Bears Celebrate Pacific League Championship Win with 9-0 win over Bulldogs

Bears win their first Pacific League Championship since 2016

A group of excited baseball players celebrating a victory on the field at night, wearing white t-shirts with 'Champions' printed on them.

A group of baseball players celebrating a championship win, wearing matching white shirts with 'Champions' printed on them, holding bottles of champagne, and posing joyfully with a large American flag in the background.

The John Burroughs Bears clinched the Pacific League title on Friday with a 9-0 win against their crosstown rivals, Burbank Bulldogs. The championship is the Bears’ first one since they won consecutive league titles in 2015 and 2016.

A baseball team celebrates in a huddle on the field under bright stadium lights at night, with a scoreboard displaying the final score in the background.

A group of baseball players celebrating together on the field at night, wearing white shirts with red accents, some holding a trophy and displaying victory signs.

Kayson Montgomery pitched a complete game shutout. Burroughs put themselves in position to claim the title outright last Tuesday with their 11-1 win over Burbank in the first game of the regular season-ending series.

A baseball field with two teams lined up for a pre-game ceremony, one in red uniforms and the other in blue. An umpire stands at home plate, with a clear blue sky in the background.

Three baseball coaches in a discussion at home plate before a game, with a scoreboard and bleachers in the background.

Montgomery worked around trouble in the top of the first inning after Julian Recinos and Luca Kuiper reached base. He struck out Andru Machado and Ryland LeClair swinging to end the visiting half of the inning.

A baseball game in progress, featuring players on the field, a batter at the plate, and a catcher in position. The scene includes stadium lights and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

A youth baseball game in progress, featuring a batter in blue, a catcher in white, and an umpire behind the catcher, with players on the field and mountains in the background.

The Bears had a busy bottom of the inning, but were unable to capitalize. Elliot Ross drew a leadoff walk and Logan Drossin followed with a sacrifice bunt. Devin Whittekiend reached base with a one-out single and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch by LeClair.

A baseball game in progress, showing a pitcher about to deliver a pitch to a batter at home plate, with an umpire and a player in catching gear behind the plate. In the background, players are positioned on the field and stadium seating is visible.

A baseball field scene with a pitcher on the mound, an umpire behind the catcher, and players in the outfield. The stands are visible in the background along with a scoreboard.

Jack Smith had a chance to get the Bears on the board with one-out, but he lined out to second and Whittekiend was tagged out at second base to end the first inning. Montgomery retired the side in order in the top of the second inning.

A baseball player in a blue jersey stands on the pitcher's mound during a game. The field is well-maintained with a clear sky in the background.

A baseball field during a game, featuring a player in red gear at the batting box, a catcher in blue gear, and an umpire, with players in the background and mountains in the distance.

The Burroughs bats put three runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning with RBI’s from Slater Mersola and Zack Guevara. Mersola later scored on a wild pitch from LeClair.

A baseball game in progress on a dirt field, featuring a batter poised to swing and a catcher in full gear. In the background, mountains and a clear sky are visible, with several players seated in the dugout.

Baseball players warming up on the field during a game, with a scoreboard in the background displaying 'Champions 2022'.

The Bears added five more runs in the third inning, highlighted by RBI from Thomas Martin and Zack Guevara. Martin also added an RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 9-0 game. Both teams were held scoreless for the last three innings of the game with the Bears sealing the nine run win over the Bulldogs.

Two baseball players on a field, one standing on first base and the other on the pitcher's mound, with a scoreboard in the background displaying the game status.

A youth baseball game in progress, featuring players in blue and red uniforms on a field with mountains in the background.

“This is a special group of kids that put in the hard work and I’m so glad that my first Pacific League title is with this program that I love so much.” said Matt Magallon. He also praised the evolution of the program from when he started, resulting in Burroughs baseball being one of the premier programs in the Burbank community.

A group of individuals in red shirts standing on a baseball field during an event, with a scoreboard and bleachers in the background under a clear blue sky. — Class of 26 JBHS Baseball Seniors Photo Courtesy JBHS Baseball

A group of young baseball players in white uniforms and red socks hold up large photographs of younger kids, standing together on a baseball field at night. — Class of 26 JBHS Baseball Seniors Photo Courtesy JBHS Baseball

Prior to the start of the game, the dads from the senior class of 2026 threw out ceremonial first pitches to their sons. This was the final Pacific League home game for the Burroughs Baseball Class of 26 seniors in Nate Sepulveda, Theo Gara, Jack Smith, Thomas Martin, Logan Drossin, Ryan Walsh, Jack Guest, Mason Fournier, Zack Guevara and Nathan Bartolo.

A baseball game in action at dusk, featuring a batter in a blue jersey preparing to hit, a pitcher in a white jersey on the mound, a catcher in white gear, and an umpire behind the catcher.

A baseball field at dusk with two teams gathered; one team in red uniforms huddled together while the other team in blue is on the pitcher's mound discussing strategy.

Burroughs finished the regular season with a 20-4 overall record and 12-1 in Pacific League play and Burbank wrapped up their season with a 3-14-1 overall record and going 3-10-1 in Pacific League play.

A baseball game in progress at dusk, with a batter in a blue uniform preparing to hit the ball, while a pitcher in a white uniform throws from the mound. An umpire and a catcher are positioned behind home plate, and there are spectators in the background.

A baseball game in progress with a pitcher on the mound, a batter ready to hit, and a catcher in position. The scoreboard shows the game details and an American flag is visible in the background.

The Burbank Bulldogs season has come to a close and Burroughs will await their first round matchup in the CIF Southern Section playoffs on Saturday May 9 at 1:00 p.m.