Estancia softball team receives at-large berth

The Estancia High softball team is the lone squad from the Newport-Mesa area to earn a CIF Southern Section playoff spot, as pairings were released Monday.

The Eagles (12-9), an at-large team from the Orange Coast League, plays at Calvary Chapel Murrieta (11-10), the Ambassador League third-place team, in a Division 5 wild-card game Tuesday.

Estancia finished tied for third with Laguna Beach but lost in a third-place playoff game against the Breakers last week.

The Eagles are making their first CIF playoff appearance in four years.

Tuesday’s winner will play at Baldwin Park Sierra Vista (15-2, Montview League champion) in Thursday’s first round.

Redlands Citrus Valley (20-4), the Mountain Valley League champion, is the division’s top seed.

— Steve Virgen