Playoffs

The Burbank High and Bellarmine-Jefferson softball programs enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs with their share of momentum. Coincidentally, both squads earned No. 2 seeds in their respective divisions. For the Bulldogs, they are fresh off of capturing their first league championship since 1987, taking the title in the Pacific League. The Guards enter the postseason after winning their fourth consecutive Santa Cruz League crown. Burbank and Bell-Jeff will be joined in the playoffs by Burroughs and Providence.

BASEBALL Arroyo Grande 6, Burbank 1 : The Bulldogs could manage just four hits Friday in losing their CIF Southern Section Division II first-round game on the road. "They threw a big lefty on us and he did a great job," said Burbank Coach Bob Hart, whose team ended the season at 18-9 after winning a share of the Pacific League title. "But also I don't think we were able to do what I think we're capable of doing on offense. But that happens sometimes. " The lone Burbank run came in the seventh inning.

Gary Moskowitz MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- The Burbank High School Law Dogs made it to the 2001 playoffs of the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition this month. The 21-member team, comprised of five seniors, five juniors and 11 sophomores at Burbank High School, made it to the third of six rounds of mock trial competitions before losing to Marshall High School, in Los Feliz. The county competitions include 60 senior high school teams in Los Angeles.

Jeff Tully PROVIDENCE HIGH -- Members of the Providence High softball team might be feeling a bit elitist as the CIF Southern Section playoffs roll around. Not only is Providence the only team in the city to win a league championship -- in any sport -- during the spring season, but the Pioneer squad is the lone local softball or baseball team to make it to the postseason. The Pioneers open the Division V playoffs at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at Olive Park against San Gabriel Mission.

BURROUGHS HIGH — Coach Bob Davidson has a fine track record of sending his Glendale High boys' tennis teams to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Since taking over the program in 1998, there was only one season in which the Nitros failed to qualify for the postseason. In contrast, Burroughs has been a stranger to the playoffs, having last earned a berth in 1994. However, fortunes changed for both teams Tuesday. The Indians captured third place in the Pacific League and earned their first postseason appearance in 13 years by defeating Glendale, 10-5, in a league play-in match at Burroughs.

MEMORIAL FIELD — The motivation for Friday’s annual cross-town rivalry clash between Burbank and Burroughs highs was simple. The winner would earn a berth in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, and the loser would see its season come to an end. Although the Bulldogs began the game with two early touchdowns, it was Burroughs’ methodical running game — behind a solid offensive line — that wore down Burbank, as...

Jeff Tully For the Burroughs High softball team to make the playoffs, it would have to win its two Foothill League games this week. However, the team received some good news Monday. It has already qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division I postseason. It's already assured Burroughs will finish among the top three teams in league after Hart has been forced to forfeit its 5-1 victory April 26 for using an ineligible player. It will be the Indians' first postseason appearance since 2003.

Hamlet Nalbandyan Beating your archrival is sweet enough, but add a playoff bid on top of that and you can imagine just how excited the Burroughs High girls' basketball team was Thursday night. The Indians were pushed to the limit by a scrappy Burbank squad, but still prevailed, 45-38, in a Foothill League game on the road. The win gave Burroughs (11-16, 4-6 in league) the minimum amount of wins needed to submit for an at-large berth into the CIF Southern Section Division IIA playoffs.

BURBANK - In command with a huge lead entering the seventh inning, things appeared in order for the Burbank High softball team to extend its season. The Bulldogs were in control with ace pitcher Caitlyn Brooks in the circle and three outs from victory. They then encountered trouble before seeing their season come to a close in heartbreaking fashion. PHOTOS: Burbank softball in CIF second-round softball game   Second-seeded Burbank yielded five runs in the seventh and two in the eighth en route to an 8-7 home loss to Sunny Hills on Tuesday in a CIF Southern Section Division III second-round contest at McCambridge Park.

BURBANK - In its opening playoff game last week, the Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team had a relatively easy time earning a nine-run win against Frazier Mountain. However, it appeared the Guards would face their first true test of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs with a second-round game against Pasadena Poly and its accomplished pitcher, DeeDee Logan. But Bell-Jeff has its own talented hurler in All-CIF standout Mia Acosta. For three and a half innings the two pitchers went at it in a scoreless battle.

