Softball

They have been playing together since they first learned to hit a softball or field a ground ball. Maybe that's why the So Cal Burbank Heartbreakers have been so successful as a team. The 10-and-under girls' squad came through with a big effort in a tournament earlier this month, which enabled the Heartbreakers to earn a spot in the Triple Crown World Series of Softball on July 15-22 in Park City, Utah. The tournament will feature 24 teams mostly from California, Nevada and Utah.

OLIVE PARK - For decades, the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department Ponytail Softball league has been the premier place for the area's young players to hone their playing skills. Saturday at Olive Park, the players celebrated the ending of another successful season with the annual Ponytail Softball Jamboree, sponsored by the Foothill Civitan Club. Like their male counterparts a week earlier, the softball players invaded the park for their traditional skills competition, food, refreshments and a lot of awards.

The area softball and boys' volleyball seasons featured successful teams and a host of talented athletes. In softball, Burroughs High won the Pacific League championship and Burbank placed second and advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. In addition, Bellarmine-Jefferson captured a league crown and qualified for its second consecutive CIF Southern Section Division VII title game. In volleyball, Burroughs secured a share of the Pacific League championship and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals.

IRVINE - It's a cliche that the Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team hoped it wouldn't have to use. However, it's one the team has used for two seasons in a row. "Wait 'til next year" is about the only solace many of the Guards could draw from after Bell-Jeff fell for the second straight year - to the same opponent - in the CIF Southern Section Division VII championship game. It is also an edict that the players hoped would lessen the sting of the loss. The Guards were denied the program's first CIF title Friday when they were defeated, 1-0, on a perfect game by Pomona Catholic pitcher Amber Padilla at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

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.

SAN PEDRO - One by one, the Bellarmine-Jefferson softball team strolled to the plate brimming with confidence. With that certainty came the ability to find the openings throughout the field. The Guards perfected it, scoring eight runs in the second inning en route to an easy 16-0 road victory against Rolling Hills Prep on Tuesday afternoon in a CIF Southern Section Division VII semifinal contest at the San Pedro Softball Complex, advancing to its second consecutive title game in the process.

Since advancing to their first CIF Southern Section championship game last season, players from the Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team have made it a goal to return to the title contest this year. The Guards have been truly dominating in three postseason games thus far, and they are one victory away from achieving their goal. To qualify for its second consecutive Division VII championship, however, Bell-Jeff must win its semifinal game against a tough Rolling Hills Prep team.

MCCAMBRIDGE PARK — It took a little more than four innings for the Burbank High softball team to catch fire, but by then it seemed a little too late. By then, the Bulldogs trailed by six runs. By then, all the momentum was on Bishop Amat's side. So, even though Burbank scored four runs to get within striking distance, the Lancers answered with four runs of their own to end the Bulldogs' season with a 10-4 loss Thursday afternoon in the CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals at McCambridge Park.

GROSS PARK - It was relatively easy for the Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team to score runs in bunches in its opening two games of the CIF Southern Section Division VII playoffs. In fact, the Guards crossed the plate 34 times and held their opponents scoreless in notching two shutout victories. However, through the first three innings of Thursday's quarterfinal game against Bloomington Christian, Bell-Jeff could account for only a single run, as it clung to the slim advantage.

The Burbank High and Bellarmine-Jefferson softball teams have taken separate routes in the CIF Southern Section playoffs this season. The Guards have dominated the first two rounds in Division VII, outscoring their opponents, 34-0, in notching two wins. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have had to battle and were able to hold on for a pair of 1-0 victories in Division III. Although the teams have taken different paths in the postseason, both have earned berths in the quarterfinals, and both will play home games at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.