Tag Archives: Melissa Daniel

Class of 2018 Takes a Step Forward

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The Class of 2018 has turned its tassels at Burbank and Burroughs highs.

Once again both schools graduated a number of fine student athletes, some of which will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

The following is a sampling of what to expect in the immediate future for the now graduated Bulldogs and Indians.

Burbank

Leading the Bulldogs class is multi-sport star and class salutatorian Melissa Daniel, who will attend Stanford University and play beach volleyball.

Melissa Daniel goes for the kill. She will attend Stanford. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Class valedictorian Jonathan Ragheb will attend Harvard University and may attempt to walk on the men’s volleyball team.

Lauren Ryan will attend Hawaii Pacific University, where she will compete in cheer. Nikki Howell will also compete in cheer, but stay a little closer to home by attending Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks. Anna Leonetti will be attending Riverside City College, where she plans to continue in cheer and stunt.

Softball player Bene Snyder will continue her career at Trinity University in Texas.

Fellow softball player Anysia Gonzalez will continue her career at La Sierra University in Riverside.

Bulldog baseball player Abiezer Delgado will continue his career at Hope International University in Fullerton.

Burbank will be represented once again by the presence of a number of football players going to the community college route.

Moorpark College is getting Drew Pendleton, Kaydon Spens and Andrew Rovira. Anthony Lira will attend Los Angeles Valley College. Christian Fajardo is going to Pasadena City College and Darnell Williams will continue his career at College of the Canyons.

Drew Pendleton will play football at Moorpark College. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Jessie Czarneki will continue her track and cross country career at the University of Antelope Valley.

Noemi Apreza and Phoebe Forsyth will both continue their distance running careers at Glendale Community College.

Brandon Wilson will continue his water polo career at L.A. Valley College. Lexi Lyneis will continue her water polo career at L.A. Valley College.

Rory Rickey will hope to continue his volleyball career as a walk on at UC San Diego.

Burroughs

The Indians have several athletes who will play major college athletics, led by senior volleyball player Marin Grote.

The 6-foot-5 outside hitter will continue her career at the University of Washington.

Marin Grote will wear purple in college as a member of the Washington Huskies.

Distance running star Jagdeep Chahal, who recently won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title in the 1,600 meters, will continue his cross country and track career at UC Santa Barbara.

Emily Virtue, who was a cross country national finalist as a sophomore, will continue her career on the opposite coast at Columbia University.

Pole vaulter Elizabeth Switzer is undecided, as she also has the option of going back to gymnastics, which has her first sport.

Also from the girls’ volleyball team, Lauren Zedlar will attend Washington College in Maryland. Sabrina Sullivan will continue her volleyball career at the University of La Verne. Lizzy Jessen will play volleyball at Wellesley College and Ricki Patenaude at College of the Canyons.  Mia Staub, the class salutatorian, will play volleyball at Wheaton College in Chicago.

Jagdeep Chahal will run for UC Santa Barbara.

From the football team, Jacob Real will continue at Glendale Community College.

Basketball player Amir Montgomery is undecided but may be leaning toward Glendale Community College, per coach Allan Ellis.

Volleyball player Diego Rosal will walk on the men’s volleyball team at Pepperdine, where he will join former Indian Max Chamberlain and coach David Hunt, who grew up in the Glendale-Burbank area.

Fellow volleyball player and Pacific League MVP Cole Kaitz will attend Cal State Northridge, but has not decided if he will attempt to walk on or not.

Star distance runner Alex Hirsch will attend Harvey Mudd and run for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

Softball pitcher Presley Miraglia plans to continue her career at Cal State Long Beach.

Fellow softball player Jessica Amaya is considering continuing her career Mission College in Sylmar.

 

Burbank, Burroughs Softball Eyes Successful Campaigns

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By Rick Assad
 
 

 

If you’re a softball coach like Burbank High’s Mike Delaney and Burroughs’ Wes Tanigawa, it’s smart to set reachable goals because it gives the players something to strive for.

The Bulldogs, who went 12-14 overall and 8-6 in the Pacific League, didn’t reach the CIF Southern Section playoffs in 2017.

Burroughs ended last season with a CIF Southern Section first-round loss to Oaks Christian. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

For the Indians, who finished 19-9 and 12-2 in league, they did, but fell 7-0 to Oaks Christian in the first round of the playoffs.

Burbank has a 3-1 record this season after participating in the Hart Tournament, and will begin the league portion of its schedule with a game at Arcadia on March 27.

