Bulldogs begin the post-Melissa Sanchez Era this spring

A new voice will be leading the Burbank Bulldogs softball program as former Immaculate Heart head coach Javier Rojas has been named the new head softball coach of the Bulldogs heading into the post-Melissa Sanchez Era this spring. Rojas is entering his 15th season coaching softball with stops at Marlborough High and Immaculate Heart. Rojas spent three seasons as Marlborough’s softball and basketball director and four years at Immaculate Heart as assistant and head varsity coach. While at Immaculate Heart, Rojas posted an 18-35 overall record and a league record of 8-13. In his last season with the Pandas, Immaculate Heart finished the 2024 season with a record of 0-15 overall and a 0-7 record in the Sunshine League. 

The coaching staff under Javier Rojas will feature Orasio “Tacho” Orozco (Head Junior Varsity Coach) and Christina Lenoard (Varsity Assistant Coach). Orozco is a holdover from last year’s staff, while Lenoard comes with plenty of coaching experience with stops at Pasadena High and Crescenta Valley High before joining the Burbank Bulldogs Softball staff. Leonard was a one-time softball player at her high school alma mater Pasadena. 

The players that will be on the lookout under Rojas are sophomore Chloe Updike (outfielder), junior Kayla Orozco (infielder/pitcher) along with seniors Madison Kellogg (pitcher/Cal Baptist commit) Samantha Cafferty (infielder/pitcher), Charlie Barnett (infielder/outfielder). 

“I’m excited about this opportunity, I’ve heard about Burbank softball for a while and how competitive they are, but Burbank is a softball town.” said the new Bulldogs coach. Rojas admitted that he’s looking forward to working with Chloe Updike, with whom he has familiarity from coaching her on the Crescenta Valley United fall ball team. He also mentioned that he also has ties to current sophomore utility player Kassandra Davila from CV United. Rojas added that he’s super excited to work with senior superstar pitcher and Cal Baptist commit Maddison Kellogg, who is expected to have a fantastic senior year in the pitcher’s circle; but he also said that the team will need to back her up with effective hitting and elite defense behind her. 

“We’re very excited to welcome coach Rojas to the Burbank High School family, he’s a long-time coach in the sport and is well known in the community,” said Burbank High Athletic Director Allison McKain. McKain stated that when she called Javier Rojas about the hire he was in Washington for softball nationals. She also stated that the team will have a weight room and track schedule in the fall before the team hits the dirt in the spring semester. 

The Bulldogs will spend the entire fall semester conditioning for the 2025 season and wramp up for the first game of the season in February.