Plenty of spring success for locals

BURBANK — What a way to end the 2009-10 school year.

The spring sports season was one of the most productive for the local schools — Burroughs, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence highs — in decades. Deep CIF Southern Section playoff runs, league championships and individual titles were only some of the accomplishments that highlighted the spring campaign.

The accomplishments read like a laundry list of success:

•Two squads were able to advance to CIF Southern Section championship contests for the first time.

•Three teams captured league crowns, two going undefeated in the process.

•Another team advanced to the playoff semifinals for the first time in program history.

•Yet another squad moved on to the playoff quarterfinals for the first time in four years.

•An area golfer advanced through three CIF postseason tournaments and came a step away from qualifying for state competition.

•All four softball teams qualified for the postseason.

•Athletes won nine individual titles in track and field and Burroughs boasted both the singles and doubles champions in boys' tennis.

Leading the way in the spring was the Burroughs High boys' volleyball team. Under Coach Joel Brinton and led by talented brothers Tyler and Lucas Yanez, the program — which has been in existence for just five years — trumpeted its arrival on the Southern Section scene.

The Indians rolled to a Pacific League title, going undefeated in the process. Burroughs then marched its way through the Division III playoffs, advancing to the championship match against Cerritos Valley Christian at Cypress College. Although the Indians lost, 27-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16, just getting to the title contest is a huge accomplishment.

It was the Indians' first trip to the finals after previously not getting out of the second round of the playoffs.

Burroughs also participated in the Southern California Regional Championships for the first time. The Indians showed they belonged in state competition, upsetting Thousand Oaks, 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, in the first round.

It was also a record-breaking season for the Bell-Jeff softball team. The Guards posted an undefeated record in the Santa Fe League to claim their second straight championship.

Bell-Jeff also made its way to its first CIF title game. Unfortunately for the Guards, they fell in the Division VII championship to Pomona Catholic, 7-6.