The Bulldogs will host the Indians on April 12 in a classic showdown and then visit the Indians on May 10.

Burbank hopes to reverse its fortunes in 2018 and qualify for the postseason. There’s good reason this will be the case because the team is balanced with a fair amount of experience.

“If we play like we did in the fall, then I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Delaney said. “But we can’t make mistakes like we did last year.”

Delaney also thinks that it will be a close race for the league banner. “Crescenta Valley and Burroughs have the edge with regard to pitching,” he said. “It comes down to how we adapt to pitching. We’re pretty composed. We’re working hard for each other. I like the mix we have this year.”

One key player, senior infielder/outfielder Melissa Daniel, an honor student with designs on attending Harvard University, will not play in order to concentrate on her classes.

Burbank, shown in a game against powerhouse Crescenta Valley, failed to make the CIF Southern Section playoffs in 2017, but are gunning to make the field this season. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Daniel finished with a .368 batting average, 19 runs scored along with 19 runs batted in and two home runs.

The infield is set with senior Erin Lashkari, who batted .339, with 15 runs and led the Bulldogs with 21 RBIs, at first base.

The tandem of senior Macie Jensen and junior Amaya Broyls will hold down second base.

Jensen posted a .297 batting average, with 14 runs and 12 RBIs, while Broyls batted .354 with 21 runs tallied and 12 RBIs.

Sophomore Katie Treadway will play shortstop and batted .245 along with 11 runs scored.

Senior Bene Snyder finished with a .258 batting average, 10 RBIs with 10 runs and will play third base.

Senior Allie Benson will be counted upon to have a solid season for the Bulldogs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Broyls will be behind the plate as will junior Desi Gomez, which allows Delaney flexibility.

The left field spot will be manned by junior Sarah Garelick, who hit .314 with 11 RBIs and will also act as the designated hitter/designated player.

Jensen and junior Carly Oldfield will also see time in left field, which once again gives Delaney plenty of options, depending on the team and the pitcher that day.

Center field will be held down by junior Alex Davis, who batted .416 and paced the team with 28 runs scored.

Right field will be patrolled by senior Anysia Gonzalez, who had a robust .457 batting average, which was second on the team and also scored 21 runs with 18 RBIs.

In the circle will be senior Allie Benson along with junior Alyssa Porras and each hurler is capable of strong seasons.

Benson started 13 games, went 6-6, had a 5.77 earned-run average, struck out 47, but issued 73 walks across 64 and one-third innings.

Senior Nikki Ricciardella will play second base for the Indians. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Porras finished 6-7 in 12 games, fanned 61 with 23 walks and posted a 3.57 ERA over 84 and one-third frames.

The rest of the team includes junior Izzy Sanchez, who will play right field, junior Nikki Davis, who drove in four runs and is versatile, having the skill to play first base, third base and catcher and senior Sarah Taylor, who played at Burroughs during her freshman and sophomore years, will be a pinch hitter.

Burroughs, which has a 1-3-1 record this season, begins league play on March 27 when it hosts Glendale.

The Indians will have two young pitchers in the circle, sophomores Sidnie Dabbadie and Isabella Kam.

Burroughs senior ace pitcher, Presley Miraglia, will miss the 2018 campaign in order to get her grades straightened out.

Burroughs is somewhat young when it comes to its infield, but there is still enough talent and includes senior Kaylee Vigil and sophomore Chloe Bookmyer at first base, senior Nikki Ricciardella, and junior Morgan Mersola at second base, juniors Citali Mendez and Lauryn Valencia at shortstop and sophomores Memorie Munoz and Sami Fiorella at third base.

The catching duties will be handled by Fiorella with juniors Megan Williams and Sierra Harvey also helping out.

The outfield is fairly experienced and includes senior Hannah Talavera, senior Jessica Amaya, junior Mia Storer, junior Kaitlin Escamilla and junior Hannah Skinner.

 

Burbank Girls’ Volleyball Team Drops Playoff Opener

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Getting into a rhythm is something the Burbank High girls’ volleyball team never really achieved Tuesday night when the Bulldogs opened the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

Playing just a short distance from home didn’t seem to help as host La Canada defeated Burbank 25-13, 25-12, 25-17.

“That wasn’t the Burbank volleyball that we’ve been throughout the season. Our passing wasn’t there and when your passing is off you can’t really run the plays,” Burbank outside hitter Melissa Daniel said. “We really did want to go far in the playoffs, so it is disappointing.  They’re (La Canada) definitely a good team, but we could have made a better showing.”

