Tag Archives: Burroughs High

Congratulations to Newest Graduates From Burroughs High School

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Here is a complete list of the 553 seniors who graduated from Burroughs High School on Thursday, May 23.  Good luck to each and everyone one of them!

Photography By Ross A. Benson

Kyle Christian Abcede

Antar Abderrahman

Talin Abechian

Tyler Acosta

Summer Adamowicz

Tori Adams

James Arnold Adao

Alexandro Aguayo

Fabiola Aguilar

Joel Aguilar

Arsen Akopyan

Jessica Alarcon

Clarissa Alcazar

Francesca Allegro

Juanita Alonso

Brogan Alonzo

Alexander Alpizar

Alejandro Alvarez

Amanda Alvarez

Hanoak Amanios

Kassandra Amaya

Vanessa Amaya

Grant Anderson

Geovanni Andrade

Morgan Antush

Alexis Aparicio

Eryn Aquino

Gonzalo Arana

Angel Aranda

Marie Arbogast

Baltazar Arce

Miguel Arce

Jose Arenas

Brian Arzate

Oliver Aston

Garrett Auproux

Kayla Avila

JBHS Grad_2

Christopher Babasi

Linda Bagdoian

Jonathan Balasingham

Matthew Balasingham

Avery Ball

Erika Barcenas-Gomez

Sean Barillas

Trishanna Barker

Daniel Barraza

Ernesto Barraza

Lauren Barta

Jazmin Bates

Chris Baucas

Joseph Bautista

Melissa Bautista

Aaron Beaman

Shayne Beamer

Amanda Beattie

Levi Beckwith

Nicole Beer

Erick Benicia

Gilma Bernal

Andrew Bibee

Brittany Bille

Aubrie Bogle

Erica Bolognia

Molly Borgese

Jordan Bourassa

Tyler Bourassa

Nevada Brandt

Tyler Brown

Ian Bulbenko

Alexi Buliavac

Bella Bustos

JBHS Grad_3

Angelica Cabanilla

Carson Caldwell

Victor Camacho

Bronwen Capshaw

Christopher Carbajal

Cindy Cardenas

Jorge Cardenas

Monet Carl

Terri Carlos

Andres Carrillo

Paloma Carrillo

Eric Casillas

Jason Castillo

Leanne Castillo

Sabrina Castillo

Jenniffer Castro

Ariana Castro Sanchez

Robert Ceballos

Stephanie Cejudo

Gabriella Chamberlain

Kem Heng Chan

Alexandra Chandler

Sandra Chavarria

Brian Chavez

Katrina Chavez

Jane Chew

Shanna Childers

Gevorg Chinkezian

Harutiun Chinkezian

Alice Cho

Patrick Christopher

Amanda Chugg

Paolo Juan Antonio Chuidian

Tristan Cloma

Nicholas Coauette

Sydney Coblentz

Julia Comete

Marco Contreras

Raymond Cornejo

Enrique Coronel

Diego Corral

Alexis Correa Ramos

Carlos Cortez

Andrew Corti-Cervantes

James Cramer

Grant Crater

Jessica Creech

Benjamin Crew

Dennae Cruz

Ermar Cruz

Frank Cruz

Caz Cusick

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Matthew D’Almada

Jeremy Daroya

Harley Dasher

Christopher Davies

Lloyd Dawes

Brandon De Niz

Amy DeCaro

Jamie Decker

Sydney Deeter

Diane Delgado

Joshua DeLisle

Ashwini Desai

Sauskia Dessert Brown

Michael Dieguez

Karyl Anne Dimaculangan

Allison Dimailig

Theresa Dionisio

Jesus Dozal

Austyn Dries

Kendall Dudley

Esther Duran

Kimberly Duron

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Ahsha Earwood

Alexa Echeverria

Brice Edrington

Sydney Edwards

Jolan Eligio

Jomelle Eligio

Jasmin Ellingwood

Nicole Encarnacion

Taylor Ens

Yesenia Esparza

Katherine Esquivel

Enrique Estrada

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Konner Fairman

Sammantha Fajardo

Daniel Falkenstein

Olivia Fernandez

David Ferrer

Samuel Fisher

Jasmine Flores

Paul Flores

Jorge Flores Pere

Sabrina Forbush

Franco Fortin

Shannen Frogozo

Michael Fuhrman

JBHS Grad_7

Andrew Galleran

Anush Galstyan

Aimmy Galvan

Selena Galvez

Christian Garcia

Haylee Garcia

Maria Garcia

Melissa Garcia

Vanessa Garcia

Victor Garcia

Teresa Gaspar

Aleesha George

Matthew Geronimo

Sarah Ghezzi

Adrianna Gjonaj

Victoria Goins

Amber Gomez

Gielliza Gonzales

Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez

Geena Gonzalez

Zachary Graston

Dean Grimshaw

Matthew Guadron

