Tag Archives: Softball

Burroughs Softball Blanked By Crescenta Valley 5-0, Collects One Hit

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By Rick Assad

 

Stepping into the batter’s box and facing Crescenta Valley High pitcher Dee Dee Hernandez’s impressive arsenal isn’t an enviable task.

On Tuesday afternoon at Olive Park, the Burroughs softball team found out exactly just how tough the sophomore is after taming the Indians 5-0 and throwing a one-hitter across seven frames in a Pacific League game.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Acosta went four innings and allowed six hits with four runs against the Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Hernandez didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning when senior Hannah Skinner lined a sharp single to left field.

What followed were three consecutive outs as junior Chloe Bookmyer flied to left field, senior Mia Storer popped to second base and senior Sierra Harvey grounded to second base.

“It’s CV. They’re a good hitting team. They’ve got a good pitcher. It’s all mental,” said Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa, whose team is 3-4 and 2-1 in league. “The girls just gotta learn how to focus better.”

Tanigawa then added: “They feel pressure because they know this is a really good pitcher and they want to show they can do something,” he said. “They just have to learn to slow down the game.”

Hernandez toiled seven effective innings, struck out seven batters without issuing a walk and seemed cool as a cucumber.

Hernandez seized control from the outset, striking out freshman Kelsey Acosta and junior Isabella Kam swinging and inducing junior Sabrina Englebrecht to fly to center field.

Chloe Bookmyer shown taking a big swing against Dee Dee Hernandez, who tossed a one-hitter. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We’re just grinding,” said Crescenta Valley coach Amanda Peek, who saw the Falcons improve to 9-2-1 and 2-0 in league. “The girls didn’t come out like they wanted to today. Dee Dee’s a grinder. Our girls who show up daily, showed up today.”

Peek added: “Defense wins championships and that’s our mindset. Hitting comes and goes,” she noted.

Hernandez worked a perfect second inning as Skinner grounded to first base, Bookmyer bounced to second base and Storer fanned looking.

Harvey led off the third inning by grounding to shortstop, senior Citlali Mendez, who came into the game as a replacement for senior Lauryn Valenzuela at shortstop, then lined to shortstop and junior Memorie Munoz struck out swinging.

Hernandez worked a 1-2-3 fourth frame, fanning Acosta and Kam swinging and then getting Englebrecht to bounce back to the box.

Mia Storer takes her hacks against Dee Dee Hernandez, who went seven innings. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Mendez fouled out to third base to begin the sixth inning, Munoz popped to third base and sophomore Dyani Del Castillo, who relieved Acosta in the fifth inning, grounded to third base.

Kam opened the seventh inning by bouncing back to Hernandez, senior pinch hitter Morgan Mersola struck out swinging and Skinner popped to third base for the game’s final out.

The Falcons’ offense started off early against Acosta, who was making her first start against the defending league champions.

Acosta was admittedly nervous before her outing, but throws hard and accurate and seemed confident in the circle.

In four innings, Acosta, who will learn how to throw a changeup, allowed six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Del Castillo worked three innings, fanning three, walking three, hitting one batter and surrendering three hits.

Crescenta Valley collected just one hit off Acosta in the first inning, but it produced two runs as freshman Izzy Jamgotchian lined a double to left field as senior Alyssa Hernandez, who was safe on an error and Hernandez, who walked and had a pinch runner enter for her, both scored to make it 2-0.

Alyssa Hernandez and sophomore Stephanie Wichman each collected two singles for the Falcons.

Jamgotchian advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt from senior Kristy Taix and crossed the plate for a 3-0 lead when senior Peyton Hause was safe on the second error in the inning.

The Falcons added a run in the fourth inning to make it 4-0 when sophomore Morgan Eng drilled a single down the line in the left field, stole second base and scored on an error.

Crescenta Valley waltzed in front 5-0 with a run in the sixth as Dee Dee Hernandez’s two-out grounder brought home Wichman, who was safe on an infield hit.

Burbank Softball Loses Tough One To Visiting Arcadia 7-5

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By Rick Assad

 

Playing shorthanded is a tough way to operate, but the Burbank High softball team had to against Arcadia on Monday afternoon.

Even so, the Bulldogs found enough intestinal fortitude to rally from four runs down in the sixth inning, but then gave up two runs in the seventh inning and lost 7-5 in a Pacific League contest at McCambridge Park.

Alyssa Porras went seven innings and took the 7-5 loss. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank managed four hits off sophomore Sophia Garzona, who went seven innings, striking out six and walking three.

Senior Alyssa Porras toured seven frames for the Bulldogs, surrendering 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks with two hit batters.

The Bulldogs (2-4 and 1-1 in league) were without the services of seniors Nikki Davis and Emily Monterrey along with junior Savannah Benson.

It seemed late in the game that Porras may have been tired, but wasn’t taken out by Burbank coach Mike Delaney.

“We thought about it a couple of times. But where they were in the lineup versus what she was doing with those kids, it didn’t ever come up to it at that point,” Delaney said. “She battled. She missed a few spots, but we didn’t help her with our flat-footedness today. We were flat-footed with our defense.”

The Bulldogs cut Arcadia’s lead to 5-4 with a three-run fifth inning as seven batters trotted to the plate.

Base hits were hard to come by for the Bulldogs, who managed four. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

With none out, senior Izzy Sanchez lined a sharp base hit to center field as senior Sarah Garelick, who walked and sophomore Erika Montoya, who collected a single to left field, both scored.