Burbank coach Karl Rojo said his team didn’t play up to its expectations.

“Everything was off today, the serving especially.  We didn’t play good volleyball,” he said. “We came out flat and didn’t really produce the points that we normally do.”

Burbank (17-7-1) came in knowing La Canada (21-6), and the same could be said of La Canada knowing Burbank. Daniel said her club volleyball coach is La Canada head coach Chris Sullivan.

“We knew they were outside dominant. We knew they were a good passing team and a good serving team and that they get their middles involved,” Rojo said. “We just couldn’t produce well on our end of the court.”

Burbank had a tough time stopping La Canada’s Chloe Kerstein, who had eight kills and two aces in the first game.

La Canada opened to a 4-0 lead and was never threatened.

A kill by Daniel helped tie things at one in the second game. But it too was not close.

Burbank picked up its play in the third game.

An ace by Carmen Camacho followed by a kill from Katie Treadway gave the Bulldogs a 10-9 lead.

A kill by Daniel later gave the Bulldogs a 13-12 lead.

But it was pretty much all La Canada from there.

 

 

 

Burroughs Girls’ Volleyball Tops Burbank to Take Home Pacific League Title

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(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

Marin Grote has been a key figure for the Burroughs girls’ volleyball team the last four years. Tuesday night the 6-foot-4 outside hitter concluded the regular season of her career as the Indians defeated visiting Burbank High 25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 25-14.

In the process, Burroughs captured the Pacific League title outright, finishing with a 13-1 in league mark.

Both schools will learn of their playoff fate Thursday when the CIF Southern Section releases the volleyball pairings.

“I love these games. It’s confidence boosting and it is fun,” said Grote, who committed to the University of Washington as a sophomore. “It is a crosstown rivalry, how can it not be. It was a good match, a good rivalry game. Burbank put up a good competition but we were ready. We’ve been preparing for this.”

Burroughs (23-5 overall) received 17 kills from Grote, 10 from junior Juliana Van Loo and six from sophomore Lydia Grote.

“We played well early. We kind of put our guard down a little bit. We made a lot of errors in game three,” Burroughs Coach Edwin Real said.

Despite the league title and a guaranteed first round match in the CIF playoffs next week, Real said his team isn’t where he expected it would be.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

“Not quite. We have some things we want to take care of,” he said.  “Once we iron some things out and re-focus (we’ll be okay).”

Burbank coach Karl Rojo praised his team for remaining tough. The Bulldogs finish the regular season 10-4 in league to finish in third place.

“They hung in there. They kept fighting and they kept believing in themselves,” Rojo said. “They were aggressive with the swing, they were aggressive with the service line, the passing was great that third set.”

Overall he was pleased to see the program going in the right direction.

“We told our players to keep their minds on track for CIF. We did a great job this year in league finishing third. It is better than the last two years,” he said.

Burroughs broke away from Burbank in the first game after the two teams were tied at 9.

Burbank put up a tougher fight in the second game, keeping it tied until 13.

A kill by Jewel Musich clinched the second game for the Indians.

Burbank dominated the third game after Burroughs closed the gap to 9-8.

A pair of aces from Erin Lashkari and a pair of kills from Melissa Daniel helped Burbank during the run that saw the Bulldogs go on a 7-0 run.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

A kill by Daniel forced a fourth game.

Burroughs took the early lead in the fourth and didn’t have too much trouble. A pair of back-to-back kills from Burbank’s Suzy Torosyan gave Burbank some brief momentum.

Burroughs finished things off with a kill from Ricki Patenaude.

Burroughs Girls Volleyball Sweeps Past Host Burbank

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By Rick Assad

City bragging rights, Burbank High hoping to keep sole possession of first place in the Pacific League and Burroughs wanting to make it a three-way tie for the top spot along with Arcadia were all on the line Thursday night when these longtime rivals met in a girls’ volleyball match.

The visiting Indians came out strong, something Coach Edwin Real wanted, and partially because of this early charge only three games were needed, 25-11, 25-12, 25-23, in order to deal the Bulldogs a defeat.

Burbank senior outside hitter Melissa Daniel (#1) had nine kills in a three-set loss to rival Burroughs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We were pretty focused, pretty determined,” Real said of the first two sets. “We have some goals and we needed to attain those goals and we start off passing well and once we get passing we have the setters. We have the hitters. We have people that can put the ball away. It’s just getting the ball to the hitters.”