Jose Guardia

Isuru Ranga Gunaratne

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Miles Haddad

Talin Hallajian

Jason Hamm

Brandon Hancock

Musarrat Haque

Jack Harman

Diana Harrison

Hunter Harrison

Jayah Hasson

Brooke Hazard

Kayla Heath

Adam Herbertson

Alyssa Hernandez

Belen Hernandez

Jair Hernandez

Jorman Herrera

Sergio Herrera

Cody Hidalgo

Kevin Hoang

Megen Hogeland

Emilee Holgate

Ashley Holmes

Connor Holt

Maximilian Holt

Molly Holt

Arsalan Homayun

Hayli Honig

Laura Howard

Marcos Huerta

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Eduardo Miquel Ilano

Alexander Imfeld

Salanya Inmaung

Gracia Innocentia

Christopher Iverson

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Carissa Jackson

Daniel Jacobs

Alisa James

Elias Jarboe

Lily Jenkins

Kalie Jensen

Amairani Jimenez

Jorge Jimenez

Justin Jimenez

Robert Jimenez

Carla Jimenez Antelo

Jinoo Han

Carley Joanou

Catherine Johnson

Brian Jones

Pedro Juan Jovel

Gabriel Joven

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Joshua Kaekul

Jimmy Kalayky Montano

Autumn Kanoho

Sakthisundar Kasthurirengan

Lucy Kazarosyan

Xiu Ji Mia Keefe

Grace Kelliher

Kaitlyn Kelly

Daniel Kerkotchian

Marina Khalil

Tunajjina Khandaker

Briana Kim

Jacob Kim

John Kim

Michael Kim

Uyeol Kim

Gina Kouyoumdjian

Sophie Kramer

Joseph Krikorian

Jordan Kunkel

Eric Kurland

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Kaitlyn La France

Bryant Lagmay

Ramon Leon

Sairy Leon

Joseph Leone

Adam Levasseur

Kylie Lewis

Wen Yao Lin

Raquel Livingstone

Keith Lohacharoen

Brooke Lollar

Stefan Looft

Evelyn Lopez

George Lopez

Jordan Lopez

Karla Lopez

Tiffany Lopez

Anna Lopinski

Katherine Lopinski

Sarah Lopinski

Jayme Lotka

Christina Lowe

Kaitlin Lownes

Jean-Paul Loza

Annel Luis

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Arnold Macapagal

Taylor MacDonald

William Mace

Flor Melissa Madrid

Zachary Maina

Daniel Mairena

Armen Makhtesyan

Abel Maldonado

Juan Maldonado

Laura Maldonado

Jessica Manahan

Garrett Manoukian

Najma Mansoori

Elizabeth Maradiaga

Daniel Marbach

Angelique Margve

Sierra Marroquin

Allie Martin

Breeana Martin

Kyle Martin

Brittany Mata

Brianna Matallana

Darcey May

Evelyn Mazariegos

Mikala McAdoo

Chad McDonald

Brian Melendez

Alexis Mendias

Kristine Dana Mendoza

Siegmund Skyle Mendoza

Samantha Miller

Colby Minson

Arely Miranda

Christian Mirto

Polina Mkrtchian

Melody Monforte

Jason Monsalve

Anthony Montante

Justin Montenegro

Israel Montes

Barbara Moore

Victor Mora

Abigail Morales

Cindy Morales

Jasper Morhar-Compuzano

Grace Mote

Marc Mullich

Diane Murtha

Tadia Musgrave

Jared Musich

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Ryan Nakanishi

Chelsea Narajos

Itzel Navarro

Christian Nelson

Hung Nguyen

Joseph Nguyen

Joseph Niederberger-Juarez

Rebekah Niver

Brett Null

Ona Nwachie

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Hayley O’Brien

Caroline O’Donnell

You Yeong Oh

Alejandra Oliva

Brandon Olivas

Trent Ordelheide

Ezekiel Orellana

John Oreshnick

Micah Orillo

Yomira Orozco

Brandon Ortega

Carlos Ortega

Andres Ortuno

Max Ostrow

Tyler Owen

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Luis Palomino

Tennessee Pancani

Lizbeth Paz

Natalie Pazmino

Erin Pedersen

Alejandro Pena

Amanda Pennington

Luis Pereyra

Brianna Perez

Christian Perez

Cesar Perez Castillo

Noah Peters

Jacqueline Pham

Tony Phi

Sabrina Pineda

Omar Pollon

Jeorgia Marithe Ponce

Brian Pozos

Carly Proffitt

Nicolette Prouty

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Carlos Quinteros

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Viridiana Radillo

