Sailors’ Clinton Jorth done for season

Newport Harbor High water polo star suffered multiple facial fractures in game against El Toro on Tuesday.Newport Harbor High sophomore water polo standout Clinton Jorth is out for the season after sustaining four fractured facial bones during the team’s 12-10 victory over El Toro on Tuesday.

“He’s doing all right, but he could be better,” said Clay Jorth, Clinton’s older brother.

Clinton suffered two orbital bone fractures, a fractured temple and a fractured cheekbone.

“That one [the cheekbone] is the worst,” Clay said.

Clinton, 15, a star defender for the Sailors, was evaluated at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

Newport Harbor Athletic Director Eric Tweit said surgery could take place as early as Monday or Tuesday, and that Jorth will most likely be out of action for four to six weeks.

“He is definitely out for the season. That has already been determined,” Tweit said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting him healthy.”

Clinton Jorth was injured in an incident that occurred in Newport Harbor’s zone away from the play.

The Newport Harbor boys’ water polo team, which is 17-3 and ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section’s Division I, flew to San Jose on Thursday to prepare for the Bellarmine/Lynbrook TruWest Memorial Cup Invitational, which takes place today and Saturday.

The tournament includes several of the top teams in California, including Southern Section powerhouses Long Beach Wilson (No. 1, Division I), Corona del Mar (No. 6, Division I), Harvard-Westlake (tied for No. 3, Division I), Foothill (tied for No. 3, Division I), El Toro (No. 5, Division I) and Los Alamitos (No. 2, Division II).

Newport Harbor opens the tournament today with a 12:30 p.m. game against Live Oak at Lynbrook High. If the Sailors win, they play the winner of the Jesuit-El Toro game at 5:10 p.m.

The championship game is slated for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Newport Harbor has reached the championship game of both tournaments they’ve been in this season.