BASEBALL Arroyo Grande 6, Burbank 1 : The Bulldogs could manage just four hits Friday in losing their CIF Southern Section Division II first-round game on the road. "They threw a big lefty on us and he did a great job," said Burbank Coach Bob Hart, whose team ended the season at 18-9 after winning a share of the Pacific League title. "But also I don't think we were able to do what I think we're capable of doing on offense. But that happens sometimes. " The lone Burbank run came in the seventh inning.

BURBANK - Having proven to be one of the elite teams in CIF Southern Section Division VII over the last several seasons, the Bellarmine-Jefferson softball team is looking to put its mark on Division VI. The Guards reached the Division VIII championship contest the past two seasons before being moved up this year. PHOTOS: Bell-Jeff vs. Frazier Mountain softball Bell-Jeff passed its first postseason test Thursday, as Monique Landini came within a double of recording a cycle to help the second-seeded Guards register a 10-1 home victory against Frazier Mountain in an opening-round contest at Gross Park.

LYNWOOD - Providence High softball Coach Joel Curtis told his players they would have to cut down on their mistakes if they were to win their CIF Southern Section Division VII first-round game Thursday against host Firebaugh. "I pretty much told them before the game that we were going to have to play mistake-free ball if we were going to win," Curtis said. The Pioneers didn't do that. Mistakes led to early runs for the Falcons and that advantage grew through the latter innings, ultimately leading to a 12-1 loss on the road for Providence.

A two-run lead was nice to have, but not comfortable enough for Katie Hooper and her teammates on the Burbank High softball team. Hooper made sure her team was comfortable in the final inning of Thursday's CIF Southern Section Division III first-round playoff game against El Rancho. PHOTOS: Burbank High softball advances in playoffs by beating El Rancho High The senior blasted a three-home home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning and sophomore pitcher Caitlyn Brooks shut down the Dons in the seventh inning with her 13th, 14th and 15th strikeouts, giving the Bulldogs a 7-2 victory at McCambridge Park.

SOFTBALL Burroughs 9, Arroyo Valley 3 : The Indians received a three-hit, complete-game effort from pitcher Brice Edrington on Tuesday to earn a CIF Southern Section Division III wild-card win on the road. "This was just a great effort by our girls and I'm just so proud of them," said Burroughs Coach Doug Nicol, whose team is the No. 4 seed from the Pacific League. "We started the game with three runs in the first inning and we never looked back. " Edrington also did well at the plate, as she was one of four Burroughs (18-8)

BURBANK - Chris Okimoto understands the role of being the No. 9 hitter in a fluid lineup. It's a role he doesn't take lightly while also playing a steady second base for the Burbank High baseball team. Okimoto showed he can produce in the last spot in the lineup, as he finished with a team-high three hits to help host Burbank to a 7-4 victory against Cajon on Tuesday night in a CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card game. Burbank (18-8) will meet host Arroyo Grande in a first-round at 3:15 p.m. Friday.

Softball: Minutemen, Panthers have first-round games Thursday, while San Marino, Westridge, La Salle and Marshall have wild cards on Tuesday. With five Pasadena area softball teams receiving playoff assignments on Monday morning when the CIF Southern Section released its pairings, three will waste no time in opening up with wild-card games on Tuesday, while Maranatha High and Pasadena Poly will host first-round contests on Thursday. As for the wild-card round, Westridge takes to the road, while La Salle, San Marino and Marshall Fundamental will play host.

The Burbank High and Bellarmine-Jefferson softball programs enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs with their share of momentum. Coincidentally, both squads earned No. 2 seeds in their respective divisions. For the Bulldogs, they are fresh off of capturing their first league championship since 1987, taking the title in the Pacific League. The Guards enter the postseason after winning their fourth consecutive Santa Cruz League crown. Burbank and Bell-Jeff will be joined in the playoffs by Burroughs and Providence.