Sandra Rahimpour

Ana Karen Ramirez

Danielle Ramirez

Juan Ramirez

Sofia Ramirez

Yolanda Ramirez

Vanesa Ramos

Matthew Ramoy

Brian Rangel

Veronica Raygoza

Jocelyne Razo

Aaron Read

Molliane Reiter

Alexa Reyes

Erica Reyes

Marissa Reyes

Johanna Reyes Ortega

Raven Richardson

Bailey Rickell

Rick Riegler

Alaysha Riley

Abigail Rincon

Luis Rivera

Alexis Rivera-Andrade

Tatiana Rizzotti

Kyle Roberts

Esteban Robles

Savannah Rock

Anay Rodriguez

Aresbill Rodriguez

Cesar Rodriguez

Cesar Rodriguez

Steven Rodriguez

Sarah Rogers

Sara Rolat

Shelley Rolph

Erick Romero

Francisco Romero

Miriam Romero

Ian Romprey

Cathan Jorell Roque

Marcos Rosas

Graham Rose

Katelyn Rosen

Zoey Rosen

Rebecca Rottmann

Daniel Ruiz

Michelle Ryun

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Alexis Salazar

Claudia Salazar

Kimberly Salazar

Lilit Salazar

Esmeralda Saldana

Feliza San Juan

Arielle Sanchez

Daniel Sanchez

Lorenzo Sanchez

Oscar Sanchez

Alejandra Sandoval

Brieann Sandoval

Vanessa Sandoval

Alejandro Sandoval-Duran

Marisa Santiago

Kimberly Santos

Lauren Santos

Anna Sarkisian

Giovanny Saucedo

Paul Scherer

Rebecca Schmidt

Rita Semerjian

Nesreen Shatila

Aysia Shellmire

Brandon Shepherd

Steve Shin

Dillon Shnitzer

Jesse Showalter

Alexandra Shurlock

Andrea Smith

Daivonna Smith

Chelsea Solano

Jorge Solano

Juan Solano

Julio Solis

Ruby Solorzano

Christina Sookhoo

Diana Soriano

Cassandra Sotolongo

Sarah Spagnola

Samantha Spracher

Zharmaine Jhoy Sto Tomas

Joshua Storer

Serena Stuck

Emily Sturrock

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Katherine Mae Tagorda

Miriam Tahual Pop

Kristen Taraldsen

Cassidy Tassart

Alan Tenorio

Audrey Thai

Chriza Lanne Timagos

Jason Tom

Nina Torrefranca

Monica Torres

Shannon Torres

Stephanie Torres

April Townsend

Henry Tran

Amanda Trinh

Bailee Trotta

Caley Trujillo

Jerry Truong

Michelle Tuler

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Kevin Ueno

Patience Urbina

Gloria Urquizo

Ma. Krizzia Uy

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Alexandria Vahoviak

Enrica Marie Valdellon

Mia Valdez

Boris Vallejo

Cynthia Vallejo

Andrea Vargas

Marisa Vasquez

Sean Vasquez

Edith Vasquez Reyes

Daniel Vaystukh

Aram Vehuni

Ashley Velasco

Paulina Velasquez

Rachel Verharst

Kalen Verhoeven

Kristina Viado

Micah Vigil

Jorge Villa

Michael Villagomez

Gerardo Vizcarra

Liam Vogel

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Joseph Wallace

Kaigh Walsh

Brook Wander

Mary Warmack

Flannery Weiss

Madison Werchowsky

Michael Whelan

Dylan Whisler

Lawrence White

Sean White

Elliot Whitecotton

Denise Wijesooriya

Mikayla Williams

Taylor Wilson

Jonas Wisner

Paul Woytas

Katrina Wrabley

Ryan Wright

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Paul Yoon

Dustin Young

Max Young

Tanner Young

Jeffrey Zambrana

Samira Zamora

Ashley Zipperman

Mohammad Zreik

Burbank, Burroughs Baseball Receive Wild Card Playoff Games Tuesday

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Both Burbank and Burroughs will be wild card teams on Tuesday as both fight to qualify for the first round of the CIF Playoffs that begin on Thursday.

Burbank, which tied for second in the Pacific League but lost a coin toss to Arcadia, will travel to Claremont on Tuesday, to play the third place team in the Sierra League.  The winner will then play Cypress on Thursday, who is ranked #2 on the division.

Burroughs, who came in fourth in the Pacific League, will travel to Ventura to play the third place team in the Channel League.  The winner will then move on to play at Harvard-Westlake who is the top ranked team in the division on Thursday.

