Burbank upsets Burroughs 5-3 to spoil the senior night party for Burroughs

The Burbank Bulldogs did the unthinkable, by upsetting the star-powered Burroughs Bears squad by a final score of 5-3 to spoil the senior night party for the 7 graduating seniors on the Burroughs softball team. Maddison Kellogg’s 11-strikeout performance led the way and Kara Valencia contributed a big 1st inning 2-run home run. Kellogg limited Burroughs to 3 runs and allowed 5 hits while pitching a complete game in the upset win over the Bears. Burbank entered the contest fresh off a 4-0 loss to the Crescenta Valley Falcons, while Burroughs came off a 9-6 win over Muir.

Before the first pitch, 7 seniors on the John Burroughs Bears softball team were honored and celebrated with their families in a senior night pregame ceremony highlighting their accomplishments during their career with the Burroughs softball program. Those 7 seniors who were honored before the game were Lilly Essakhanian (outfielder/utility), Eliza Torres (infielder/outfielder), Gizelle Rangsiyawong (shortstop, 3rd base) team captain Phoebe Spangler (3rd base and catcher), Alyssa Rosales (catcher/3rd base) and Emerson Coblentz (pitcher/outfielder).

Coblentz will be committing to the University of Hawaii and will continue her softball career for their program next spring. “I love senior night, it’s something I look forward to every year and to make sure everything looks beautiful and organized for all the families,” said Burroughs Bears assistant coach Sheila Oasay. Oasay stated that the 7 seniors in Essakhanian, Torres, G. Rangsiyawong, Spangler, A. Rosales, and Coblentz are like her children when asked about what they’ve meant to the Burroughs softball program during their high school careers.

On the softball field, Burbank got the offense going with Eliza Bowren jumpstarting the offense with a 1-out single followed by a 2-run homer by Kara Valencia to put the Bulldogs on the board with a 2-0 lead. Maddison Kellogg retired the side in order in the top of the 1st inning. The Bulldogs added 3 more runs in the top of the 3rd inning with Kara Valencia recording a 1-out 2-run RBI triple to score Belinda Lujano, and Bowren to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. Valencia came around to score and give Burbank a 5-0 lead on a pop-up by Samantha Cafferty. Phoebe Spangler was unable to field the ball and dropped it while trying to catch the routine pop fly, resulting in an error and Valencia’s run.

Sofia Rangsiyawong tried to get the offense going for the Bears with a leadoff ground-rule double, the first hit of the game for Burroughs. Skylar Vanole and Elizza Torres struck out swinging with S.Rangsiyawong on 2nd base before Alyssa Morales hit a 2-out infield single to advance S. Rangsiyawong to 3rd base. Karlee Earl had a golden opportunity to get Burroughs on the board, but she struck out swinging and left both runners stranded at 1st and 3rd base.

The Bears were trying to rally again in the bottom of the 4th inning with Gizelle Rangsiyawong starting the home half of the 4th with a single and Spangler recording a 1-out double. S. Rangsiyawong walked with 2 outs before Vanole had a chance to get Burroughs back into the game but struck out with the bases loaded.

Alyssa Morales scored the Bears’ first run on a wild pitch by Maddison Kellogg after being held scoreless in the first 4 innings of play. Karlee Earl drove home Eliza Torres to get Burroughs within reach of Burbank at 5-2. Morales made the play of the night in the top of the 6th inning when she made a diving catch to take a hit away from Kayla Orosco.

The Bears had 1 last shot at a late-inning comeback in the bottom of the 7th inning with G. Rangsyiawong, hitting a 1-out double and Spangler coming through in the clutch with a 2-out RBI single. Kellog ended the Bears’ comeback bid by getting Sophia Rangsyiawong looking at strike three to end the game.

“It was an outstanding win, we came into this game as the underdogs and a lot of people put their money on Burroughs to win this game and I told the girls to make a statement in the game which they did,” said Burbank’s head coach Melissa Sanchez. Sanchez called Kara Valencia’s 2-run homer in the top of the 1st inning huge since it helped the Bulldogs gain momentum in the contest and said that Maddison Kellogg was outstanding in the pitcher’s circle.

“We haven’t got off to good starts as a team lately. The last 2-3 weeks we’ve started the game off slow but hats off to Maddy for giving Burbank the win,” said Bears coach Doug Nicol. Nicol also stated that the 7 seniors had a fantastic career at Burroughs when asked about his thoughts on senior night.

Burbank improves their record to 11-10 overall and 5-2 in Pacific League play while Burroughs drops their record to 18-5 overall and 6-1 in Pacific League play. Burbank will take on Muir on Saturday, April 20th, at the Inaugural Pacific League Tournament at Crescenta Valley High School. Burroughs will play a 3-team tripleheader with Dos Pueblos and Santa Clara on the same day. The Bears have already clinched the number 1 seed and a 1st round bye for the inaugural Pacific League Tournament and will await the winner of the Burbank Muir game and will face either squad on Monday, April 22nd, at either Muir High School or Arcadia High School.