Newport Harbor Hires Lynch for Water Polo

Jason Lynch, coach of the U.S. Water Polo National Youth Team, said Friday he is leaving Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley High for a similar position at Newport Beach Newport Harbor. He replaces Brian Kreutzkamp, who accepted a coaching position at Golden West College last month and led Newport Harbor to the Southern Section Division I boys’ title last season.

In other high school news:

* Kari Tubbs has been hired as softball coach at Tesoro in south Orange County, which opens in the fall and will field its first varsity team in spring of 2003.

* Regina Harrison has been hired to coach girls’ soccer at Laguna Hills, replacing Kevin Macare, whose teams were 161-58-37 in 11 seasons.

* Newhall Hart shortstop Chris Valaika is one of 48 players selected to try out for the U.S. Junior National team at a week-long camp beginning July 21 in Houston. Valaika batted .411 as a sophomore last season.