Burbank On Parade Flies High

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Burbank High School Cheerleaders get ready for the start of this years Burbank On Parade. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The rain went away and the sun came out to shine once again on Burbank On Parade Saturday.  Our Photographer, Ross A. Benson, was all over the parade route and got all of the sites as only he can.  Check back next week for our video on the parade also.

Everybody like a little squirt, this Bob Hope Airport crash rig gives a big squirt during this year's Burbank On Parade. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Ross A. Benson’s Parade Photo Gallery

Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Band is a Long-Time Burbank On Parade Tradition

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When the Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Band marches down Olive Ave. in Burbank On Parade, they will be carrying on a tradition that the group began over 25 years ago.

The band is primarily composed of former band members from both John Burroughs and Burbank High Schools. They also have former drill team members from the two schools. The group came about in 1986, when Joanne Lento Miller got some her old band friends together to perform the half-time show for the alumni football game. Apparently everyone had such a good time, that they decided to keep on playing together and marched in Burbank On Parade that year. They’ve been doing it ever since.

Marching in Burbank On Parade is the band’s main activity. In the early years they marched in the Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena. Most years the band also participates in the Montrose Christmas Parade. It’s no easy task to get the band together. Not everyone lives locally. Some members come a long way just to march down Olive Ave. from Keystone St. past Izay Park to Lomita St.

Cindy Smith, who graduated from Burroughs in 1966, is coming all the way from Amarillo, Texas again this year to play her clarinet. Greg Hartman, a 1972 graduate of Burroughs, will be here from his home in Bakersfield. Bill Kuzma, from the Burbank High class of 1965, comes down each year from Novato, in the San Francisco Bay area, to direct the band. Besides playing in the Burbank High band as a student, Kuzma was director the school’s band director in the 1970’s, as well as director of the Burbank Police Boys Band.

The band’s uniform is fairly simple, jeans, and a white T-shirt with the Alumni Band logo on the front, and the member’s first name and graduation year on the back. For Burroughs it is in red, and blue for Burbank High alumni. This year, in keeping with the parade’s aviation theme, the drill team members will be wearing rolled up jeans and bandana in their hair “ala Rosie the Riveter.” Joyce Rudolph is director of the drill team.

Although small in numbers, the Alumni Band makes up for it in enthusiasm. Band manager Cheryl Smith McMillan, along with other stalwart members, keeps the band going year after year. Most members have their own instruments, but some don’t, so over the years she has managed to obtain several musical instruments. She has a number of horns, and even marching drums. So in many cases, the lack of an instrument is no deterrent to someone who wants to join the group.

You don’t have to be an alumna of Burbank or Burroughs to join the band. You don’t even need to make a big commitment of your time to participate. Rehearsals are held the morning of the parade. Any musician, drill team member, majorette, tall flag, or others who are interested, are welcome. The music is traditional high school marching band music.

