Uhl returns to coach Mesa softball

Sharon Uhl, who coached the Costa Mesa High varsity softball team in

2001 and was head coach at Estancia from 1994-99, will return to the

Costa Mesa helm, Mustangs girls athletic director Pat Leahy announced

Friday.

Uhl replaces Rick Buonarigo, who resigned after leading Mesa to

the 2003 Golden West League championship, the program’s first league

title.

Leahy said Buonarigo, the school’s equipment attendant, chose to

step down rather than start his work day at 6 a.m., 30 minutes sooner

than his current schedule, in order to be free to attend the

program’s sixth-period softball class that begins at 2:30 p.m. Uhl,

who teaches junior high physical education at Mesa, coached the

Mustangs’ junior varsity in 2001 and her familiarity with the players

should help ease the transition.

“I know all the kids and they know me,” she said. “Most of them

were on my JV team when they were freshmen. I’m glad to be back in

the program, but I’m sad it is under these circumstances.”

-- by Barry Faulkner

AYSO signups today

* SOCCER: The final two registration days will be held this month

for AYSO Region 97 fall soccer leagues.

Mariners School’s multipurpose room will be the site for both

signup days: Today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and June 17 from 6:30 p.m.

to 8:30 p.m.

Interested players born prior to Feb. 1, 1999, through 18 years

old are eligible to sign up. New players to the region, or those that

were not registered last year, must bring birth certificates.

First-time players born on or before July 31, 1995, will participate

in a skills evaluation by one of four coaches. Details: (949)

642-6296.