Senior Alex Davis was safe on a fielder’s choice that scored a run as pinch runner, junior Tiffany Estrada, who came in for Porras, drew a walk.

“Our outfield didn’t help us and our hitting didn’t help us,” Delaney pointed out. “We did not hit in key situations. That’s what we’ve been kind of stressing the last couple of games. We’re all trying to hit the ball over the fence. You hit the ball in the air here, it’s just an out.”

The Apaches (9-1-1 and 2-0 in league) bolted ahead 7-5 in the seventh when senior Deja Westbrook drilled a single to left with one out. Westbrook moved to second base on a grounder by senior Helena Simpson.

Burbank’s infield defense was solid against the Apaches. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

A clanging double to left center by freshman Morgan Howey (two hits) scored Westbrook and Howey crossed the plate when senior Karly Gills roped a base hit to center field.

Burbank evened it at 5-5 with a run in the sixth inning as sophomore Lily Stell clubbed a long one-out triple to right center, and Garelick’s grounder drove in the run.

The Apaches opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Simpson’s single up the middle scored sophomore Averi Wong, who singled to left field with one out.

The Bulldogs tied it at 1-1 in the first inning when Davis led off with a booming triple to right center and crossed the plate on a sacrifice bunt from senior Amaya Broyls.

“I think our hitting is what drives us,” Broyls said. “When we’re hitting line drives in the gap, and when we’re getting good hits off her, it gives us a lot momentum and that’s what helps us.”

Broyls then added: It’s been hard with all the rain and we’ve been trying to practice and some girls have been hurt,” she said. “Being a catcher. Being a senior. Being a captain. There’s a lot of pressure and I feel like I need to lead the team along with the other captains. We have the younger players. We all need to step up and do our job.”

A two-run third inning by Arcadia made it 3-1 as Westbrook lined an inside-the-park homer to center field that plated Wong, who was safe on a force out.

The Apaches’ advantage became 5-1 in the fifth inning when Wong’s triple to right center knocked home sophomore Delaney Prater (two hits), who doubled to left center and Westbrook’s grounder scored Wong.

Burroughs, Burbank Softball Primed For Something Special

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By Rick Assad

 

Because of the talent available, it would seem that if the Burbank High and Burroughs softball teams don’t qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, its respective seasons will not be considered very successful.

Burbank is coming off a campaign in which it went 16-12 overall and 10-4 for third place in the Pacific League.

It’s all for one and one for all as the Bulldogs ready for the Pacific League season. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Bulldogs played in a Division IV wild-card match against Norwalk and fell 4-2.

Burroughs went 14-5-1 and 12-2 for second in league and after defeating Bonita 2-0 in a Division III opening-round game, lost to Redlands 4-0 in the second round.

“I believe that we’ll do fairly well this year,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said. “I brought up a few new girls from the JV. Overall we should be pretty successful, but softball is the way it is and you never know how the ball is going to go.”

The Indians are gunning for another CIF Southern Section playoff appearance. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Tanigawa is optimistic about this squad.

“These girls that we have are a really good core group. They work together. They pick each other up,” he noted.

Tanigawa also likes that the team doesn’t rely on one aspect of the game.

“I don’t really necessarily see one thing as our strength,” he pointed out. “We’ve lost our star pitcher [Presley Miraglia]. We have pitching. I’ve got a freshman who is looking really good. I brought up a few girls with hopefully a couple of bats.”

To date, Burroughs lost to Newbury Park 8-0 in the Suzanne Manlet Tournament and collected a 3-2 victory over San Fernando in the same tourney.

The Indians begin league play on March 5 when Pasadena makes a visit and will host Burbank on March 29 and travel to the Bulldogs on April 25.

Beside Miraglia, other key performers that graduated includes outfielder Hannah Talavera and second baseman Nikki Ricciardella.

The most valued commodity is always pitching and the Bulldogs, who lost Allie Benson to graduation, have a good one in senior Alyssa Porras.

Infield play is always vital, so the Bulldogs practice being perfect. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Mike Delaney, the Burbank coach, thinks this should be a productive season.

“If we play to our ability, and we have some kids that step up, we can compete with anybody,” h said. “Our kids don’t shy away from competing with anybody. We play a tough tournament schedule because it helps us in league. CV is probably the team to beat this year.”

Like Tanigawa, Delaney is also optimistic.

“If we play the way we can, we’re a top three team for sure,” he said. “If we play even better than that, we can be a top two. I’m not discounting this team from anything.”

Burbank has lost to Louisville 6-4 in the Hart Tournament and fell to Calabasas 6-4 in the same tourney. The Bulldogs commence league action on March 5 when they host Glendale.

Backing up Porras, who worked many innings in 2018, and will be asked to toe the rubber for 200 innings this season, will be junior Savannah Benson, Allie’s younger sister.

Chloe Bookmyer will be asked to be a team leader for the Indians. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

A key member will be senior Alex Davis, who will be the primary shortstop.

Senior Amaya Broyls, a member of the volleyball team, will see the majority of the time behind the plate for Burbank, which lost to graduation first baseman Erin Lashkari, infielder/outfielder Anysia Gonzalez and outfielder/second baseman Macie Jensen.

Senior Nikki Davis and senior Carly Oldfield will battle for first base.

Senior Desiree Gomez is the primary third baseman and will relieve Broyls on occasion as the catcher.

