Heritage Christian holds on to 12-9 win over Burbank

Published by

Lorenzo Antonio

on

Bulldogs five run bottom of the fifth inning was not enough for them to complete the comeback 

Two individuals playing softball in a park with tall trees in the background and a clear blue sky.
A softball field with players in blue uniforms, palm trees in the background, and a scoreboard displaying 'GO BURBANK!'

The Heritage Christian Warriors held on for a 12-9 win over the Burbank Bulldogs, fending off a late comeback after building a nine-run lead through four innings.

A sunny day at a sports field with players in blue uniforms warming up, palm trees in the background, and a scoreboard displaying 'GO BURBANK!'
Two players in blue uniforms practice on a softball field while a coach holds a bat, with tall trees in the background.

Burbank appeared headed for a mercy-rule loss before a five-run bottom of the fifth pulled the Bulldogs back into the game, but it wasn’t enough to complete the rally.

A softball game in progress on a sunny day, featuring players in blue uniforms standing on a green field with palm trees and mountains in the background. A scoreboard displaying 'GO BURBANK!' is visible.
Softball field with players in blue uniforms, palm trees, and mountains in the background. A scoreboard displays 'GO BURBANK!'
A view of a softball field with trees in the background. Players are seen in the dugout area while a few are on the field. Nearby cars are visible on the street.

Burbank entered the game following a 12-1 loss to Maranatha, while Heritage Christian had defeated Trinity Classical Academy last Thursday.

A youth softball field with players in blue uniforms, including a pitcher, catcher, and umpires. Trees and mountains are visible in the background.
A youth softball game in progress on a sunny day, with players in blue uniforms on the field. The pitcher is preparing to throw the ball while the catcher is positioned near home plate.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the first inning when Erika Laufer drove home Tatum Tasso with an RBI single. Summer Hill followed with an RBI hit that scored Giselle Figueroa to make it 2-0. Janice Martinez retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the inning.

A youth softball game in progress, showcasing players in blue uniforms on a dirt field with a pitcher preparing to throw the ball.
A softball field with players in blue uniforms, preparing for a game. The background features trees and hills under a clear blue sky.

Heritage Christian extended its lead in the second when Aubrey Akins delivered a two-out, two-run triple. Burbank pitcher Kayla McPherson worked around additional traffic by getting Kaitlyn Sanchez to ground out to end the inning. Martinez again retired the side in order.

A softball game in progress on a sunny day, featuring a catcher in blue gear, an umpire in a blue shirt, and players positioned on the field.
A softball game in progress on a dirt field, showing a batter in black gear waiting at home plate, a pitcher in blue preparing to throw, and a catcher in blue behind home plate.
A softball player in a black uniform prepares to bat at home plate as the pitcher in a blue uniform gets ready to throw the ball. The catcher crouches behind home plate, while other players are positioned in the background on a sunny day.

The Warriors threatened again in the third. Martinez opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Addison Lombardo. After Hill grounded out, Dolyn Gavigan reached after being hit by a pitch.

Softball players on a field under a clear blue sky, with palm trees and mountains in the background.
A softball game in progress on a sunny day with players positioned on the field among trees.
A youth softball game in progress on a sunny day, featuring players in blue and black uniforms. A pitcher is in the process of throwing the ball, while teammates are positioned on the field.

Mia Owen appeared to extend the lead with an RBI fielder’s choice, but Martinez was sent back to third and Gavigan was ruled out at second for runner interference after colliding with Alyssa Perez. Owen later moved to second on a wild pitch. Tatum Tasso walked with two outs to load the bases, but Giselle Figueroa popped out to Lombardo, who made a basket catch to end the inning.

A softball field with a player in catcher's gear kneeling in the foreground, while a group of teammates huddle near the pitcher's mound in the background. The scene is set on a sunny day with palm trees and mountains in the distance.
A softball game in progress on a sunny day, featuring a batter in black gear ready to hit, while the pitcher throws from the mound. Players in blue uniforms are scattered in the outfield.

Martinez continued to dominate in the circle, striking out the side in the bottom of the third to retire the first nine batters she faced.

A player in a blue uniform is preparing to bat in a softball game, while the pitcher throws a yellow ball from the mound. A catcher in black gear is positioned behind home plate, with a view of the diamond and surrounding trees in the background.
A softball player in a blue uniform prepares to bat, while a catcher in a black uniform crouches behind home plate, with a pitcher in the background ready to throw.

Heritage Christian added two more runs in the fourth. Laufer led off with a triple and scored on an RBI hit by Akins to make it 5-0. Kaitlyn Sanchez followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to six before Lombardo escaped the inning.

A softball field during a game with a female batter in blue preparing to hit, a catcher in black crouched behind home plate, and fielders positioned in the background.
A young female softball player in blue gear is preparing to bat as a pitcher in black throws the ball towards home plate on a sunny day.

The Bulldogs recorded their first hit in the fourth when Alyssa Perez singled to right field, ending Martinez’s perfect-game bid. Chloe Updike followed with another single and stole second, but Martinez stranded both runners by getting Kassie Kimmer to pop out and striking out Heather Nielsen.