Senior outside hitter Marin Grote finished with a match-high 15 kills and junior outside hitter Juliana Van Loo added six.

Burbank and Burroughs will meet once again on Oct. 24 at the Indians’ gym with a 6 p.m. start.

Burbank trailed throughout the third game, but came within 20-19 when senior middle blocker Ricki Patenaude’s shot found the net.

Marin Grote rises and is about to add one of her match-high 15 kills in a Pacific League match against host Burbank. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Another point for the Bulldogs would have evened it, but Van Loo’s kill made it 21-19.

Burbank didn’t give up as it drew within 22-20 on a kill from senior outside hitter Melissa Daniel.

“We weren’t keeping it simple in terms of what plays we were running in terms of passing,” said Daniel, who had nine kills. “We were shanking balls left and right. We were thinking too much when we were playing instead of just playing.”

When senior opposite hitter Erin Lashkari served up an ace, the Bulldogs (12-2 and 6-1 in league) climbed within 22-21 and leveled it at 22-22 on a sizzler from Daniel.

When senior opposite hitter Suzy Torosyan added a spike, Burbank pulled into the lead, 23-22, as the Indians asked for time out.

But Grote’s bullet evened it at 23-23 and senior libero Sabrina Sullivan’s service ace made it 24-23.

The match clincher came when Burbank used four touches in order to get the ball across the net according to the referee, with Grote standing in front and ready to pounce.

Senior middle blocker Ricki Patenaude gets the ball over the net for Burroughs while Arpi Garibyan jumps to defend. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Indians (14-2 and 6-1 in league) dashed ahead 3-1 in the third stanza on Grote’s spike and Grote’s smash made it 6-4 and her ace made it 7-4.

“In practice we’ve really been drilling strong starts,” said Grote, “so I think we had that under our belts as well as our team came in focused. We came here to win and that was our job and we did it.”

Van Loo’s tapper put Burroughs, which has now defeated Burbank five consecutive matches, in front 9-6, but Daniel’s spike saw the Bulldogs get within 10-8.

“We just did not play well tonight,” Daniel said. “We made too many errors and it just came down to that. We missed a lot of serves. We were not strong in service games.”

Burbank made too many errors in its Pacific League match versus visiting Burroughs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

When Grote added a kill, the Indians took over at 13-10 and Grote’s spike made it 14-11.

Burroughs opened the initial stanza by claiming 11 of the first 14 points that included a tapper from junior middle blocker Maggie Harris which prompted Burbank Coach Karl Rojo to ask for time.

“Our sense of urgency wasn’t really there the first set, second set,” Rojo said. “We didn’t live up to our serving standards. Too many in the net. Giving away too many points. We didn’t start with that sense of urgency. Couldn’t get our momentum right.”

Rojo went on: “You can kind of call it some sort of complacency the last couple of weeks,” he said. “That’s also a battle that we’re trying to overcome in practice, too. That complacency, when we play teams that aren’t as tough as we want them to be.”

The Indians seized control 15-6 on a kill from Patenaude and 16-7 on Grote’s bomb.

When junior opposite hitter Shea McGovern (four aces) unloaded three straight aces the lead swelled to 20-8 and it became 21-8 and 23-8 on a pair of Grote kills.

It was more of the same in the second game as the Indians captured the first five points before Daniel’s kill broke the spell to make it 5-1.

Burroughs took over 12-5 and 15-7 on kills from sophomore outside hitter Lydia Grote.

The Bulldogs rallied and shaved the lead to 17-10 on Lashkari’s kill, however, Marin Grote had back-to-back bullets that made it 20-10 as Burbank needed a respite.

Marin Grote’s tapper put the Indians ahead 21-11 and Van Loo’s spike forged a 22-12 advantage.

Senior libero Lizzy Jessen’s service ace gave Burroughs a 23-12 lead and the Indians then took the next two points.

Burbank Girls Volleyball Extended Five Sets, Beats Crescenta Valley

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By Rick Assad

It seemed that whenever the Burbank High girls’ volleyball team needed a point or a key play, Melissa Daniel was ready to deliver.

In the fifth and deciding game in Thursday’s Pacific League match, Daniel had six kills and a combined stuff as the host Bulldogs took down Crescenta Valley, 25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 22-25, 15-7.

