepers. . . . Senior Pat Logan (driver), a four-year starter, and junior Blake Seymour (two meter) will help Foothill continue to be a county power. . . . Josh Hewko (two meter), who continues a long line of water polo players in his family, will join fellow junior Pat McCann as San Clemente’s top scorers.