Sophomore Erika Montoya, who played on the basketball team, will play second base.

Burbank is aiming for the top spot in the Pacific League after finishing third last season. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank’s outfield will include senior Sarah Garelick in left field, senior Izzy Sanchez in right field and sophomore Victoria Sanchez in center field.

The rest of the team includes senior Emily Monterrey, who also played on the basketball team, will play at first and third base and act as the designated player.

Senior Siena Fagiani will be used in a utility role and designated player, while freshman Bella Scozzola will play first base, third base and the outfield.

Junior Tiffany Estrada will see time in the outfield and be used as a utility player. Junior Jordyn Rivero will play in the outfield, utility and designated player, and freshman Elizabeth Zamora will play in the outfield, designated player and utility.

The Indians go over infield practice knowing its value. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Indians have four starting pitchers and they will need to at least come close to what Miraglia, a member of the Long Beach State women’s softball team, accomplished in her stellar career.

The two with the most experience in the circle are junior Sidnie Dabaddie and junior Isabella Kam.

The other two hurlers are sophomore Dyani Del Castillo, who played on the basketball team and freshman Kelsey Acosta.

The catching chore will fall upon the dependable shoulders of senior Megan Williams.

The projected infield for Burroughs will have senior Sierra Harvey at first base, senior Morgan Mersola at second base, sophomore Alyssa Valenzuela at shortstop and junior Memorie Munoz at third base.

The Indians’ outfield will consist of senior Hannah Skinner in left field, senior Mia Storer in center field and junior Chloe Bookmyer, the league’s Most Valuable Player Hitter, in right field.

The rest of the lineup will have senior Jillian Kukawski, also a member of the basketball team at third base, senior Lauryn Valenzuela at shortstop, senior Citlali Mendez at shortstop, junior Sami Fiorella in the infield and catcher and sophomore Kaitlyn Cisneros in the infield and utility.

Burroughs Softball Loses 4-0 Decision In CIF Second Round

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By Rick Assad

 

On three occasions, the Burroughs High softball team collected two hits in an inning against Redlands East Valley, but failed to score each time.

In part, this was its undoing as the Wildcats tamed the Indians 4-0 in a CIF Southern Section Division III second-round playoff game at Olive Park on Tuesday.

Burroughs was outhit 10-8 by Redlands East Valley, who often looked to hit the first pitch from senior pitcher Presley Miraglia, but timely hits by the Indians would have likely scored runs.

The Indians collected eight hits but no runs in a CIF second-round playoff loss to Redlands East Valley. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We missed some key plays,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said. “We missed bunts we couldn’t get down. If you make mistakes, you’ll get cancelled out. Our key hitters couldn’t get key hits and that put us in a bind.”

In the third inning, after junior Megan Williams struck out, sophomore Memorie Munoz singled to center field and junior Kaitlin Escamilla was safe on a force out.

Senior Hannah Talavera, who will attend Channel Islands College and perhaps play softball, blooped a base hit to right field, but sophomore Chloe Bookmyer grounded out to third base.

“I had an amazing career. It was an amazing journey. Sophomore year was my favorite,” Talavera said. “I love my teammates. We’ve always had a great time. This is a good team to end it with.”

Talavera then looked at the game. “It was a total team loss. All of us couldn’t produce as a team,” she noted. “There were hits made. There were catches not made. As a team, we were off.”

The Indians (14-5-1) once again had two runners on base via hits in the fourth inning. Miraglia led off by grounding out to shortstop, but junior Mia Storer, who is fast on her feet, was safe on an infield single.

Presley Miraglia ended her four-year stint with a 4-0 setback. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

On the play, the shortstop’s throw slipped slightly past the first baseman, and Storer made a move to run to second base and was subsequently tagged out.

Senior Jessica Amaya rifled a hit to left field, but senior Nikki Ricciardella, who will study at the University of Arizona, grounded out to shortstop.

In the sixth inning, after Talavera grounded out to shortstop, Bookmyer singled to right field, but was erased when Miraglia, who will play at Cal State Long Beach on a softball scholarship, bounced into a force out.

Junior Hannah Skinner came in as a pinch runner and moved to third base on junior Sierra Harvey’s single to right center.

Amaya, who will attend either Cal State Long Beach and not play softball or Mission College, where she will play, struck out to end the threat.

In the seventh, sophomore Isabella Kam opened up the frame with an infield single for the Indians, but was erased after being caught in a run down.

Senior Eva Harvey, who went the distance for the Wildcats while striking out nine, fanned sophomore pinch hitter Sami Fiorella and junior pinch hitter, senior Kaylee Vigil, who will attend Northern Arizona, to end the game.

The Wildcats struck in the first frame against Miraglia, who ended her highly decorated four-year pitching career.

Sophomore Kailie McKee singled to left field with one out and Harvey’s two-out double to left field made it 1-0.

“That’s one of our things that we started from the time we got going,” Redlands East Valley coach Debbie Garcia said. “Aggressive and attack. When you attack, you select the pitches.”

Amaya White steals third base in the second inning while Memorie Munoz waits for the ball. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

In the fifth, Redlands East Valley (22-7) sent seven batters to the plate that included a run-scoring triple to left field by McKee that plated junior Autumn Bennett (three hits), who was safe on a one-out single to right.

Redlands East Valley’s advantage swelled to 3-0 in the same stanza on a run-tallying hit by Harvey as McKee scored.