Melissa Daniel led the way for Burbank with 20 kills and 22 digs against Crescenta Valley. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Daniel scored the first two points on kills before sophomore outside hitter Katie Treadway (six aces and three kills) tossed in an ace that made it 3-0.

Daniel’s spike pushed the lead to 4-0, while senior middle blocker/opposite hitter Erin Lashkari’s stuff extended it to 5-0.

“Yeah, that’s so important, getting off strong because CV is a strong team, too,” said Daniel, a senior outside hitter who contributed a match-best 20 kills and 22 digs. “But we need to establish that lead to make sure that we could take this game.”

Lashkari and Daniel then teamed up on a jam as the advantage swelled to 6-0.

Burbank’s defense was stellar, especially in the fifth set versus the Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Falcons (1-7 and 0-3 in league) scored a point on a net violation, but Daniel added a kill and senior opposite/outside hitter Arpi Garibyan (three kills) tossed in a stuff that made it 8-1 as Crescenta Valley asked for time.

“We’re definitely coming on stronger this year,” Daniel said. “We want to make a better showing than last year which wasn’t our best effort. This team this year is super close and it’s helping with our connection and I think we’re working great together.”

Daniel’s spike made it 10-1 and her smash supplied the Bulldogs with a 12-6 lead.

Crescenta Valley’s Teny Noordermeer rises up, but is met by Erin Lashkari in a Pacific League match. (Photo by Ross A. Benson).

Eventually Burbank (4-0 and 3-0 in league) would take the match after winning three of the next four points including Treadway’s dagger that made it 14-7 and senior defensive specialist/libero Katie Marcy’s service ace for the clincher.

When asked if it was intentional that she had the ball set in the fifth set, Daniel said that it wasn’t.

“It just happened to turn out that way,” she said. “I definitely didn’t play my best the first couple of sets. But I definitely came out with more stronger energy and the whole team had a lot more energy in that fifth set because we want to win.”

Burbank Coach Karl Rojo also felt confident in the fifth set. “With that experience she’s (Daniel) going to put that ball away for us,” he said. “We just had to feed the hot hand. We practice these games where you gotta feed the hot hand and the hot hand’s gotta figure it out. She contributed a lot today.”

Ashley Eskander, who had 25 assists, serves in a match against the Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The opening game was tied 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 5-5, 6-6, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11, but the Bulldogs took over 16-14 on an ace from senior opposite hitter Suzy Torosyan (six kills and 13 digs) and 20-16 on Treadway’s bullet.

When Lashkari had a tap-stuff, Burbank led 21-19, but the Falcons tied it at 21-21 on an ace from senior outside/opposite hitter Marley Gang.

A kill from Daniel gave the Bulldogs a 22-21 edge, and the Bulldogs would take three of the next four points for the set.

Burbank led 4-1 in the second game on Garibyan’s stuff and 12-5 on Torosyan’s winner.

A kill from Daniel gave the Bulldogs a 16-10 edge and it would be even at 20-20 on a stuff from Treadway.

Crescenta Valley tied it at 24-24 on junior opposite hitter/middle blocker Grace Holland’s kill, only to see Lashkari’s spike make it 25-24 and Daniel’s kill push it to 26-25.

Burbank moved in front 3-0 in the third set on Treadway’s ace, and it would be tied 14-14 on Treadway’s tapper.

The Bulldogs darted in front 17-14 on Marcy’s ace as Crescenta Valley asked for time and then outscored Burbank 11-3 for the set.

It was tied eight times in the early going in the fourth set before the Bulldogs led 12-10 on an ace from sophomore setter Ashley Eskander (25 assists).

The Falcons forged a  20-16 advantage on Gang’s blast as the Bulldogs needed a time out.

Burbank came within 23-20 on Treadway’s service ace as the Falcons asked for time, but when Lashkari’s serve sailed out of bounds, the fifth set became necessary.

Burbank, Burroughs Girls Volleyball Shoot For Moon

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By Rick Assad

The prize is the same for the Burroughs High and Burbank girls’ volleyball teams and that’s capturing the Pacific League title and then advancing deep into the postseason.

In recent years, the edge in these departments have usually gone to the Indians while the Bulldogs have had some success.

A season ago, Burroughs placed second in league to Arcadia with a 12-2 record and pushed its way to the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals, but lost to Foothill.

“We expect the Pacific League to be more competitive than in years past,” Burroughs coach Edwin Real said. “We have seen improvements in Glendale and Pasadena and we are always expecting Arcadia to be toward the top.”

