MCCAMBRIDGE PARK — Michelle Santiago knew when she felt the impact on her bat and watched the ball loft toward right field that she had done her job.
Just a freshman, Santiago stepped into a pressure situation Thursday with one out in the rival softball game against Burbank. With an Indians runner on third base in the eighth inning, the third baseman was just trying to get her bat on the ball. On a 1-2 count, Santiago lifted a fly ball to right that scored Brice Edrington to give Burroughs a 2-1 victory in the Pacific League game at McCambridge Park.
The victory was monumental for the Indians (23-3, 13-1 in league), because it gave them the outright league title. Burroughs has won or shared the league crown the past three years. With the loss, Burbank (20-6, 11-3) missed a chance to gain a share of the league championship.
Burroughs — ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division III — received a stellar performance from senior pitcher Haley Schulman. The right-hander threw a one-hitter, striking out 11 in the process.