The Wildcats tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Miraglia yielded three hits including a run-producing single to left field by senior Shelby Arbeiter as Bennett, who led off with a single up the middle, scored to make it 4-0.

Miraglia, who retired the side in order only once, in the sixth inning, escaped trouble in the second when sophomore Amaya White led off and reached on an error.

“I see a lot of improvement. I’m not dissatisfied. I look back and I’m thankful,” said Miraglia, who struck out five with one hit batter over seven innings.

Miraglia then added: “This game, we had a lot more errors than normal. I think I probably could have pitched off the plate a little more, but I was trying to get the out and it worked a majority of the time,” she pointed out.

White then stole second and third base as the Wildcats finished with four stolen bases, but was stranded when Miraglia induced freshman MacKenzie San Pedro to pop up and then struck out junior Samantha Carson and senior Julia Salomon.

In the third inning, Bennett led off with a single to left field and McKee’s sacrifice bunt moved Bennett to second base. Arbeiter popped up to Miraglia and Harvey grounded out to close the threat.

Junior Madison Ferro (two hits) doubled down the left-field line to start the fourth inning, but White bounced back to Miraglia, while San Pedro struck out swinging and Carson flied out to right.

Burbank Softball Held In Check 4-2 By Norwalk In CIF Wild-Card Match

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By Rick Assad

 

Facing probably the best pitcher this season, the Burbank High softball team would have to be picture perfect.

Daunting as this challenge was, there wasn’t a lack of confidence, but this only goes so far.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Bulldogs were put in a stranglehold by Norwalk senior hurler Breanna Vasquez, who held Burbank to three hits, striking out a season-best 16 batters with one walk and one hit batter over seven innings en route to a 4-2 win at McCambridge Park in a CIF Southern Section Division IV wild-card game.

The Lancers (11-10) did all their scoring in the first inning off junior Alyssa Porras, who gave up an infield single to Vasquez, the leadoff hitter.

Alyssa Porras allowed four runs in the first inning in a CIF wild-card loss to visiting Norwalk. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

When sophomore Brianna Nunez (two hits) clubbed a run-scoring double down the left-field line, Vasquez scored.

Senior Samantha Campos was hit by a pitch and freshman Estefania Perez was safe on the first of two errors in the frame.

Sophomore Angelina Perez hit back to the box and was retired at first base and sophomore Destanie Cervantes (two hits) popped up for the second out.

Junior Destiny Ochoa made it to first base on an error, but was out at second base for the third out.

“When we get down that quickly and by that much in the game, it’s really hard to get back up and start getting that energy to score more,” said Porras, who went seven innings, yielding five hits with two strikeouts and one walk. “At the end we did, but not that much.”

Porras said the team felt good coming into the game. “I think we were thinking about winning,” she said. “But it was harder to focus today because we really wanted to be in the playoffs and we had a really good season.”

Fleet-footed center fielder Alex Davis made a spectacular play in the third inning. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

The Bulldogs (16-12) shaved the advantage to 4-1 with a run in the fifth inning as junior Sarah Garelick was nicked by an offering from Vasquez with one out.

Senior Bene Snyder’s grounder moved Garelick to second base and Garelick later scored on an error.

Burbank’s second run came in the seventh when junior Desi Gomez laced a one-out single to right field which prompted junior Carly Oldfield to enter as a pinch runner.

After senior Erin Lashkari fanned for the second out, Snyder ripped a base hit up the middle as Oldfield crossed the plate that made it a two-run deficit.

Sophomore Katie Treadway then fanned to end the game and the season for the Bulldogs.

“We just didn’t come out in that first inning, because like I told the team, the first inning is just as important as the seventh inning,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said.

Still Delaney was pleased with the effort despite the setback. “About two years ago we started implementing a team-first mentality,” he said. “It took hold this year and our seniors did a phenomenal job of instilling this to our underclassmen. Overall it’s the way we played ball. We never gave up. We got two outs and we’re battling.”

Senior third baseman Bene Snyder shows off her throwing arm in a wild-card match against the Lancers. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Delaney then added: “I think the girls understand what it takes to be successful. I think for us as a program we’ve got to stop looking at beating Burroughs as our championship,” he said. “It’s just an emotional game. How do we move on with a win or loss to Burroughs?”

Vasquez was in charge from the outset.

“The first couple innings I was feeling really confident. The last couple of innings I was a little nervous, but my team has my back,” said Vasquez, who will play softball at Central Florida.

There was tension in the seventh inning because the Bulldogs had runners on first and second base.

“I was thinking I didn’t want any more people to advance,” Vasquez said. “So I wanted to take it pitch by pitch and make sure I got ahead of the batters and got the strikes in.”

Vasquez came out gunning in the opening stanza as she struck out senior Macie Jensen and junior Amaya Broyls.

Vasquez then surrendered an opposite field triple to right by junior Alex Davis, but fanned senior Anysia Gonzalez.

Vasquez worked a perfect second frame after striking out Gomez and Lashkari and getting Garelick to line out to second base.

The third inning was another 1-2-3 affair for Vasquez as Snyder, Treadway and Jensen all fanned.

Vasquez struck out the side in the fourth as Broyls was retired catcher to first base, Davis looking and Gomez swinging, but issued her only walk to Gonzalez, the third hitter of the inning.

Another perfect inning came in the sixth for Vasquez, who induced Jensen and Broyls to ground out to third base and Davis to fly out to center field.

