San Marino

SAN MARINO - The nonleague girls' tennis match between Burbank High and San Marino had been determined long before the final singles set got underway. But it didn't prevent both schools from sweating it out, as sophomore Vivian Le mounted a furious comeback to help host San Marino secure an 18-0 season-opening win Tuesday. Unable to see well against Burbank's No. 1 singles Ashley Basco, Le removed her contacts and turned a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 win to help give first-year Coach John Christopher his first victory with San Marino.

NEWHALL - There is reason for the members of the San Marino boys' tennis team to feel like they have oversized targets on their backs. Along with being the No. 1 team in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs, the Titans also have yet to be beaten this season and they came into Friday's second-round match having blanked their fair share of opponents in dominating fashion. If the Titans were under any pressure to live up to their lofty accomplishments it certainly didn't show Friday, as they were able to knock off host Hart in relatively easy fashion to the tune of an 18-0 victory.

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.

BURBANK ? The Burbank Senior Softball All-Star team began the Section 2 Tournament with a bang Thursday, defeating San Marino, 14-3, at Parkview Little League Fields in Lancaster. The game was called in the fourth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule. Burbank, the District 16 champion, defeated a San Marino squad that won the District 17 title. Pitcher Jade Teesel and Davina DelCastillo combined for a fine effort. Every player on the Burbank team got on base, and all but one came through with at least one hit. Burbank exploded for seven runs in the second inning and added four in the third.

Lolita Harper CIVIC CENTER -- The Burbank City Council renewed the Verdugo Fire Communications Agreement Tuesday and approved rate increases for two contracted cities. The Verdugo Communications Center was established to allow the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena to communicate more effectively and dispatch support units if needed. Over the past 20 years of the agreement, Arcadia, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, San Marino and South Pasadena have contracted with the three cities for dispatch services.

Glendale performer featured at music fest EAGLE ROCK -- The First Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival will be from 6 to 11 p.m. today starting at the Cultural Center and continuing down Colorado Boulevard to various restaurants and businesses. A variety of musical groups and individuals will perform, including singer Holly Montgomery of Glendale. Other acts include Ritt Henn, Grupo Sentir Latino and the Bill Minderhout Jazz Quartet. Locations along the boulevards will feature store-front art displays by students of "Art on Site," an after-school program at Eagle Rock junior and senior high schools.

ST. FRANCIS 37, BURROUGHS 12 Burroughs...............6 6 0 0 -- 12 St. Francis..............20 10 0 7 -- 37 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter SF-Herron 87 kick return (S. Smiland kick) 11:44 SF-Harrahill 43 run (S. Smiland kick) 4:33 SF-E. Jones 27 pass from Young (kick failed) 2:41 B-Brooks 56 run (kick failed) 0:36 Second Quarter SF-Smiland 44 field goal 5:49 B-West 75 interception return (pass failed) 4:41 SF-Turner 12 run (S. Smiland kick)

SCHEDULE TODAY Girls' tennis Glendale at Burroughs, 3:15 p.m. Cross-country Burbank, Burroughs in Foothill League Meet No. 1 at Griffith Park, 3 p.m. THURSDAY Football Burbank vs. San Marino at Memorial Field, 7 p.m. Girls' tennis Burbank at Mark Keppel. 3:15 p.m. Girls' golf Burroughs vs. Saugus at Vista Valencia Golf Course, 1:30 p.m. Girls' volleyball Hoover at Burroughs, 4:45 p.m. San Marino at Burbank, 4:45 p.m. Providence at Oakwood, 5 p.m. Notre Dame Academy at Bell-Jeff, 6:30 p.m. Boys' water polo Redondo Union at Burroughs, 3:15 p.m. FRIDAY Football Burroughs vs. St. Francis at Memorial Field, 7 p.m. Bell-Jeff at Silver Valley, 7 p.m. Girls' tennis South Pasadena at Burroughs, 3:15 p.m. COACHES: Please e-mail -- jeff.

BOYS' BASKETBALL Providence 56, St. Genevieve 53: The Pioneers earned a spot in the championship of their own 16th annual Paul Sutton Tip-Off Classic with a semifinal win Friday. Providence (2-0) will play Renaissance Academy tonight at 7:30 in the title game. Mark Azer had 23 points for the Pioneers. Providence 74, L.A. Lutheran 46; The host Pioneers began the season Thursday with a win in the opening round of their own 16th annual Paul Sutton Tip-Off Classic.

