Springtime success

BURBANK — It was a successful spring season for many teams and individuals from Burbank, Burroughs, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence highs.

Ten of the 14 local squads qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, the teams won seven playoff contests and the area boasted four individual league champions in two sports.

In addition, one team captured a league championship and four others finished second in their respective leagues.

Leading the way in spring was the Burroughs boys’ tennis team, which also provided the biggest surprise of the year.

Led by singles players Trevor Campbell and Robert Henry and the doubles team of Andre Yanez and Jay Chung, the Indians accomplished three impressive feats. Not only did the team defeat cross-town rival Burbank for the first time in 22 years, it also won its first Pacific League title in 23 years and advanced to the Division II quarterfinals.

Yanez had an impressive junior campaign. Along with winning a crown with his tennis team, he was also a goalkeeper on a Burroughs boys’ soccer squad that secured its first league championship in a decade.

In addition, he was an All-Area kicker for the Indians football team that qualified for the playoffs.

Burroughs — which placed third in league in 2007 — should be in good shape for next season, as Campbell will be a junior and Henry will be just a sophomore for Coach Roy Bernhardt’s team.

Although Burroughs had the better team, the Bulldogs had the best singles player. Sophomore Arthur Karagezian won the league crown and had a season record of 44-1.

In the individual playoffs, he came within one win of qualifying for the round of 16.

In softball, the teams were well represented in the playoffs, as all four qualified for the postseason.

Burbank (22-3) led the way, finishing second in the Pacific League and earning a No. 2 seed for the Division III playoffs. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they lost in the second round to Rancho Alamitos, 3-2.

The Bulldogs did have the best pitcher in the area — junior Kristin Peraza. Peraza went 21-3 and tallied 408 strikeouts.

Despite finishing third in their respective leagues, the Bell-Jeff and Providence softball teams each won their opening postseason games.

In baseball, only two teams — Burroughs and Bell-Jeff — made the playoffs. The Indians, who finished third in the Pacific League, were the lone area squad to win a playoff contest.