Pasadena

MEMORIAL FIELD — The look of frustration, shock and anger was plastered across the faces of the Burbank High football players following a crushing turn of events against Pasadena. Burbank fought back to regain the lead Thursday in a Pacific League game, only to have its heart stomped on by Pasadena with a single play. Pasadena orchestrated a late drive and scored a touchdown with just 1.7 seconds left to defeat first-place Burbank, 45-41, severely hampering the local Bulldogs’ chances of wining an outright league title.

DOWNTOWN — With Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena all without permanent police chiefs, experts say a possible sea change approaches in the way law enforcement is administered in the tri-city area. The challenges facing each department are varied — a bevy of misconduct lawsuits and investigations in Burbank, a command restructuring in Glendale, a greater emphasis on community relations in Pasadena — but experts said the common thread will be an opportunity for change.

PASADENA — It couldn't have been a more perfect way for the Burroughs High football team to clinch a share of the Pacific League championship Friday night. The Indians turned to their star running back and defensive unit for positive results to record a 20-7 road win against Pasadena at Pasadena City College's Robinson Stadium. Senior running back Joe Wiggan rushed for 164 yards in 29 carries and scored two touchdowns. Senior lineman Nick Bryant recovered a fumble and parlayed it into a touchdown to spark the Indians (8-1, 6-0 in league)

MEMORIAL FIELD — Burroughs High Coach Keith Knoop and his staff had a straight-forward game plan set for their Pacific League game against Pasadena. The Indians planned to give the Bulldogs a steady dose of smashmouth football, running the ball up the middle as much as possible in an attempt to wear out the Bulldogs defense. The plan worked perfectly for most of the game, as Burroughs running backs Dominique Barnes and Victor Felix did their share of damage. However, the Indians’ defense had trouble containing the potent Pasadena offense — especially on a crucial drive late in the fourth quarter — as the Bulldogs crawled back to earn a 28-27 come-from behind win Monday at Memorial Field.

BURROUGHS HIGH — With seven seniors and a fine group of returning players, the Burroughs High girls’ volleyball team figured it might have enough talent to contend for a league championship. However, the Indians realized that any title would have to go through Pasadena, and that would be no easy task. Although the Bulldogs lost some players from last season — including All-American Kimmee Roleder, who is at USC — the team was coming off a 2006 season in which it went undefeated, won the Pacific League crown and captured a CIF Southern Section Division IIA championship.

MEMORIAL FIELD ? It was obvious in the early going of their Pacific League game that the Burroughs High football coaches had done a fine job scouting Pasadena. From the opening of the first quarter, Indians? defensive coordinator Ken Knoop was relaying to his players what play the Bulldogs were about to run, even before the ball was snapped. It was that preparation that helped Burroughs jump to an early lead and ride that momentum to a 35-12 league victory Thursday at Memorial Field.

OLIVE PARK — The Burroughs High softball team was only able to account for four hits Monday in its Pacific League game against visiting Pasadena. However, the Indians were able to capitalize on a number of Bulldogs’ errors, wild pitches and passed balls in their attempt to stay unbeaten in league. Taking full advantage of its opponent’s miscues, Burroughs was able to push across 10 runs on just four hits to earn a 10-0 win at Olive Park. The game was called in the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Joyce Rudolph PASADENA -- Margaret Williams, Welsh TV and recording star, will appear at 7:30 tonight at a Celtic and American musical celebration of the Welsh St. David's Day in Pasadena. Also featured will be Welsh tenor and Celtic entertainer Geraint Wilkes of Aberystwyth, Wales, and Wrath of McGrath Irish Celtic Folk Band of Los Angeles. The concert will be at the Romanesque Room of the Historic Old Castle Green Hotel, 50 E. Green St., Pasadena.

Jenna Bordelon PASADENA -- Burbank firefighters will give muscular dystrophy the boot. Firefighters will hold out their rubber boots for cash to fight muscular dystrophy from 6 to 10 p.m. today at the corner of Fair Oaks and Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Proceeds from the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. drive will fund free clinics, support groups and summer camps. Part of the money will go to research and help buy special equipment. "The main support is coming from Burbank," campaign coordinator Amanda Le said.

SOFTBALL Burroughs junior varsity 8, Arcadia junior varsity 2 : The Indians earned a share of the Pacific League title with a win Friday. The win improves Burroughs to 21-1, 12-0 in league. Pitcher Quinn Rodriguez went the distance to pick up the win. Miranda Castandea, Shelley Klawitter, Yvette Mendoza, Michelle King and Alicia Garcia all drove in runs for the Indians. Burroughs ends the season with a league games against Pasadena on Tuesday and Burroughs on Friday.