You can find out more about the band on their Facebook page, or email them at burbankalumniband@yahoo.com.

Rep. Adam Schiff Discusses the Importance of SOPA

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On 28 February Burbank N Beyond’s John Savageau had the opportunity to interview Representative Adam Schiff from the 29th District, encompassing Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and surrounding areas, in his Washington D.C. office.  This is the fourth article in a series highlighting activities and topics of interest to Burbank.

BurbankNBeyond:  The SOPA and PIPA Acts didn’t do too well over the past few weeks.  Where does the entertainment industry that’s centered in Burbank go to ensure the hard work of our industry is not lost?

Senator Adam Schiff visited John Burroughs High School (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Rep. Schiff:  That’s an excellent question.  I spoke recently at Burroughs (High School), and I visited two of the other schools in my district.  Invariably SOPA came up as an issue that young people in particular are very wired into.

There were three forms of opposition to the intellectual property legislation.

One that I would characterize as legitimate concerns.  People who were worried that it would have an adverse impact on 1st Amendment freedoms.  That is not the intent of the bill, I don’t think it’s the effect of the bill, but people have a sincere concern about that, and we ought to address that concern.

But there were two other forms of opposition to, there’s the opposition of people who think whatever you get on the Internet should be free.  That it’s sort of a right to enjoy the product of somebody else’s labor if it’s on the Internet.

And that I don’t have much sympathy for.  To me it’s no different to steal someone’s song, or someone’s film off the Internet than it would be to steal a CD or DVD from a record store.

The final opposition, and this was in many cases the most formidable, because it was the most heavily financed and organized opposition, was those who like to advertise on pirate sites.  That’s where the revenue comes from.  And it’s big business.  There are millions of eyeballs that go to these pirate sites and companies generate revenue from that.  Legitimate companies generate millions of dollars from illegitimate sales.

This (SOPA) is really an effort to go after that.  To the critics of SOPA, in the technology sector I would say if you don’t like SOPA than what do you propose?  Because we can’t continue to allow billions of dollars of product to be stolen.

This is one area of competitive economic advantage to the United States.  We are really good (at creating) intellectual property – at software, at music, at films, and other forms of IP.  And we can’t afford to have the area that we really excel ripped off.

And in other areas where other countries excel , simply purchase their goods.

So we have to find a way to combat this problem.  Right now we’re trying to go back to the drawing board and figure out “OK, we either need to figure out a different legislative strategy, or different executive branch strategy, or we need to figure out how to talk to people about what this problem is all about.

How it affects them, how it means there are going to be a lot of films they won’t be able to see that won’t get made, or music they won’t get to hear, or won’t get made.  Or box office prices are going to be a lot higher because we need to pay for everybody freeloading the system.

Somehow that message really hasn’t penetrated and we need to do a better job to get that word out.

BurbankNBeyond:  So this discussion is not dead, this discussion still has a bit of traction?

Rep. Schiff:  The discussion is still very much alive, and it will be as long as this massive theft continues.  It really is unsustainable.  It will not only destroy the industries, but it means many, many thousands of jobs in our community.

Unfortunately when many people think of the entertainment industry they think of movie stars who are very well paid.  But most of the people in the entertainment industry are our friends and neighbors who are not very well paid, and they have good jobs, but they’re not the multimillionaires you see on TV.

They are set designers, they are lighting people, they are electricians, and they are sound mixers, and they’re working fewer weeks a year than they used to because a lot of their work product is stolen.

So it has a real job impact, and as long as that’s the case we’re going to have to find a way to attack the problem.

BurbankNBeyond:  Do I (for example) as an network operator or Internet service provider have an obligation to support SOPA?

Rep. Schiff:  I don’t think that the ISPs can simply wash their hands of what’s transmitted in their pipelines (saying) “that’s really not my business.”  My guess is that since we’ve seen some of these companies merge, where they’re not only in the content creation business, they’re in the content delivery business, and where the delivery of content now is being slowed down by the volume of piracy in the pipeline – it’s starting to hurt their bottom line.