Burbank Softball Rallies For 4-3 Win Over Host Burroughs

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By Rick Assad

 

A two-run first inning by the Burroughs High softball team was met with full backing by the home crowd at Olive Park on Thursday night.

Slowly but surely, Burbank chipped away at the lead, eventually evened it and in the top of the eighth scored the go-ahead and winning run as the Bulldogs earned a 4-3 victory in the Pacific League regular-season finale.

Alex Davis led off the frame with a single to right field. Up stepped senior Anysia Gonzalez, who dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt that advanced Davis to second base.

But the bunt hit the ground hard and caromed high into the air. Seeing this, the very speedy Davis pulled into third base.

Hannah Talavera’s two-run homer came in the first inning, but the Indians lost 4-3 to the Bulldogs. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Junior Desi Gomez, who singled up the middle with one out in the second, was the next batter and promptly grounded to second base which plated Davis to make it 4-3.

“I’m just lucky that I did this today,” said Davis, a junior of the winning run. “I noticed that they weren’t covering third and I wanted to take advantage of the mistakes and it ended up working.”

In the home half of the inning and facing junior Alyssa Porras, who surrendered 11 hits with a hit batter and two strikeouts across eight frames, senior Nikki Ricciardella popped up to shortstop.

Sophomore Memorie Munoz struck out looking, but junior Kaitlin Escamilla was safe on an error.

When senior Hannah Talavera fouled out to shortstop behind the third base bag, the game and victory was sealed.

Burbank third baseman Bene Snyder gets the ball over to first base. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Burroughs threatened to win it in the seventh inning when sophomore Chloe Bookmyer and senior Presley Miraglia each singled with one out.

But senior Jessica Amaya and junior Megan Williams each popped up to shortstop.

The Indians (13-4-1 and 12-2 for second place in league) sprinted to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame when Escamilla reached on an infield single.

Talavera then found a pitch she could handle and lined it down the left-field line and was able to circle the bases and touch home plate.

Junior Mia Storer blooped a base hit to left field. Bookmyer (three hits) also reach base on a bloop single to center field.

Miraglia lined to center field, Amaya was safe on a force out and Williams popped up to shortstop.

Burroughs senior Presley Miraglia took the 4-3 loss to Burbank. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Burroughs made it 3-0 with a tally in the fourth as Munoz singled up the middle with one out.

Escamilla then bounced back to Porras as Munoz went to second base.

A wild pitch saw Munoz advance to third base and when Talavera was safe on an error, Munoz scored.

“We just couldn’t come out and pull the trigger,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said. “We just didn’t do what we needed to do. We had hits early. I don’t know if they got overconfident. Or that Presley was going to shut them down.”

The Bulldogs (16-11 and 10-4 for third place in league) sliced the lead to one run with a two-run fifth as senior Macie Jensen clubbed a two-out, two-run homer that found the right center field gap.

“We’re hitting. Something’s going to fall,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said. “The way we’re hitting, it’s just a matter of time. It’s a good win going in to [the CIF playoffs]. To keep their focus is just phenomenal.”

The Bulldogs managed only six hits off Miraglia, but scored four runs. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Burbank evened it at 3-3 with a run in the sixth as Gonzalez (two hits) bashed a one-out triple to center field.

Delaney was extremely pleased with the quick-thinking Davis.

“We’ve been practicing that over the last few weeks,” Delaney noted of the intelligent base running of Davis. “Just working on being aggressive on the bases. It’s available once a game. It’s just a straight read on her part.”

Gomez then bunted back to Miraglia, and was safe on a fielder’s choice, but when she flipped the ball a little too high for Williams, the catcher, to handle, Gonzalez found the plate and it was level at 3-3.

Miraglia pitched well enough, but was loser after toiling eight innings, allowing six hits with three strikeouts.

The Indians could have scored in the second inning, but didn’t as Munoz was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second base and third base on an error.

Munoz remained there as Talavera popped up to shortstop and Storer lined out to center field.

In the third, Bookmyer led off with a single to left field and Miraglia (three hits) singled to right field, but Amaya bounced into a double play and Williams lined to third base.

In the fifth, Miraglia singled up the middle with one out and junior pinch runner Hannah Skinner went to second base on an error and third base on an infield single by Williams.

When Ricciardella hit into a double play, the inning and threat came to a conclusion.

Junior Amaya Broyls led off the fourth inning for the Bulldogs with a single, and moved to second base on Gonzalez’s one-out base hit.

Neither scored as Davis and Gomez fanned and senior Erin Lashkari flied out to right field.

Burroughs Softball Claims 2-1 Win Over Crescenta Valley

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By Rick Assad

 

Up to this point, the two best softball teams in the Pacific League are Burroughs High and Crescenta Valley.

On Tuesday at Olive Park, the two met and with perhaps the memory of an earlier setback to the Falcons in mind, the Indians were determined to even the score.

One difference from that initial meeting that saw Burroughs lose 9-0, was senior Presley Miraglia wasn’t in the circle.

The Indians managed only four hits, but defeated the Falcons 2-1. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

This time Miraglia was and it mattered as the Indians edged the Falcons 2-1 and snapped their 15-game winning streak as the right-handed ace limited Crescenta Valley to six hits and one run with five strikeouts and one walk across seven innings.

The Indians and Falcons are in a flat-footed tie for the league lead and have five games remaining.

