By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor
In a matter of three weeks, both the Burbank and Burroughs baseball teams witnessed a transformation that happens at this time every year. Upon completing their regular seasons back on May 17 when the Bulldogs and Indians were knocked out of the CIF playoffs, the two teams began the Valley Invitational Baseball League on June 11.
The summer league, simply known as “VIBL” and in its 13th year of existence, allows Burbank and Burroughs to look at the new crop of players that descend upon their respective diamonds.
For both teams, a major change will be evident as familiar names from the past couple of seasons have been replaced by names of potential future stars.
Burbank, who won its first league title since 1991 and finished 17-9, graduated 15 seniors and returns only four players from the championship roster including just two part-time starters.
Burroughs claimed third place this past spring with a 17-11 record and returns five players with varsity experience and only two starters.
Thus, welcome to “extreme makeover” for both teams.
“Summer ball for us is hugely important. We have a lot of guys that have not had varsity experience so to indoctrinate them into that process can be only positive,” Burbank coach Bob Hart said. “VIBL provides us a great vehicle for evaluation instruction and ultimately team play. Our goal is just that- assess, learn, identify and develop.”
“As overly simplistic and cliché as it may sound, the only goal we have this summer is to get better, but with the heavy losses we took from last year’s team, the need is acute,” Burroughs assistant coach Dale Legaspi said. “We’re giving a number of young guys opportunities at key positions in the middle of the diamond, and whoever embraces the experience and grows up the fastest is probably going to win himself a job.”
Be prepared for this summer’s version of “Who’s on First?” If I remember correctly, “I Don’t Know” is on third, “What” is on second and the shortstop is “I Don’t Care.” Not quite Garvey, Cey, Lopes and Russell, but it’s still one heck of an infield.
As for Burbank and Burroughs infields, well that’s anyone’s guess. VIBL will be a preview of things to come.
Here is the VIBL schedule for Burbank and Burroughs. They will meet twice during the summer on June 28 at Burroughs and July 15 at Burbank. Games are at 5 p.m.
Burbank VIBL Summer Schedule
Hart 4 Burbank 1
Birmingham 3 Burbank 0
Cleveland 13 Burbank 0
| Monday | June 17 | 7:00 | La Canada | Burbank High |
| Tuesday | June 18 | 5:00 | Agoura | Agoura High |
| Saturday | June 22 | 10:00 | El Camino | El Camino High |
| Tuesday | June 25 | 5:00 | Kennedy | Kennedy High |
| Thursday | June 27 | 7:00 | Taft | Burbank High |
| Friday | June 28 | 5:00 | Burroughs | Burroughs High |
| Tuesday | July 2 | 5:00 | Canyon | Canyon High |
| Wednesday | July 3 | 5:00 | Cleveland | Cleveland High |
| Friday | July 5 | 10:00 | Chatsworth | Hart High |
| Friday | July 5 | 1:00 | Hart | Hart High |
| Saturday | July 6 | 10:00 | Crespi | Hart High |
| Tuesday | July 9 | 7:00 | Camarillo | Burbank High |
| Thursday | July 11 | 7:00 | Paraclete | Burbank High |
| Friday | July 12 | 5:00 | Cleveland | Cleveland High |
| Monday | July 15 | 7:00 | Burroughs | Burbank High |
| Tuesday | July 16 | 7:00 | Chatsworth | Burbank High |
Burroughs VIBL Summer Schedule
Paraclete 6 Burroughs 1
Burroughs 2 Valley North 1
Tuesday, June 18 Malibu 5:00 PM Malibu High
Thursday, June 20 Saugus 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Friday, June 21 Varsity (Intrasquad) 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Tuesday, June 25 Gas House Gang 5:00 PM Granada Hills High
Thursday, June 27 Royal 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Friday, June 28 Burbank 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Monday, July 1 WH West 5:00 PM El Camino Real HS
Tuesday, July 2 TBD 5:00 PM TBD
Tuesday, July 9 Calabasas 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Wednesday, July 10 Gas House Gang 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Thursday, July 11 Hart 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Monday, July 15 Burbank 7:00 PM Burbank High
Tuesday, July 16 Braves 5:00 PM John Burroughs
Thursday, July 18 Agoura 5:00 PM Agoura High