I think there will be a new found interest in the pipelines and the ISPs as it starts to affect their bottom line.  The challenge is to find a way that legitimate companies are not facilitating illegitimate traffic and purchases in a way that does not impose too much of a burden on them, in a way that provides adequate due-process for hosting legitimate content, but in a way that also recognizes that (for example) if you’re a merchant bank, and you allow your credit card services to illegal content, you are contributing to the problem.

And if you are a legitimate company and you are allowing your product to be sold through advertising on illegitimate sites you are part of the problem.

If you are a pipeline that turns a blind eye to sites that are trafficking millions and millions of dollars of stolen goods, you are part of the problem, and everybody needs to be part of the solution.

 

 

Memorial Field Comes Back to Life to Serve Burbank

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School District & City Officials listen to comments at Dedication Cermony (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The long awaited debut of the new Memorial Field premiered for the public on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. at a touching dedication ceremony. Many long time residents, military veterans, city officials, school district officials, former athletes and current students gathered to take in a piece of local history.

“Memorial Field” is now officially a stadium after undergoing a 12-million dollar facelift the past two years. It will eventually house football games, soccer matches, track meets, graduations and more in the years ahead. However, Saturday was more about remembering the past.

The dedication honored those who had served in World War II and who the original field had been dedicated to in 1946.

Burbank City Manager Mike Flad makes comments during Dedication of The new Memorial Field.(Photo by Ross A. Benson

Several thousand people gathered in the home stands as the field was dedicated by a panel of honorees that included Chief of the Veterans Commemorative Committee Mickey DePalo, Mayor Jesse Talamantes, City Manager Michael Flad, Board of Education President Ted Bunch and Burbank Unified Schools’ Superintendent Stan Carrizosa.

At the ceremony’s conclusion, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and a victory lap on the new track. The joint venture between the city and the schools was more than two decades in the making from talk to completion and was the vision of so many over the years.

New Bronze art piece at the entrance of Cusunano Plaza. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Talamantes and Flad both spoke of having played on the field as alumni of Burroughs High. Flad had the line of the morning when speaking of a controversial loss to the Bulldogs during the Big Game of 1984 when Burbank got two chances to kick a game-winning field goal following a penalty.

“I promised then to see the stadium and everything in it torn down, and here we are,” he said to a roar of laughter from the crowd.

Talamantes referenced how many members of his family have participated in athletics and activities on the old Memorial Field.

Presentation of the Colors by The United States Marines. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The ceremony first and foremost honored those who have served this country, including the two teachers and 25 students who the original Memorial Field was dedicated to in 1946. Bunch referenced their stories in his speech.

Starting the Memorial Field Dedication was a flyover by the Areo Squadron (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

A flyover began the day, followed by a presentation of the colors by the United States Marines from the Los Angeles Recruiting Station of Eagle Rock. It concluded with an art unveiling of the piece titled “Home” by Sheila Cavalluzzi depicting a soldier home from war.

The new bronze sculpture caeed 'Home' (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

More than anything else the events surrounding the event also reminded the community members who had turned out to see the dedication ceremony what a joint-venture between the schools and city the field truly is. A JV baseball game was being played in the background while tennis lessons took place on the nearby courts.

Former coaches and current coaches could be seen wearing huge grins through the dedication after both the Burbank and Burroughs football teams played all ten of their contests on the road this past season including their rivalry game played at Arcadia High School.

Carrizosa thanked current students and staff for their patience through construction. The stadium will first see action during the upcoming track season. The Burroughs graduation is expected to be held at the stadium this May, after being relocated to the Starlight Bowl last year.

City & School District Officials cut the ribbon on the New Memorial Field's Track. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

New Plaque at the newly built Memorial Field. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Bring On The Games

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JBHS and BHS Eager for First Pitch

The season can’t get here soon enough for two teams coming off disappointing 2011 campaigns for two very different reasons. Burbank High struggled in transitioning to a new program philosophy, while Burroughs High made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Things will be different this season and so without further ado, here is a snapshot of what to look for on the baseball diamond this season.

BURBANK

Burbank High Head Coach Bob Hart

Last season, the Bulldogs went 12-15 overall and 6-8 in the Pacific League, finishing fifth and missing out on the postseason after two consecutive seasons of participating in the playoffs. Coach Bob Hart feels a little bit like Goldilocks heading into the 2012 season with the thoughts that things are finally, “just right.”