The Falcons led 1-0 on freshman Dee Dee Hernandez’s leadoff homer that found the gap in right center in the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Indians (9-3-1 and 8-1 in league) responded with a two-run frame as junior Mia Storer laced a one-out single to right field.

Burroughs’ defense kept the game close and helped the Indians prevail over Crescenta Valley. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The next batter was sophomore Chloe Bookmyer, who then ripped a hard-hit single to left field off Hernandez that went through freshman Morgan Eng’s legs for a three-base error as Storer and Bookmyer both raced home for a 2-1 lead.

“Considering what she pitched me the first game. She pitched me high inside so I was kind of expecting that inside pitch,” Bookmyer said of her key at-bat. “Inside is not usually my happiest pitch to get, but I buckled down. I turned on it and it ended up being a really good hit.”

Burroughs Coach Wes Tanigawa knew it would be close considering the two tied for first place last season.

Third baseman Memorie Munoz had three outstanding defensive plays including the game-saving catch for the final out. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“They’ve got good hitters in there. So I never counted them out,” he said. “I had in the back of my mind, what if they get a hit? It was going to come down to who made the most errors.”

Tanigawa said the defense, which wasn’t perfect and committed one miscue, was a factor in the win.

“Our defense was spot on. We had a couple of errors here and there,” he said. “We have a good pitcher. They have a good pitcher. It was going to be a pitch-fest. Presley brings a new dimension when she pitches.”

Hernandez took the loss after touring six frames, allowing four hits, fanning two and hitting a batter.

This pitch is high from CV’s Dee Dee Hernandez, who gave up two runs. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Hernandez then nicked Miraglia, but senior Jessica Amaya grounded out and junior Megan Williams lined out to second base.

In the fifth, the Falcons (19-2 and 8-1 in league) had a runner at second base with two out in the form of junior Alyssa Hernandez, who singled to center and later swiped second base.

Miraglia walked sophomore Natalie Bitetti, but induced Dee Dee Hernandez to ground out to third baseman, sophomore Memorie Munoz, who made a terrific stop and gunned the ball over to first baseman Bookmyer.

The sixth inning opened with sophomore Maddie De Leon grounding out to Munoz, who made another spectacular play.

Junior Peyton Hause flied out and junior Kristy Taix reached base on an error. Miraglia then struck out freshman Stephanie Wichman swinging.

The dramatic seventh inning began with freshman Devon Medina grounding out to Bookmyer.

Eng then stuck out swinging, but Alyssa Hernandez tripled to left field and stood at third base as the tying run.

Up stepped Bitetti, who hit a fairly-hard liner that looked like it was destined for left field, but Munoz leaped as high as she could and snared the ball which secured the victory.

“I know I couldn’t let it fall. The game would have been tied,” Munoz said of the game’s final out. “Who knows what would have happened?”

Munoz said the team was determined to come out strong. “We just wanted to play inning by inning,” she noted. “We still have to play our best. We’ve just gotta make our plays. We all just wanted to come out and win this game.”

Miraglia gave up a leadoff infield single to Alyssa Hernandez in the first. Bitetti’s sacrifice bunt moved her to second base, but Dee Dee Hernandez popped up to Munoz and fanned De Leon looking.

Hause opened the second inning with an infield single. Taix sacrificed her to second base, however, Wichman flied out and Medina grounded out.

Miraglia worked a perfect third as she fanned Eng swinging, while Alyssa Hernandez flied out and Bitetti popped up.

“They made the key plays and we didn’t,” Crescenta Valley coach Amanda Peek said. “We played hard. We didn’t have the timely hit and the key plays. The game was won on an error.”

Senior Hannah Talavera had an infield single in the first inning and Miraglia singled to right field in the sixth for the other Indians’ hits.

Burbank Softball Loses 15-10 Slugfest To Arcadia

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By Rick Assad

 

When it comes to hitting, pitching and defense, the Burbank High softball team excelled in one when it met Arcadia on Thursday afternoon at McCambridge Park in a Pacific League match.

The Apaches were slightly better in three and as a result walked away with a 15-10 decision.

“We didn’t have it defensively or pitching-wise today,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said. “Both of our pitchers struggled today hitting their spots and our defense wasn’t there to pick them up.”

Delaney went on: “Neither one happened today,” he said. “We were flat-footed today.”

The Bulldogs, who were coming off an 11-0 victory over host Glendale two days earlier, managed 13 hits.

Alyssa Porras, shown in a recent Pacific League game against Burroughs, went four innings and allowed 10 hits to Arcadia, which won 15-10. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Leading the charge was junior Desi Gomez, who accounted for three hits that included two triples and a single.

Senior Anysia Gonzalez had a triple and a single and sophomore Katie Treadway finished with a triple and a single.

Senior Macie Jensen added a double and a single and senior Bene Snyder smashed a double and a single.

Delaney said that mental mistakes really hurt. “I think we probably gave them six or seven runs today,” Delaney noted. “I told them that if we score 10 runs, we should win the game. I didn’t think we were prepared.”

Arcadia (7-8 and 4-4 in league) scored in five of the seven innings and collected 16 hits while Burbank (9-8 and 5-3 in league) also scored runs in five innings.

The Apaches scored three runs off senior pitcher Allie Benson in the first as senior Susan Harrison (four hits) belted a one-out, bases-clearing triple to left center.

Benson, who toured three innings, yielding six hits, striking out one and hitting one batter, escaped any further damage by getting junior Karly Gillis, who singled in the seventh, to hit into a double play.

