Bears move into sole possession of first place in the Pacific League over the Falcons 

In a contest that featured the top two teams in the Pacific League, the John Burroughs Bears escaped with a 4-2 win over the Crescenta Valley Falcons on senior night, as Valentina Reyes pitched a complete game and Kalani Miramontes hit a clutch RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Burroughs entered this contest following a 16-2 win over Glendale in the first of the back-to-back, and CV came off a 20-0 mercy rule victory over Pasadena also in the first of the back-to-back. 

Prior to the first pitch, the John Burroughs High School softball program paid tribute to three graduating seniors in outfielder Alyssa Morales, utility player Valentina Clemons, and third baseman Chloe Centeno (Fort Hays University commit) in a pregame ceremony. Not only did Morales, Clemons, and Centeno get the spotlight, but longtime assistant coach Louie Binda was also honored and celebrated for his 65 years of service as a coach at Burroughs High School, as he got the honor to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Binda will be retiring from coaching whenever the Burroughs softball season comes to an end. 

“Senior night was amazing, it was great for all our families to come out and support us,” said Chloe Centeno. Centeno also added that the Bears’ win on senior night was amazing, and it was a great way to end the regular season home schedule. 

On the softball field, Valentina Reyes worked around a one-out single by recording a pop-up to Jasmine Hernandez and striking out Hannah Wyroski in the top of the first inning. The Bears got the offense going in the bottom of the first inning with Alyssa Morales drawing a leadoff walk. Karlee Earl and Chloe Centeno both recorded back-to-back RBI doubles to give Burroughs a 2-0 lead over CV. Haven Vickers and Chloe Zavala failed to put more runs on the board in the home half of the first inning as they left Sophie Rangsiyawong and Kalani Miramontes on base. 

The Bears and Falcons were held scoreless in the second inning. Mila Reddy put Crescenta Valley on the board with an RBI ground-rule double by driving home Payton Sellers to make it a 2-1 game in the top of the third inning. Kate Barnes then tied the game at two in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI groundout to shortstop Rangsiyawong, driving home Chloe Mulcahey. Alyssa Morales then responded with a go-ahead RBI single by driving home pinch runner Claire Simons allowing the Bears to retake a 3-2 lead in the home half of the fourth inning. 

Valentina Reyes worked around traffic in the top of the fifth inning as Jasmine Hernandez grounded into a six-four-three double play. Reyes also worked around a two-out walk to Hannah Wyroski by getting Mulcahey on a ground out to Rangsiyawong, to end the top of the fifth inning. 

Centeno began the home half of the fifth inning with a leadoff double. Rangsiywaong had a chance to drive home Centeno, but grounded out to the pitcher, Carley Mulcahey, with Centeno staying at second base. Kalani Miramontes hit a clutch one-out RBI single to drive home Centeno to give the Bears a 4-2 lead. 

Valentina Reyes retired the side in order in the top of the seventh inning to seal the Bears’ two-run victory over the Crescenta Valley Falcons. “Both teams played great, which was clean softball and it came down to which team would deliver in the clutch,” said Doug Nicol. 

Nicol stated that Kalani Miramontes is becoming a factor in the team’s lineup and calls Louie Binda the favorite of all the coaches when asked about Miramontes’s progress and about Coach Binda’s retirement at the end of the 2025 softball season. Nicol also added that he calls Coach Binda a true friend and a person that he trusts, but to thank him for 65 years of hard work was a great tribute to the longtime assistant coach.

Burroughs improves their record to 17-4 overall and 6-0 in Pacific League play, and CV drops to 15-5 overall and 4-1 in Pacific League play. Burroughs will take on Paso Robles on the first day of the Best of the West Tournament at Righetti High School in Santa Maria, California, and Crescenta Valley will take on Harvard Westlake and Heritage Christian in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 26th at 9 and 11 AM, respectively.