Bulldogs looking to contend for a Pacific League title this year 

The Burbank Bulldogs are beginning a new era when the 2025 season begins as the Javier Rojas regime officially guides the Bulldogs to the post-Melissa Sanchez era. Sanchez stepped down as head softball coach of the Bulldogs over the summer. Last season the Bulldogs finished with a 12-13 record overall and a 4th place finish in the Pacific League with a 5-2 record resulting in another CIF Southern Section Playoff appearance. The Bulldogs lost 12-2 in the CIF Southern Section Division IV Playoffs to Paraclete in the opening round.

The coaching staff under Rojas will feature Isabella (Bella) Orozco (Head Junior Varsity Coach), and Daniella Morris Simokovic (Varsity Assistant Coach). Christian Leonard and Orasio Tacho Orozco were supposed to be part of the staff for Burbank but ultimately decided to move on to other things. Morris Simokovic was expected to step aside from her coaching duties for personal reasons but has decided to return for another season on the staff as the only holdover from last year’s coaching staff. Bella Orozco is the only newcomer added to the staff. 

The players to look out for in the new season under Rojas will be senior Maddison Kellogg (reigning Pacific League’s co-pitcher of the year/team captain/Cal Baptist commit) along with fellow senior captains Charley Barnett (first base, third base, outfielder) and Samantha Cafferty (Utility). Other players to be on the lookout for will be juniors Kayla Orozco (Utility), Kayla McPherson (Crescenta Valley Transfer) along with fellow underclassmen Chloe Updike (outfielder) and Kassandra Davila (catcher/outfielder). 

“I’m super excited about the season and eager to see what the girls can do in an actual game aside from practice, but we are ready to go.” said new Bulldogs Head Coach Javier Rojas. Rojas had high praise for Maddison Kellogg when asked about getting to know the superstar pitcher and also added that Chloe Updike will for now be the team’s starting center fielder. Rojas added that Updike has a ton of speed which will help the team with the outfield defense and base stealing. 

Important dates on the calendar will be the season opener for the Bulldogs against La Canada on Tuesday, February 18th which will be the head coaching debut of Javier Rojas with the first pitch scheduled for 3:45 p.m. The tournaments that Burbank will be participating in will be the Hart Tournament on Saturday, February 22nd, and Saturday, March 1st along with the Santa Fe Tournament on Saturday, March 15th, and the 22nd. Pacific League play begins on Tuesday, April 1st against the Crescenta Valley Falcons on the road at 3:45 p.m. Another key date on the calendar is when the Bulldogs will honor its graduating seniors in a pregame ceremony against cross-town rival Burroughs with the first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of Burbank Bulldogs Softball throughout the 2025 season.