Softball

BURBANK - For the past three years, Burbank High softball Coach Nicole Drabecki thought her team had enough talent to win a Pacific League championship. However, in each of the last three seasons, those title hopes were crushed by cross-town rival Burroughs, which has captured three consecutive league crowns. PHOTOS: Burroughs vs. Burbank girls' softball After Thursday's clash against the Indians, Drabecki and the Bulldogs might just be headed for the elusive championship.

BURBANK - Providence High junior pitcher Sierra Nelson admitted she and her Providence High softball teammates were nervous heading into Monday's game. Fielding a young team that featured just two seniors and one junior, the Pioneers were apprehensive about how they would perform in their season opener against Sherman Indian. Turns out the Pioneers had nothing to worry about. Providence built an early lead and was able to take advantage of pitching struggles by the Braves to earn a 13-6 nonleague victory at Olive Park.

IRVINE - For two teams that scored runs in bushels and had yet to yield a run throughout the playoffs, one trend figured to dissolve when the Bellarmine-Jefferson High and Pomona Catholic softball squads participated in the CIF Southern Section Division VII championship game Friday afternoon. Entering the contest, the teams combined to outscore their playoff opponents,159-0. What Bell-Jeff hadn't counted on was seeing its power shut off by Pomona Catholic starting pitcher Amber Padilla in its quest to win the program's first CIF title.

The high school softball season ended almost two months ago, but for Baillie Kirker, there is no offseason. Not with the three or so games she plays each weekend with her American Pastime travel squad, or the countless hours she spends practicing with the various teams she plays on. Kirker estimates that she plays well over 200 games a year, which she admits doesn't leave her much time for anything else. But if you were wondering how a 14-year-old freshman could dominate so quickly at the varsity level the way Kirker did during the 2006 season, now you know.

BURBANK — The coaching landscape has changed dramatically from last season concerning the four local high schools. Patty Bertole from Bellarmine- Jefferson High is the only returning coach from a year ago. Taking over at Burbank is Nicole Drabecki, who played Division I college softball and coached the junior varsity team at Glendale High. Heading the Burroughs program is Steve Garcia, who spent the last three years as an assistant coach to Dave “Hawk” Wilder at Glendale Community College.

GLENDALE — The Burbank All-Stars didn’t do themselves any favors in the first inning of their District 16 Major Softball Tournament championship game. The locals committed three errors and allowed one walk, opening the door for Crescenta Valley, which was able to push across six runs before Burbank could record its first out. However, undaunted by the early deficit, Burbank battled back, whittling away at the lead through the next three innings, while keeping Crescenta Valley from scoring any more runs.

GLENDALE — A quick glance at the boxscore and a casual observer might infer that one big inning did in Crescenta Valley Western on Wednesday night. While a seven-run sixth inning by the visiting Burbank Diamonds was game-deciding, it was a miscue in the fourth inning which put Western in a deficit it would not overcome as it fell, 9-2, in the championship game of the District 16 Junior Softball Tri-Cities Tournament of Champions at Scholl Canyon. "In softball, you can't make any mistakes, especially against a good team like Burbank," Western assistant coach Mike Meyer said.

BURBANK — For the second consecutive year, the summer tour for the Burbank Major All-Stars softball team will be heading out of state. With plenty of clutch pitching, defense and offense, Burbank punched its ticket to the Western Region Tournament on Monday with a pair of victories in the Division 3 Tournament at Monte Vista Little League Fields in Lancaster. Led by Coach Bruce Del Castillo, Section 2-champion Burbank topped Section 8-champion Southridge, 9-3 and 12-1, in the championship series.

Scott Melesky Throughout Sara Larquier's softball career, she has always received love and support from her biggest fan -- her mother, Charna. From her introduction to the game as a 5 year old, through her success at Burroughs High as a three-sport standout, to her time as a Division I softball player at the University of Virginia, Charna was always there for her daughter, through the happy and sad times. On May 26, Charna was there to help celebrate her daughter's most crowning achievement.

Tim Willert MAGNOLIA PARK -- With her demanding schedule, John Burroughs High School softball player Lynee Hastings is learning how to manage her time on the fly. Following Saturday's game in Santa Clarita, the 16-year-old junior peeled off her uniform, changed into an evening gown, grabbed her tiara and drove to a beauty pageant in Long Beach. "I had to go from sporty to royalty in an hour," she said Tuesday. "I didn't get home until 1 a.m. It's kind of tiring sometimes, but it's fun."

BURBANK — The Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team moved through the first two rounds of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs with relative ease. With wins against Frazier Mountain and Pasadena Poly, the Guards scored 18 combined runs and surrendered just one. But in a quarterfinal contest Thursday against Cantwell Sacred Heart, Bell-Jeff found itself in a close contest. Fortunately for the Guards, they were able to receive a clutch hit in the third inning by Sofia Palacios to lift them to a 3-1 victory at Gross 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. PHOTOS: Bell Jeff High vs. Pasadena Poly in softball playoffs But Bell-Jeff has its own talented hurler in All-CIF standout Mia Acosta.

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 - 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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

BURBANK - Having wrapped up the Pacific League championship last week, the Burbank High softball team could have afforded a loss in its season finale Thursday. However, the Bulldogs had plenty to play for. Along with the chance to finish the league undefeated, the Bulldogs were also trying to hold on to their No. 2 ranking in CIF Southern Section Division III. There was also a little motivation to beat their cross-town rival Burroughs. Behind a fine pitching performance, as well as a solid outing at the plate, from sophomore Caitlyn Brooks, who tossed a one-hitter, Burbank was able to complete its perfect Pacific League campaign with a 9-0 victory against the Indians at Olive Park.