“I just feel the program is healthier than it has ever been from top-to-bottom,” he says. “The guys have really bought into the changes we’ve tried to make and I feel like we have committed kids, the right guys in place and that we lack any drama — which is a good thing.”

Specifically, he credits an emphasis on defense, improved practice routines and a deeper coaching staff that includes Craig Sherwood, Tommy Perez and Tony Sandoval — all names that crosstown rival Burroughs is very familiar with.

Sherwood, although best known for his days coaching alongside Scott Muckey at Crespi was also a longtime assistant for the Indians. Perez holds nearly every Burroughs offensive record and Sandoval was the No. 2 starter on the 1997 Foothill League championship Burroughs team.

Dylan Mersola

Hart also saw Sherwood recruit assistant Dean Benevidez, a former Celts’ standout who grew up in the Burbank area then won a CIF Championship in his time at Crespi where he was a star.

“My ego is not big, I can give credit where credit is do,” Hart said. “Craig has brought in his system and made some real positive changes to the way we do things and he brought in some staff to help with that.”

Paul Frias

Hart is equally excited about what he has returning on his squad. Dylan Mersola, a 2nd team All-Pacific League selection who plays shortstop, showcases one of the best swings in the Pacific League. Also back is catcher Paul Frias, who Hart says is currently showing a consistent sub 2.0 pop-time and who hit close to .450 between summer and winter league games this off-season.

“I realize numbers in the off-season don’t mean a thing, “Hart said. “However, we were really excited with the consistency from Paul. He has a chance to be pretty special.”

Senior pitchers Andrew Hernandez, a submariner, and Daniel Starkand figure to the 1-2 in the rotation for the Bulldogs. Newcomers Angel Villagran, a transfer from Burroughs who is also a third basemen, and Harrison Hernandez, a corner guy, will also pitch. Hart believes Hernandez could close.

The Bulldogs kick-off their season in the Easton Tournament and will see El Camino Real and Moorpark in their first two games. They open league with a tough week at Pasadena and at Crescenta Valley the final week of March.

Hart acknowledges that CV will be the odds on favorite in the Pacific League.

“Two guys throwing above 90 (miles per hour), they’ve gotta be,” he said. “After that it is simply survival of the fittest, several teams could surprise and every team can be beat.” His team belongs in both those categories too, he says.

BURROUGHS

Burroughs Head Varsity Coach Kiel Holmes

Kiel Holmes picked a challenge for his first coaching gig, a Burroughs team healing from a forgettable 2011 season in which its season cut short. The Indians forfeited their last nine games following an incident on a Spring Break Trip in Arizona. However, many feel the Burroughs-alum is the right guy to return the program to better times, Holmes included.

“I just feel like there is a right way to do it in high school baseball and that I played in a program that did it the right way,” he said. “We have emphasized this again because it is really the only way to win games.”

Specifically, Holmes preaches an emphasis on small-ball, base running, getting a guy to second and bringing him home and playing pitch and catch — all things that had been forgotten the last two seasons but points of emphasis when the Indians had their best teams 2007-2009 and 1996-2002 averaging nearly 17 wins per season in each of those eras.

Burroughs was 6-8-1 when its season was cut short last season and 12-15 the prior year when it got away from those basics. So despite a senior heavy team, few will recognize these Indians as they get their identity back this season under a former Indian.

“We’ve had talent, but it just didn’t work” Holmes said. “I like my team a lot and I give the guys all the credit for standing tall after what they went through. I also give them a lot of credit for buying into what we want them to do — they are going to surprise people this season.”

Dylan Goldsack

Position battles and competition has been the theme since Holmes accepted the position in November after Coach Eddie Alvarez came and went like a meteorite — fired for inconsistent leadership. Holmes feels six players are competing for three spots — Ryan Gordon, Stewart Alexander, Eli Peppmuller, Matt Kelsey, Dylan Goldsack and Zander Anding.

Each bring something different to the table with Gordon showing the best arm, Anding and Peppmuller the best range. The infield is also a logjam, but in a good way. Brian Pozos, Luis Pereya and Myles Haddad play-up the middle and can rotate around as necessary when Pereya pitches — which he will do plenty of.

