Jeff Tully
BURBANK -- Throughout the past year, the local community experienced
its share of important, interesting and tragic sports stories. Some of
the stories touched us, some informed us and others just entertained us.
Although many of the stories deserve recognition, a select few stood
out among the others.
Chosen by the Leader Sports staff, here is a list of the top 10 sports
stories of the year 2000:
1. Burbank boys' cross-country team makes history: The Bulldogs
weren't even the best team in the Foothill League, however, they ended up
being one of the top finishers in the state.
Paced by senior Thomas Harley and coaches Bob Shaw and Sasha Vujic,
Burbank became the first team in school history to qualify for the annual
CIF-State Cross-Country Championships.
At the event in November in Fresno, the Bulldogs finished sixth in
Division II, and their team time was 21st fastest among the 101 schools
at the meet.
2. Cirillo has all-star season: Former Providence High and Colorado
Rockies' Jeff Cirillo proved he is one of the premier third baseman in
major league baseball with a season of success.
In the National League, Cirillo finished eighth in batting average
(.326), second in doubles (53), sixth in hits (195) and 10th in runs
batted in (115). For his efforts, he was selected to the National League
All-Star Team and played in the midsummer classic in July.
In a game against the San Francisco Giants in June, Cirillo had a
career night, he belted three home runs, drove in six runs and scored
five runs.
Proving he still has strong local ties, Cirillo chaired a charity golf
tournament last month in Sylmar in memory of his former Coach Paul
Sutton, who died of colon cancer in 1999.
3. Richards goes out with a bang: Longtime Burbank High tennis Coach
Clyde Richards picked a good time to go out -- on top.
Richards stepped down as the boys' coach in June after guiding the
Bulldogs to their 13th straight Foothill League championship. He also
guided the team to a 20-2 record and itadvanced to the quarterfinals of
the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years.
Richards, whose team won a CIF championship in 1993, was honored with
a retirement dinner June 2 at The Castaway restaurant.
4. Kemp and Kallem call it quits: Burbank High lost quite a bit of
history in June when longtime coaches and administrators Dave Kemp and
Frank Kallem retired.
The two had 72 years of coaching experience at the school, coaching