The Bulldogs cut the edge to 3-1 as Gonzalez tripled in junior Sarah Garelick, who was safe on a fielder’s choice in the first inning.

Bene Snyder, shown in a recent game against Crescenta Valley, had a single and a double versus the Apaches. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

When junior Alex Davis lined a ball delivered by freshman Sophia Garzona over the left field fence for a two-run homer, it was knotted at 3-3.

Garzona toiled seven innings, hit a batter and fanned a batter and allowed seven extra-base hits.

Arcadia, which banged out 16 hits including four extra-base hits, made it 6-3 in the second inning when junior Megan Lau (three hits) delivered a run-scoring infield single.

Freshman Averi Wong (two triples) tossed in a smash back to Benson that scored a run and the other run scored via an error.

Burbank shaved Arcadia’s lead to 6-5 with two runs in the second as Gomez’s triple to right center drove in Treadway, who led off with a three-base hit to right center.

It became a one-run affair on Jensen’s one-out, base hit to left field that brought home Gomez.

Arcadia’s lead became 9-5 with a three-run fourth off junior Alyssa Porras, who worked four innings, allowing 10 hits with two hit batters, a walk and a strikeout, as Wong clubbed a two-run triple to center field and senior Nicole Puente added a sacrifice fly.

With a four-run fifth, Arcadia’s advantage swelled to 13-5 as junior Dejah Westbrook (four hits) knocked in a run with a single.

Wong’s triple brought in a pair of runs and Harrison’s single to center field added a run.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the fifth inning that made it 13-6 as Gonzalez, who singled up the middle with two out, eventually crossed the plate on an error.

Arcadia’s final two runs came in the sixth as seven came to bat with only Lau getting a single.

The inning was prolonged by two Burbank errors as the Bulldogs finished with four miscues compared to three for the Apaches.

Burbank shaved the lead to 15-7 with a tally in the sixth inning as Jensen’s double to left field scored a run.

Burbank tacked on three runs in the seventh inning as Gomez tripled to right center for two runs and Gomez came around on an error.

Senior Erin Lashkari also had a base hit for the Bulldogs that came with two out in the seventh inning.

 

Burroughs Softball Gets Past Host Burbank 1-0

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By Rick Assad

 

A genuine duel broke out as senior Presley Miraglia and junior Alyssa Porras matched skills in the pitcher’s circle in a Pacific League match on Thursday.

Inning after inning, neither allowed a run until the fourth when an unearned tally crossed the plate, but that was enough for Miraglia as Burroughs High edged Burbank 1-0 on a windy night at McCambridge Park.

“This type of game, it’s basically going to be, whoever is going to make the first major error to get that run across,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said of the tight battle. “That’s what it’s going to come down to.”

Presley Miraglia went seven innings, allowed four hits with 13 strikeouts as the Indians won 1-0 over host Burbank. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

That fateful frame began when Porras retired senior Hannah Talavera on a fly to left field.

Junior Mia Storer singled to center field and sophomore Chloe Bookmyer flied to left.

Miraglia, who was making her second start of the season after getting her grade-point average in order, singled up the middle as Storer took second base.

Senior Jessica Amaya reached on an error as Storer took third and scored to make it 1-0.

Porras then induced junior Megan Williams to fly out to right field that ended the inning.

Miraglia was sharp, allowing four hits across seven innings, striking out 13 and issuing no walks.

“Errors happen. I didn’t think we had a problem fielding,” said Miraglia of the bottom half of the initial inning.

Burbank hurler Alyssa Porras gave up one unearned run in the fourth inning to Burroughs. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Miraglia was on the money with her pitches and felt confident.

“I felt a lot stronger today,” she said. “I was working on my spin. I was always taught to put my changeup later. I like to go to my changeup later in the game.”

Porras also went seven frames, fanning three and yielding seven hits with no walks.

“We’re usually a pretty solid defensive team,” Burbank coach Mike Delaney said of the fourth inning. “You have to rebound. It’s part of the game. I’ll take our infield against anybody.”

Delaney then added: “A lot of our scoring opportunities came with two out,” he said. “When you get to two outs, it takes away a lot of your offense. We worked hard to pass the bat through our lineup. Presley pitched a good game, but we chased.”

Miraglia retired the side 1-2-3 in the third, fourth and sixth innings and struck out 10 after five frames.

The game began with Talavera reaching base on a wind-assisted infield single as the popup wasn’t fielded.

Burbank’s Sarah Garelick, who singled in the fifth and stole second, tries to lay down a bunt. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Storer then lined out to right field and Bookmyer bounced into an inning-ending double play.

The Bulldogs (8-7 and 4-2 in league) sent five to the plate in the first as junior Amaya Broyls singled to left field with one out.

Junior Sarah Garelick laid down a sacrifice bunt as Broyls went to second and then third base after senior Anysia Gonzalez was safe on an error.

Miraglia, who has shown no rust after missing the early portion of the schedule, has 21 strikeouts in 14 innings, struck out senior Macie Jensen to end the threat.

Porras set down the Indians (6-3-1 and 5-1 in league) in order in the second as Miraglia grounded out and Amaya fanned looking while Williams grounded out.

Miraglia struck out senior Erin Lashkari and senior Bene Snyder to begin the second inning.

Junior Desi Gomez then reached an a wind-helped infield pop, but the frame concluded when sophomore Katie Treadway struck out swinging.