Burbank Coach Karl Rojo addresses the team at a recent practice. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

With regard to Burbank, Real said he expects the matches to be close.

“The rival game with Burbank is always competitive as well,” he said. “Our goal is to win the league title, though.”

The Indians play at Burbank on Sept. 28 and then host the Bulldogs on Oct. 24.

Leading the charge for the Indians will be senior outside hitter Marin Grote, who at 6-feet-4, also plays center for the basketball team.

Grote, a powerful hitter and a defensive stalwart, is expected to attend and play volleyball for the University of Washington.

Other key individuals include senior outside hitter Julianna Cottrell and junior opposite hitter Juliana Van Loo.

Burroughs senior outside hitter Marin Grote is one key to success for the Indians. (Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

Also on the squad are senior setter Lauren Zedlar, senior opposite hitter Jewel Musich, senior defensive specialist/libero Sabrina Sullivan, senior defensive specialist Lizzy Jessen and senior middle blocker Ricki Patenaude.

The others include junior opposite hitter Jolene Solimon, junior opposite hitter Shea McGovern, junior defensive specialist Caitlin Lim, junior middle blocker Maggie Harris, sophomore outside hitter Lydia Grote and freshman outside hitter Catie Virtue.

“Our goal for the season is to play consistent, match by match in order to win the Pacific League and also have a memorable playoff run,” Real said. “We are hoping that our talent and team chemistry helps us advance beyond the quarterfinals, a feat no other girls volleyball team at Burroughs has done.”

Likewise, Burbank Coach Karl Rojo, who begins his third season, also expects good things from the Bulldogs, who finished above .500 overall.

But Rojo will have to replace two offensive and defensive forces, Hailey Heath and Rachel Wiley, who graduated.

Still there is enough talent on the roster to compete and that includes senior outside hitter Melissa Daniel, senior middle blocker/opposite hitter Erin Lashkari and senior middle blocker/opposite hitter Bene Snyder.

Daniel, Lashkari and Snyder are all on the softball team and extremely versatile athletes.

“The chemistry is nice,” Rojo said. “Not too much drama. We’re hoping for a better season than last season.”

Rojo then added: “We lost some key players,” he noted. “We were able to fill in those spots. They’re working hard and ready to play.”

In last year’s match, host Burbank and Burroughs shake hands afterward. Both are gunning for Pacific League banner. (Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

Daniel, Lashkari and Snyder are capable of pushing the Bulldogs beyond a 7-7 league record and fourth place, which is where they placed last season.

There is going to be help in the form of senior outside/opposite hitter Suzy Torosyan, sophomore outside hitter Katie Treadway and sophomore setter Ashley Eskander.

Other key players are senior opposite hitter/middle blocker Arpi Garibyan and junior opposite/outside hitter Amaya Broyls.

One thing the Bulldogs will have to avoid are instances when they didn’t play well down the stretch of matches.

“We need to keep this core group mentally sharp,” Rojo said. “We can fix those issues in practice. We need to put the ball away early.”

The rest of Rojo’s squad includes senior libero/defensive specialist Katie Marcy, senior outside/opposite hitter Elizabeth Kvryan, junior outside/opposite hitter Carmen Camacho-Platas, junior middle blocker/opposite hitter Olivia Price, junior libero/defensive specialist Hannah Cericos, sophomore libero Morgan Bolger and sophomore setter Kassie Gonzales.

Burroughs Softball Blanks Burbank 6-0 For Share Of Third Straight League Title

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By Rick Assad

 

There was much riding on the outcome of Thursday night’s Pacific League softball clash between Burroughs High and Burbank at McCambridge Park.

A win by the Indians would assure them of a first-place tie with Crescenta Valley, and a victory by the Bulldogs would give them fourth place, one game ahead of Glendale and a CIF Southern Section playoff berth.

Some members of the Burroughs softball team gather after beating rival Burbank and winning a third consecutive Pacific League banner. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

In the end, junior Presley Miraglia was simply too good and in control, striking out 11 and yielding four hits in a 6-0 complete-game shutout in the regular-season finale as the Indians secured a share of a third straight league title.

“Any time we go into a game, we feel good,” first-year Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said. “The way they were focused and settled down, I felt good.”

The Indians (19-8 and 12-2 in league) scurried in front 1-0 in the fourth inning against sophomore Alyssa Porras and added five more runs in the sixth.

