High School Softball: Costa Mesa, Estancia try to squeeze in game

The Bell rivalry in Costa Mesa features the two high schools trying to beat each other. The Costa Mesa and Estancia softball teams were just trying to beat the rain on Thursday.

The Mustangs (5-5 in league) and Eagles (13-9, 5-5 in league) are vying for third place in the Orange Coast League and the final automatic berth into the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.

The league play-off/tiebreaker game was originally scheduled for Friday at 3:15 p.m., but the teams moved the game to Thursday afternoon with the hope to get in some of the game before rainfall.

But the game was called before the top of the first inning could end. The Eagles lead, 7-0, with two runners on base and two outs, as the teams will try to resume the game Friday at 3:15 p.m.

Rain poured on the Mustangs’ field as the players ran for cover.

“We don’t want [the playoff berth] to be decided by a flip of the coin,” Estancia Coach Carrie Lester said. “We want it to be decided on the field.”

Costa Mesa Athletic Director Sharon Uhl said the CIF Southern Section has ruled the teams cannot play on Saturday. They have until 11 p.m. on Friday to get at least five innings in to determine the OCL’s third-place team.

If the teams can’t get the game in, they will flip a coin to determine the third-place team.

“We’re going to shoot for 3:15 [Friday],” Uhl said. “We’ll use the quick-dry stuff [on the wet diamond]. We’ll be OK. The teams want to play. You just don’t want your fate at the mercy of a coin.”