BASEBALL Burroughs In Southern California Showdown: By going 2-1, the Indians finish second in their pool and move on to the winners' bracket of the tourney. Along with a 5-2 win Saturday against South Torrance, Burroughs (2-1) defeated Oaks Christian Monday, 9-6, and lost to Alemany Tuesday, 8-3. Senior Miguel Alvarez has been playing well, as he is four for 10 with four stolen bases. TRACK AND FIELD Burbank in Eagle Rock Relays: The Bulldogs collected their share of medals Saturday in the event at Occidental College.

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.

NEWHALL - There is reason for the members of the San Marino boys' tennis team to feel like they have oversized targets on their backs. Along with being the No. 1 team in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs, the Titans also have yet to be beaten this season and they came into Friday's second-round match having blanked their fair share of opponents in dominating fashion. If the Titans were under any pressure to live up to their lofty accomplishments it certainly didn't show Friday, as they were able to knock off host Hart in relatively easy fashion to the tune of an 18-0 victory.

As expected, San Marino High's boys' tennis team garnered the top seed when the CIF Southern Section playoff pairings were released on Monday morning. Joining the Titans in the Division II draw is Pasadena Poly, which is also hosting a first-round match on Wednesday, while Maranatha hosts a Division V playoff opener and La Salle takes to the road for a wild-card match in the same division. The Titans (14-0), after claiming the Rio Hondo League championship, await Walnut, the Hacienda League's third-place squad, or Flintridge Prep, an at-large entry out of the Prep League.

Mia Acosta, Sophomore, Pitcher, Bellarmine-Jefferson Transfer made an immediate impact in leading the Guards back to the CIF final. The All-CIF Southern Section Division VII first-teamer and Santa Cruz League MVP allowed just one run in the playoffs and none in league play, while posting a 13-3 record. Caitlyn Brooks, Freshman, Utility, Burbank Had a terrific debut season, as the All-CIF and All-Pacific League first-teamer posted a 16-5 record in the circle in leading the Bulldogs to the CIF quarterfinals.

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH - Both the San Marino High and Bellarmine-Jefferson boys' volleyball teams were reeling from injury problems when they met Thursday for a nonleague match. The Titans were missing senior all-league first-team setter John Silk, who sustained an injury to his shoulder that required surgery. The Guards were without two key players, one who broke his foot and another who suffered a broken tailbone. To make matters worse, another Bell-Jeff player was missing because of a prior academic commitment and another starter was sidelined Thursday afar sustaining an ankle injury late in the contest, leaving the Guards with no substitutes.

It wasn't unusual this season to see opposing teams essentially raise the white flag when it came time to compete against the San Marino High girls' tennis singles. Some teams pulled their top individual players and paired them in doubles, hoping that would help them fare better against the Titans. But San Marino countered with a winning partnership by pairing sophomore Vivian Le and junior Larissa Phillips. Together, they swept doubles competition en route to the Rio Hondo League crown and helped the Titans reach the CIF Southern Section Division II semifinals in team competition.

SAN MARINO - The nonleague girls' tennis match between Burbank High and San Marino had been determined long before the final singles set got underway. But it didn't prevent both schools from sweating it out, as sophomore Vivian Le mounted a furious comeback to help host San Marino secure an 18-0 season-opening win Tuesday. Unable to see well against Burbank's No. 1 singles Ashley Basco, Le removed her contacts and turned a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 win to help give first-year Coach John Christopher his first victory with San Marino.

Molly, Samantha, Josefina ? the American Girl dolls that feed the imagination of youngsters across the country ? will take center stage, alongside their fans, this month at the 15th annual Flintridge Guild Childrens Hospital American Girl Fashion Show. The fundraiser, at the Brookside Country Club in Pasadena from March 19 to 21, includes a dinner and six daytime teas, event Chairwoman Savonia Angelica said. She is expecting 250 guests, mostly young girls and their mothers, at each event.

The recently erected statue at Five Points has truly inspired me . . . to think about some of the other truly lame, artistically challenged eyesores around town! Here’s what I found one afternoon: 1. What’s with these lame-o banners all over the place? “Come Out & Play,” “Come Out & Dine,” “Newer Than Ever,” “Cooler Than Ever,” “Dumber Than Ever!” Do they think we’re complete idiots?