The initial tally started when Miraglia (three singles) reached base on an error. Sophomore Citlali Mendez then came in to pinch run and moved to second base on sophomore Mia Storer’s infield hit.

Junior pitcher Presley Miraglia, shown in a recent game, allowed four hits with 11 strikeouts in a 6-0 win over the Bulldogs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Mendez took third base on junior Jessica Amaya’s sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on junior Nikki Ricciardella’s perfect sacrifice squeeze bunt.

Burbank (12-14 and 8-6 in league) fell behind 6-0 after the five-run explosion that began with a base hit by Miraglia to left field. Once again, Mendez ran for her.

Junior hurler Allie Benson replaced Porras and faced Storer, who was safe on an error.

Pinch hitter Kaitlin Escamilla, a sophomore, drew a walk to load the bases and Ricciardella was hit by a pitch which forced in a run.

The key blow was delivered by senior Amanda Flores (two hits), who clubbed a two-run double to right center.

Porras re-entered and allowed an infield single to pinch hitter, sophomore Morgan Mersola, that scored a run and two batters later, senior Lauren Lopez added a run-scoring single to right field.

“It got away from us,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said. “We simply made too many key mistakes.”

Miraglia worked a perfect first and fanned all three batters before allowing a one-out single in the second inning to right center by junior Erin Lashkari, who went to second base on sophomore Sarah Garelick’s sacrifice bunt.

But Miraglia then collected herself and struck out junior Macie Jensen swinging.

Miraglia then fashioned a 1-2-3 third and fourth inning, striking out freshman Katie Treadway in the third and fanning junior Anysia Gonzalez in the fourth.

“My pitching coach worked with me to get my pitches down,” Miraglia said. “I needed to fix my level of pitches. I knew what I had to do.”

Delaney admitted that Miraglia was throwing hard and also keeping the ball down, but said they were perhaps too anxious. “We didn’t decide what part of the plate to swing at,” he pointed out.

Miraglia retired Lashkari to open the fifth inning on a liner to center field and then struck out Garelick looking.

Jensen reached first on a miscue and then stole second, however, Miraglia settled down and induced junior Bene Snyder to line out to first base.

Miraglia began the sixth inning by fanning senior pinch hitter Alyssa De La Torre, but surrendered an infield single to sophomore Alex Davis.

Miraglia whiffed sophomore Amaya Broyls, but allowed a single to left by junior Melissa Daniel, only to strike out Gonzalez swinging.

Miraglia induced Lashkari to ground out to begin the seventh, but Garelick laced a single to right center.

Jensen popped up for the second out and Snyder grounded out to seal the victory.

Porras allowed seven hits and struck out two with two walks in seven innings while Benson walked a batter, hit a batter and gave up one hit.

Burbank Softball Falls Behind Early To Crescenta Valley, Loses 8-5

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By Rick Assad

 

For all intents and purposes, two innings doomed the Burbank High softball team when it faced Crescente Valley on Thursday afternoon at McCambridge Park.

Getting the early jump, the Falcons scored three runs in the first and second innings and held on for an 8-5 Pacific League triumph.

“After that we settled down,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said of the first two frames. “They put pressure on you and we didn’t handle that pressure very well.”

Alex Davis had a double in the first inning of an 8-5 loss to Crescenta Valley, but didn’t score. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Eight batters trotted to the plate in the opening stanza against sophomore Alyssa Porras, who went one and two-third innings initially, two and two-third overall, walking five with six hits allowed.

Five of the first six batters were safe including a bases-loaded walk to sophomore Viviana Bocanegra that forced in senior Jessica Yzaguirre (four hits), who led off with an infield single.

Sophomore Ryan Eldred (three singles) later added a two-run smash to right field that brought home sophomore Alyssa Hernandez, who walked and freshman Maddie De Leon (three hits), who drilled a single up the middle.

Crescenta Valley’s cushion was extended to 6-0 in the second inning when nine hitters marched to the dish.

Allie Benson entered as a reliever and held her own over four and one-third innings. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

De Leon’s two-out booming triple to left center scored Yzaguirre, who was safe on an infield single and Hernandez, who walked.

It became 6-0 on a bloop single to right center by Bocanegra off junior Allie Benson, who went four and one-third innings, walking six, with three hit batters, six hits surrendered and one strikeout, that brought in De Leon.

“Our pitchers were not hitting their spots,” Delaney said of his duo that combined to allow 11 walks and 12 hits with three hit batters.