Runs were hard to come by with Presley Miraglia and Alyssa Porras in the circle. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Porras was brilliant in the third as senior Nikki Riccardella popped up, junior Citlali Mendez grounded out and sophomore Memorie Munoz struck out.

Miraglia answered as she set down the Bulldogs in order, fanning junior Alex Davis, then getting Broyls and Garelick on infield popups.

It was more of the same in the fourth for Burbank as Gonzalez fanned, while Jensen flied out to right field and Lashkari popped up.

The Indians went down 1-2-3 in the fifth as Riccardella popped up, Mendez flied out to center field and Munoz grounded out.

The bottom of the fifth inning saw Miraglia strike out the side as Snyder went down looking, Gomez swinging and Davis swinging.

Treadway, the third batter in the frame, singled to left center and stole second base.

Six batters trotted to the plate in the sixth for the Indians with Talavera getting a leadoff single to right center. Storer was safe on an error and Bookmyer singled up the middle.

Porras retired Miraglia on a liner back to the box, Amaya reached on a force out and Williams lined out to left field.

The Bulldogs did nothing against Miraglia in the sixth as Broyls grounded out, Garelick lined out to right field and Gonzalez struck out swinging.

Pinch hitter, junior Kaitlin Escamilla, singled to right field for the Indians in the seventh, but sophomore Isabella Kam, a pinch hitter, struck out.

Munoz fouled out to the catcher, Talavera singled up the middle for her third hit, but Storer grounded out.

Miraglia faced four hitters in the seventh as Jansen fanned looking, Lashkari then singled to right center.

Pinch hitter, senior Allie Benson, struck out swinging and Gomez flied out to right field in foul territory for the final out.

Burroughs Softball Holds Off Visiting Arcadia 3-2

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By Rick Assad

 

Presley Miraglia made her season debut in the pitching circle for the Burroughs High softball team a memorable one.

The senior right-hander handcuffed Arcadia 3-2 in a Pacific League match at Olive Park on Tuesday and also escaped a tricky seventh inning when the Apaches had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

With one out, Miraglia induced junior Dejah Westbrook to bounce back to the box and senior Susan Harrison then popped up for the final out.

Presley Miraglia, shown in a game against Burbank, made her seasonal debut a success with a 3-2 win over visiting Arcadia. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

In that frame, freshman Caitlyn Shen led off with an infield single.

Junior Leah Silva’s sacrifice bunt moved Shen to second base and a throwing error saw Shen dash to third base.

When freshman Averi Wong (two hits) singled to right field, the Indians’ lead was sliced to 3-2.

Miraglia, who missed the early portion of the schedule because of grades, was able to successfully raise her grade-point average and became eligible last week.

“I wasn’t really nervous today. I was just really excited to be back,” Miraglia said. “I came back just thinking, okay, I’m just going to be here for the team.”

Miraglia was asked if she gave much thought to the seventh inning? “I try not to think about that,” she said. “I’m just focusing on the batter.”

On Tuesday, Miraglia ventured seven innings, surrendering seven hits, striking out eight, walking one and hitting a batter.

“[Pres]ley coming back out, that’s just a help for everybody,” Burroughs coach Wes Tanigawa said of his ace hurler who has been offered a softball scholarship to Long Beach State. “She came through with her timely pitches and got key outs when we really needed them.”

Tanigawa added: “That was the big thing. They were making hits,” he said. “They were good hits and one bad pitch. All it’s going to take was one good hit.”

Presley Miraglia, shown in a CIF Southern Section playoff game from last year, wiggled out of a seventh-inning jam when the Apaches had the tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Indians (5-3-1 and 4-1 in league) struck early against freshman Sophia Garzona, who allowed seven hits, one walk, one strikeout and one hit batter across six innings.

Senior Hannah Talavera reached base on an infield hit and junior Mia Storer lined a single to left field.

Miraglia popped up for the initial out, but sophomore Chloe Bookmyer singled to right center as Talavera scored to make it 1-0 in the first inning.

Senior Jessica Amaya then laced a single to center field as Storer crossed the plate for a 2-0 edge.

In the second inning, the lead swelled to 3-0 as sophomore Memorie Munoz walked with one out.

After Talavera bounced to second base for the second out, Storer’s two-base hit to left field scored Munoz.

The Apaches (5-7 and 2-3 in league) finally found the scoreboard in the sixth inning as Westbrook led off with a single to right center.

When Harrison flied to right field, senior Nicole Puente (three hits) followed with a double to left field that made it 3-1.

“Play with heart and be competitive and stay in the game,” Arcadia coach Richard Klumpp said of his team motto.

Klumpp was more than satisfied with his young pitcher. “She battled. She’s playing with the big girls. I just give her 100 percent support,” he said. “I’m really proud of her. She’s the heartbeat of the team.”

Miraglia had five strikeouts through three innings and worked a perfect first inning that included striking out Wong.

Miraglia faced four batters in the second as Puente singled to left with one out, but then fanned junior Karly Gillis and junior Helena Simpson.

Miraglia saw five batters in the third frame, striking out Garzona and junior Leah Silva.

In the fourth inning, Miraglia hit leadoff hitter Harrison and gave up a base hit to Puente, but retired Gillis on a pop up, Simpson on a grounder and struck out Garzona.

Miraglia went 1-2-3 in the fifth inning as Silva struck out looking, Lau popped up and Wong grounded out.