A softball player in a blue uniform preparing to bat while others are positioned on the field in a sunny park setting.
A youth softball game in progress, featuring players in black and blue uniforms on a sunny field with mountains in the background.

The Warriors added three runs in the fifth. Laufer and Akins hit back-to-back triples to push the lead to 8-0, and Martinez drove in Akins with an RBI single. Gavigan later walked to load the bases, but Owen grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

A softball field with players in black uniforms. One player is positioned in the pitcher's circle, while others are in the background, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
A softball game in progress, featuring a batter in blue and a catcher in black, with players positioned in the background on a well-maintained field under a clear blue sky.

Facing a potential mercy-rule loss, the Bulldogs erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to stay alive.

Two softball players fielding a ball on a sunlit diamond with palm trees and hills in the background.
A young female softball player in a blue uniform prepares to bat while the game takes place on a sunny day. In the background, other players and coaches are visible near the sidelines.

After Priscilla Sanchez struck out, Isabel Villagran and McPherson reached on consecutive walks. Sienna Hale delivered an RBI single to score Villagran, ending the shutout. Lombardo followed with a single to load the bases.

A softball player prepares to pitch on the mound with teammates in the background. The scene is set on a grassy field in a park, with trees and hills visible in the distance.
A softball field with teams playing; a batter in blue prepares to hit as the pitcher in black stands on the mound.

Following an infield-fly call on Perez, Updike drove in the pinch runner Melanie Cendejas with a two-out RBI single to make it 9-2. Kimmer then cleared the bases with a triple, cutting the deficit to four runs. Nielsen walked to continue the rally before Sanchez struck out to end the inning.

A softball field with players in blue uniforms standing on the infield during a game, surrounded by palm trees and mountains under a clear blue sky.
A youth softball field with a player in a blue uniform standing on the pitcher's mound, surrounded by palm trees and hills in the background.

Heritage Christian answered in the sixth. Akins delivered a two-out RBI double, and Kaitlyn Sanchez drove in Laufer on a groundout to extend the lead. Martinez later struck out looking, and Akins was called out at home for batter’s interference to end the inning.

A softball pitcher in blue uniform winds up to throw the ball during a game, with teammates in the background and an audience observing.
A softball field with a pitcher preparing to throw from the pitcher's mound, surrounded by teammates in blue uniforms, an umpire nearby, and tall trees in the background.

Burbank responded again in the bottom half, trimming the deficit to three runs. Lombardo drove in Villagran with an RBI single, and Perez followed with a fielder’s choice that scored McPherson after an error by Martinez. Kimmer recorded her second triple of the game, bringing home Lombardo and Perez.

A young female softball player in a blue uniform stands at bat, preparing to swing in a game. The pitcher, wearing a black uniform, is in the pitching position on the mound. Spectators are visible in the background on the sidelines, with trees and mountains in the distance.
A youth softball field with players in blue uniforms, surrounded by trees and mountains under a clear blue sky.

Heather Nielsen nearly cut the lead to two with an infield single but was thrown out by a step to end the inning.

A youth softball game in progress, featuring players in blue uniforms on a dirt field surrounded by trees and mountains under a clear blue sky.
A softball pitcher in a blue uniform prepares to throw the ball on a dirt field, with another player standing ready in the background. Lush green trees and mountains are visible in the background.

McPherson returned to the circle in the seventh and struck out Dolyn Gavigan and Mia Owen. She worked around a two-out double by Tatum Tasso by getting Figueroa to ground out to shortstop Lombardo.

A softball field with players in the background and a batter preparing to hit in the foreground. The batter is wearing a blue uniform, while other players are gathered in a huddle on the field under a clear blue sky.
A softball game in progress on a dirt field, with players in black and blue uniforms. The pitcher is on the mound, while the catcher is crouched behind home plate.

Burbank had one final chance in the bottom of the seventh, but Martinez retired the side in order to secure the win.

A youth softball game in progress, featuring a player in blue ready to bat while a catcher in black is crouching behind home plate. Umpire stands nearby, and players are positioned in the background.
A young female softball player in a blue uniform stands at home plate with a bat, preparing to hit. In the background, other players are positioned on the field, with palm trees and mountains in the distance.

“I’m proud of the girls with how we played,” said Heritage Christian coach Vanessa Tait. “This team is a super young unit, but everyone believed in each other.” Tait also praised Martinez for overcoming a minor injury early in the season.

Softball teams shaking hands after a game on a field with mountains in the background.
A group of players in blue uniforms sitting on the grass during a baseball practice, with two coaches discussing in the foreground.

Despite the loss, Burbank coach Javier Rojas was encouraged by his team’s fight.“I’m proud of how the girls competed,” Rojas said. “We’ve played a lot of tough teams early in the season, and hopefully that prepares us for Pacific League play.”

A youth baseball team gathered for a meeting on the field, surrounded by tall trees at sunset.
A group of young female softball players sitting on the grass during a practice session, listening to a coach speaking to them, with palm trees and mountains in the background.

Burbank fell to 0-5 while Heritage Christian improved to 5-2. The Bulldogs open Pacific League play against Muir with first pitch scheduled for 3:45 p.m., while Heritage Christian faces Rosemead at 3:30 p.m.

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