Burbank and Burroughs Baseball Competing in Summer VIBL

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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.

Burbank vs. Birmingham (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burbank vs. Birmingham (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

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For both teams, a major change will be evident as familiar names from the past couple of seasons have been replaced by names of potential future stars.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 vs. Valley North (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burroughs vs. Valley North (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

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 baseball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burbank baseball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank VIBL Summer Schedule

Hart 4 Burbank 1

Birmingham 3 Burbank 0

Cleveland 13 Burbank 0

MondayJune 177:00La CanadaBurbank High
TuesdayJune 185:00AgouraAgoura High
SaturdayJune 2210:00El CaminoEl Camino High
TuesdayJune 255:00KennedyKennedy High
ThursdayJune 277:00TaftBurbank High
FridayJune 285:00BurroughsBurroughs High
TuesdayJuly 25:00CanyonCanyon High
WednesdayJuly 35:00ClevelandCleveland High
FridayJuly 510:00ChatsworthHart High
FridayJuly 51:00HartHart High
SaturdayJuly 610:00CrespiHart High
TuesdayJuly 97:00CamarilloBurbank High
ThursdayJuly 117:00ParacleteBurbank High
FridayJuly 125:00ClevelandCleveland High
MondayJuly 157:00BurroughsBurbank High
TuesdayJuly 167:00ChatsworthBurbank High

 

 

Burroughs baseball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burroughs baseball (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

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

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