Burbank (11-13 and 7-5 in league) cut the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the second when junior Bene Snyder (two hits) had an infield single off junior Emily Mulcahey (seven innings while scattering 12 hits, walking two, with four strikeouts and one hit batter) that drove in junior Macie Jensen, who walked.

Melissa Daniel slides into third base during a two-run third inning versus the Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Bulldogs chipped away and made it a three-run deficit with a two-run third inning as sophomore Sarah Garelick (two hits) rifled a single to center field that knocked in junior Melissa Daniel, who led off with a walk and junior Anysia Gonzalez, who reached base on an infield single.

“We’re a confident offensive team,” Delaney noted. “We don’t fear too many pitchers. But we had three strikeouts in critical situations.”

Burbank trimmed Crescenta Valley’s lead to 6-4 with a tally in the fourth inning when Daniel’s double to left field plated sophomore Amaya Broyls, who singled to center.

A two-run frame in the sixth by the Falcons (18-7-1 and 10-2 in league) pushed the lead to 8-4 as Eldred led off with a single to right center and later came around on an error while sophomore Peyton Hause’s run-scoring hit to center scored sophomore Kristy Taix, who laid down a sacrifice bunt and went to second base on an error.

The Bulldogs made it a three-run deficit with a run in the seventh when junior Erin Lashkari clubbed a long leadoff triple to left center and crossed the plate on Jensen’s single to right field.

Burbank sophomore Alex Davis doubled, junior Anysia Gonzalez singled twice and freshman Katie Treadway also singled.

Burbank Softball Takes Out Rival Burroughs, 5-2

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By Rick Assad

 

From the first inning, it was evident the Burbank High softball team was going to be extremely patient at the plate.

In many at-bats, including a bases-clearing double by junior Melissa Daniel in the sixth inning, the Bulldogs waited for hittable offerings from junior Burroughs ace Presley Miraglia.

Presley Miraglia surrendered six hits in a 5-2 loss to rival Burbank in a Pacific League match at Olive Park. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The result was Burbank’s 5-2 win in a Pacific League game at a jammed-packed Olive Park on Wednesday night, which snapped a three-game losing streak to its city rival.

“When we play like we’re capable of, like we did tonight, we’re a good team,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said. “The reason we won was because of all 15 girls.”

Burbank’s lead was 2-1 heading into the sixth inning, but the advantage swelled to four runs on Daniel’s deep blast that saw her attempt to stretch the hit into a triple, but was thrown out at third base.

“The moment that I hit that pitch, I knew it was going to score the runners,” said Daniel, who also doubled in the fifth inning. “I’m really proud of this team. Alyssa Porras [winning pitcher] did an amazing job.”

Burroughs second baseman Nikki Ricciardella throws out a runner. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Bulldogs (6-11 and 5-3 in league) struck in the initial frame when junior Anysia Gonzalez, who also singled in the sixth, lined a two-out rocket to left center for a home run.

In the third, the lead swelled to 2-0 when sophomore Amaya Broyls sliced an opposite-field double down the left field line that scored sophomore Sarah Garelick, who was safe on an error.

The Indians (13-8 and 6-2 in league) cut the advantage in half with a run in the fourth as junior Hannah Talavera doubled to left center to lead off the inning.

It was the first hit for Burroughs against Porras, who retired the first nine batters she faced including three on strike outs.

Porras, a sophomore, was highly effective as she toured seven innings, striking out four, allowing seven hits and no walks across seven innings.

The Indians used “small ball” against Burbank pitcher Alyssa Porras. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Senior Lauren Lopez then rifled a base hit to right field as Talavera raced over to third base and scored on Miraglia’s single up the middle.

The Indians came within three runs in the sixth inning as senior Brianna Johnson drew a one-out walk and moved to third base on Miraglia’s double to right field.

The run scored on sophomore Mia Storer’s grounder, but the inning came to an end when senior Amanda Flores lined to Porras.

Sophomore Alex Davis singled in the sixth inning for the Bulldogs, but did not score.

Sophomore Kaitlin Escamilla singled twice for the Indians, and both times failed to cross the plate.

“If the girls don’t have it 100 percent, it could go either way,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said. “I’m hoping that they’re going to see what happened and not like it.”

Miraglia surrendered six hits and fanned five with one walk over seven innings, but some of her offerings found too much of the plate.

“Presley performs and she performs well,” Tanigawa said. “Sometimes I think that she feels she has to throw perfect pitches. Sometimes I think that she feels an added pressure.”