Softball

ARCADIA - The last time the Burbank High softball team was able to capture a league championship was in 1987, when the Bulldogs had a premier starting pitcher in All-American Debby Day. This season, Burbank has another outstanding hurler in sophomore Caitlyn Brooks, who is in the midst of a wildly successful season. Like Day, she has also helped guide the team to a league championship. While the Bulldogs offense might have sputtered Friday in a Pacific League game against host Arcadia, Brooks was able to keep them in the game.

BURBANK - It was a battle of the Liberty League's top two teams, as well as the two most potent offenses in the league, when the Providence High softball team took on Faith Baptist on Thursday. While the Pioneers entered the contest averaging a league-best 19.5 runs in four games, the Contenders averaged nearly 16 runs in five games. However, while there wasn't a big discrepancy in the team's offensive numbers, the defensive numbers were vastly different, as Faith Baptist surrendered only two runs in its five games and Providence gave up 27. The Contenders' ability to limit their opponent's offense came into play Thursday when they held the Pioneers to just one hit. That helped Faith Baptist earn a 10-0 victory against Providence at Olive Park.

For the first time in 26 years and in the Pacific League, the Burbank High softball team will be able to call itself a league champion. The Bulldogs secured a share of the league title Wednesday with an 11-1 win over Pasadena in six innings Wednesday at McCambridge Park. They improved to 21-2, 11-0 in league with the victory and are ranked second in CIF Southern Section Division III. Burbank can wrap up the title outright with a win against Arcadia on Friday. Arcadia is tied for second in league with Burroughs and Crescenta Valley, who all have three losses.

BURBANK - While the likes of Arcadia High, Burroughs and Crescenta Valley are jockeying for Pacific League softball playoff positioning, Burbank, the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division III, continues to ride roughshod over the league. The Bulldogs provided further evidence of that on Tuesday afternoon, taking a big step forward in the hopes of clinching a league crown, as they used big innings, powerful and opportunistic offense and the steady, if not spectacular, arm of Caitlyn Brooks to roll to a 10-2 league win over Crescenta Valley at McCambridge Park.

SOFTBALL Burroughs 22, Muir 0 (five innings): The Indians stayed in the hunt for the Pacific League championship with an easy mercy-rule win Tuesday at Olive Park. Burroughs is 16-6, 8-2 in league. Jessica Little was two for four with five runs batted in and two runs scored and Dominique Santos had four RBI for Burroughs. BASEBALL Burroughs 13, Muir 1 : The Indians remained tied for the Pacific League lead with the victory Tuesday at Muir. Crescenta Valley (16-7)

GLENDALE - Through three innings, there didn't seem to be much separating the respective first- and fifth-place Burbank and Glendale high softball teams Thursday - outside of an error. Those errors continued to pile up, as the Nitros committed seven in the game, turning a three-run game into a 14-0 mercy-rule, five-inning blowout for the Bulldogs, who improved to 18-1, 9-0 in the Pacific League, at Glendale High. “I think we did pretty good, we capitalized on them,” said Burbank's Julia Duarte, who was three for three with three runs batted in and three scored, of Glendale's miscues.

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.

SOFTBALL Burbank 13, Muir 0 (five innings) : The Bulldogs remained undefeated in the Pacific League with an easy victory Tuesday at McCambridge Park. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Burbank (13-1, 6-0 in league) is ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division III. "We would have liked to play a more competitive team heading into the Burroughs game, but we've played our share of competitive teams this season," said Burbank Coach Nicole Drabecki, whose squad takes on second-place Burroughs at 6 p.m. Thursday at McCambridge Park.

SOFTBALL Burbank 26, Pasadena 1 : The Bulldogs remained alone in first place in the Pacific League with an easy win Tuesday on the road. Burbank (11-1, 4-0 in league) is ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division III. In the win, the Bulldogs had six home runs, one each from Laina Do, Katie Hooper, Caitlyn Brooks, Jazmin Orozco, Lily Winn and Julia Duarte. Orozco also had two doubles and four runs batted in and Durate had a double, a triple and seven RBI. BASEBALL Burbank 8, Pasadena 7 : The Bulldogs battled back from a 7-0 deficit and pushed across three runs in the sixth inning to pull out the Pacific League win Tuesday on the road.