Eagles bow out in first round

COSTA MESA — When the members of the Estancia High softball team look back on their season, Friday’s season-ending 8-3 loss to South Hills in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs probably won’t be the first thing that comes to mind.

The Eagles will remember their back-to-back Orange Coast League titles. Senior catcher Haylee Whitney said she will also remember how much of a bond the team shared, a sentiment that caused fellow seniors Abby Koff and Taylor West to nod their heads.

“This has been the closest any year has been,” Whitney said. “We’d go play [the video game] ‘Rock Band’ for like six hours. In the beginning it was kind of rough, but we just hit it off nicely.”

Estancia (15-8) also got plenty of hits — 10 — off South Hills starting pitcher Tori Bernard, including one in every inning but the second. The visiting Huskies (10-14) also had 10 hits, but theirs were more timely.

With two outs in the top of the third, South Hills scored three runs to extend to a 4-0 lead. The big blow was a two-RBI single to center by freshman Samantha Nieves, chasing Estancia’s starting pitcher. Nieves didn’t play like an underclassman, going two for four with four RBIs.

Estancia, meanwhile, had six hits through the first five innings, but couldn’t get a runner to third base.

“We were on defense for too long,” Eagles Coach Tommy Rausch said. “It just took its toll. We had 10 hits, but it just feels like we didn’t hit.”

Sophomore Amy Hartwell was called out at third on a close play in the first inning, and West was out in the fourth trying to extend a double to a triple.

West, who also made a highlight-reel diving catch in shallow center, aggravated a left knee injury on the play and eventually had to be taken out of the game. She said the knee has bothered her all season, between playing golf, soccer and now softball for Estancia.

“She’s played through so much pain,” Rausch said. “She’s a trooper.”

The Eagles finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Junior shortstop Courtney Ulrich led off with a double to center, and Hartwell walked. An out later, Koff hit an RBI single. Whitney followed with a smash to center that was barely caught for a sacrifice fly, scoring Hartwell and narrowing the deficit to 5-2.

The Huskies, unfazed, scored three more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Koff was three for three for Estancia, and Ulrich was two for four with an RBI. Sophomore outfielder Jill Beck was two for three.

For Koff, Whitney and West, there were no tears after the season ended.

“We had a hell of a season,” Koff said. “The three of us [seniors] got two league championships, the first two the school’s ever had. It was one good run.”

CIF Southern Section

Division IV playoffs

First round

South Hills 8, Estancia 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bernard and Gonzales; Marlborough, Koff (3) and Whitney. W – Bernard, 9-9. L – Marlborough, 1-1. 2B – Willson (SH), West (E), Ulrich (E).

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