Estancia, CdM begin playoffs

Coach Alan Caouette said he’s hoping history doesn’t repeat itself on Estancia High’s softball field.

The Eagles, along with Corona del Mar, qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, for which pairings were released Monday.

While the Sea Kings (13-13) open the Division III first round at La Serna (20-2) of Whittier Friday, Estancia (17-7) opens the Division IV first round Friday at home against Orange (15-6). Both games are scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

The last time these two squared off, Orange pummeled Estancia for 11 runs in the first inning en route to a 16-9 nonleague victory.

That was two months ago and against a pitcher called up from the junior varsity.

Since that loss and seeing senior ace Josie Flores return from a right-throwing shoulder problem, the Eagles are flying high. They’ve gone 14-3 and won their first league championship in school history.

Caouette said if it weren’t for allowing seniors and players who didn’t get much playing time to play in the last regular-season game, the Eagles could’ve gone undefeated in the Orange Coast League.

With an 8-1 league record, the only blemish was a 7-6 loss in nine innings to cross-town rival Costa Mesa. Caouette said he’ll take it going into the playoffs.

“It’s exciting times right now, even though we lost our last game, because I went back 15 years and this is the first time the school has made the playoffs,” said the three-year varsity coach. “Some people say it’s more like 20 years.”

Caouette said it won’t matter if the Eagles can advance out of the first round for the first time in school history.

Flores (15-5), as she has since returning, will start. Orange, the third-place team from the Golden West League, the Eagles’ former league, is averaging more than 10 runs per game in its last six contests.

Caouette expects Flores to cruise, like she did in league play, where her only loss came to Costa Mesa. Flores has a 1.85 earned-run average and has struck out 93 in 117 innings.

“We’ve seen better and we’ve seen worse,” said Caouette, sizing up the Panthers, who are 6-5 in road games. “We’re not too worried. We’re playing loose, having fun in practice.”

If Orange roughs up Flores like it did sophomore pitcher Abby Scheafer on March 15, the Eagles boast the firepower to strike back.

Four batters are hitting better than .400, led by Taylor West (.583, 46 RBIs, 10 home runs, seven triples, six doubles) and Lina You (.462, 24 runs).

“We can score,” said Caouette, whose team is averaging close to nine runs per game.

That kind of offense isn’t something the Sea Kings have been able to produce.

Only once have they reached double digits in runs. Much of CdM’s success is due to the pitching of Princeton-bound senior Michelle Tolfa, 11-13.

Tolfa was the winning pitcher in two of CdM’s last three Pacific Coast League victories that helped them finish 7-5 and tie for second with Beckman. It’s CdM’s fourth straight playoff trip.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.