ARCADIA — It might have been an ominous omen when the Burbank High girls' track and field team was disqualified in the 4x100-meter relay to open Thursday's Pacific League tri-meet against Arcadia and Pasadena. With both the Bulldogs and Apaches undefeated going into what was likely the battle for the league championship, Burbank could ill afford to give up any points. But as it turned out, the one event meant little in the final standings. With a wealth of depth, host Arcadia was able to sweep the girls' and boys' contests, as both of its squads remained unbeaten in league competition.

A 39-year-old man known as the Tri-Cities Bandit was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for robbing banks in several cities, including Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena, according to court documents. Ernest Viana pleaded guilty in December to six federal counts of bank robbery and using force or intimidation to steal, according to U.S. District Court records. Viana was also ordered to pay $21,229 in restitution to the banks he robbed. When Viana is released from prison, he will be placed under supervised probation for three years.

BURBANK HIGH - Practicing man-advantage opportunities hasn't been something that the members of the Burroughs High girls' water polo team have spent a lot of time addressing. After what occurred Tuesday, one could hardly notice. Burroughs scored on five of its six extra-man advantages to pick up a 6-3 overtime victory against Pasadena in a semifinal match of the Pacific League Tournament at Burbank High. Burroughs (19-3, 6-1 in league) will meet Crescenta Valley (27-0, 7-0)

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - With a golden opportunity to take care of its league standing, Burroughs' High's boys' soccer team found few golden opportunities against host Glendale presenting themselves in Tuesday afternoon's Pacific League match. Turns out all the Indians would need was one, and it came off the head of Francisco Baez in the 64th minute, as the Indians fended off the Nitros, 1-0, to secure second place in league. "We had to take advantage of our opportunities," said Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama, whose team improved to 8-8-4 and 7-3-3 in league for 24 points, which, combined with a Pasadena tie with Hoover, clinched second place.

BURBANK - The pitch played more of a role than is typical when the Burroughs High girls' soccer team squared off against Pasadena on Friday. With their home field undergoing renovations, the Indians host opponents at Luther Burbank Middle School. Both parties agreed that the bumpy, pockmarked field is a far cry from the artificial playing surfaces that many schools have become accustomed. Despite the less than ideal playing surface, Pasadena rallied from two goals down to win, 4-3. "I don't want to say the field is bad, [but]

BURBANK — When the Muir High and Burbank girls' basketball teams met a little more than two weeks ago, the game came down to the final seconds, as the Mustangs were able to salvage a three-point win at home. In Wednesday's Pacific League rematch at Burbank, the contest was another tight one through three quarters, with Muir clinging to a two-point lead. However, an eight-point run to start the final frame was enough to give the Mustangs some much-needed momentum. As Muir was surging, the Burbank offense went cold early in the fourth, enabling the Mustangs to step up for a 50-41 victory.

PASADENA — Both the Burbank High and Pasadena girls' soccer teams were trying to hold their respective squads together when the met Monday in a Pacific League match. Both Bulldogs teams have had to shuffle around their lineups because of a rash of injuries and illness that have affected players. Burbank was also missing a key player who received a red card Friday against rival Burroughs. Despite the struggles, it was Burbank that was able to dominate a large portion of the contest, controlling the tempo and getting the majority of the scoring chances.

PASADENA - Fresh off a rivalry win Friday against Muir High, the Pasadena girls' basketball team looked to Monday's game against Burbank as another step in its quest to put itself in position to vie for a Pacific League championship. But that effort was dealt a big blow even before tip-off against the visiting Bulldogs. Earlier in the day, Pasadena learned it would be forced to forfeit three league games because of the use of an ineligible player. In a statement released by Adam Wolfson, director of communications and community engagement for the Pasadena Unified School District, it revealed that Pasadena would have to forfeit three wins: Jan. 6 against Burroughs, Jan. 9 against Glendale and Friday against the Mustangs.

BURBANK HIGH - The Burbank High girls' basketball coaches and players were unaware of the added significance that Friday's cross-town rivalry game against Burroughs held. A short time before the Bulldogs took on the visiting Indians in a Pacific League game, undefeated Muir lost its first league contest of the season to Pasadena. That meant Burbank, which came into Friday's game with one league loss, could grab a share of the league lead with a win. Although it was a struggle, Burbank overcame a six-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to earn a 37-34 win at home.

BURROUGHS HIGH - With senior-laden squads, there is a palpable sense of urgency with the Burroughs High and Pasadena girls' water polo teams this season. The fact that both programs will lose a large number of impact players to graduation, the Indians and Bulldogs realize that this year will likely be their best chance to vie for a Pacific League championship. With that motivation, the teams met Thursday in a league showdown. Although Burroughs was able to take a sizable lead in the early going, it had to hold off a surging Pasadena squad to notch a 9-7 victory.