Christian Garia

Dillon Disiere will likely also see plenty of innings on the mound, and will also play third base. Nate Borgard has plenty of upside and Daniel Baraza, a lengthy lefty, has established himself in Holmes eyes in recent months.

“I like how he has learned to hold runners and how he can throw three pitches anywhere in the count,” Holmes said.

A now healthy Christian Garia should provide plenty of offense and play first base while Chris Davies and Chris Peale compete for time at catcher. Peale’s bat also makes him a candidate for the designated hitter role.

“I feel like I am still getting caught-up to speed after coming in late, but I also really like what we have here,” Holmes said. “I have enough depth that I can play the hot bat and not lose anything on the other end.”

PREDICTIONS

Really tough reads for both teams, even as familiar as I am with most of the names on the field and the coaching staffs. Burbank and Burroughs both make the playoffs this season with 13-16 wins overall and 10 league wins. Who finishes ahead of who comes down to the season series played on April 20 and May 11 this season. Like I said, I know too many guys in each dugout to make that prediction.

Congressman At John Burroughs High School

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Congressman Adam Schiff visited John Burroughs High School on Thursday. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

United States Representative Adam Schiff, who represents Burbank in Congress, spoke to students on Thursday at John Burroughs High School.

The Congressman me with students  who are taking part in the Junior State of America.   The school’s library was packed, as Schiff answered questions from students  regarding everything from the budget defiicit to the future of higher education.  He taked as well about his experiences in Washington, D.C.

 

Congressman Adam Schiff hold a certificate of appreciation presented to him by students at John Burroughs High. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: “Boffin of Burbank”

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A Column By Tom Crowther
BurbankNBeyond Sports Editor

 

John Wooden was given the moniker the “Wizard of Westwood” for his decades of success at UCLA. Mike Kodama should be called the “Boffin of Burbank” for his success as the Burroughs boys’ soccer coach over the years (A boffin is a wizardly professor, a genius in one’s craft).

Kodama won seven league titles — five in the Foothill and two in the Pacific League — and made 12 CIF playoff appearances in his 22 year career at Burroughs. He is in the Burroughs’ “Hall of Fame” largely because the 244 career wins (to just 110 losses) is a mark that won’t be broken in any sport any time soon, if ever.

His stellar career that included coaching 19 All CIF players seemed to conclude in 2009 when the coach retired and turned his program over to former player and then assistant coach, Alan Machuca.

Machuca learned being a stellar player, a loyal assistant and an alumni to the school are only part of the equation when looking to be the decision maker and the head coach. He was gone after just two forgettable years known as much for students struggling with grades and a program struggling with fundraising than anything else.

Enter Kodama, the Kingmaker, to restore his former program to its former glory. The Indians travel to Mayfair Thursday, February 16 for a CIF Southern Section Division IV playoff match against the Monsoons. The Indians won or tied their last five matches and eight of nine to earn the match-up.

Burroughs overall mark of 9-8-4 is hardly one of Kodama’s best season marks, but in a lot of ways it is his most impressive. Even the folks familiar with his feats figured it would take the coach more than a season to right the ship in Indian Country after the Tribe had developed so many bad habits in his absence. The Indians strong finish and 8-3-3 Pacific League mark shows that those folks were wrong as Kodama made things right in only half a season.

When he left coaching in 200 9 after a playoff loss to Channel Islands, Kodama was humble as ever and deflected the moment to a team of 12 seniors saying, “It’s not about me, it’s about the guys.” I am certain he would say the same thing about this team on the verge of opening-up the CIF playoffs tomorrow.

The Indians have an elite goal scorer in Francisco Baez, who scored 18 goals in the Pacific League breaking the 1994 single-season mark of one of Kodama’s most accomplished players, Roberto Perez. However, the truth is only a coach with the pedigree of Kodama could have convinced these Indians that the 2-5-2 start was nothing to stress over and that they would be there in the end.

The Monsoons went 16-8-2 in the regular season and are playing at home. In many ways they are the favorite hosting the Indians. It doesn’t change the moral of this story, playing for Kodama these Indians have already won.