Eagles ready to go

The Estancia High softball team has had 11 days since it clinched the Orange Coast League title against Calvary Chapel on May 5.

But the Eagles haven’t just been sitting around. In particular, it has been good practice time for sophomore pitcher Nicole Marlborough, who only began pitching in March.

Estancia (15-7) plans to start Marlborough today in the circle when the Eagles play host to South Hills (9-14) at 3:15 p.m., in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

“I really want to do well in CIF,” said Marlborough, who is 1-0. “We won league, so now we’re just trying to do our best here, because we’re not sure what kind of teams we’re going to face.”

South Hills, the third-place team in the San Antonio League, is led by freshman shortstop Samantha Nieves (batting .387) and senior first/third baseman Sara Quintero (.347).

Neither average is as high as Estancia’s leaders, sophomore Amy Hartwell (.635) and seniors Abby Koff (.593), Taylor West (.567) and Haylee Whitney (.412).

West has hit 15 home runs, which is a school record.

But the West Covina-based Huskies do have a more experienced starting pitcher in sophomore Victoria Bernard, who is 8-9 with a 4.70 earned-run average. Bernard has started at pitcher in 18 of South Hills’ 23 games this season.

Estancia, led by first-year coaches Judd Fryslie and Tommy Rausch, is trying to avoid another first-round exit, like the Eagles suffered last year with a 3-1 loss to Orange in the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

Estancia has never advanced to the CIF second round in softball.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.