Burbank Major softball sees season end in Western Regional quarterfinals
It was a fine beginning for the Burbank Major All-Stars in their first game of bracket play in the Western Regional Tournament Wednesday morning against Arizona.
Burbank, representing Southern California. jumped out to a two-run lead and maintained that advantage through the first three innings of the quarterfinal contest.
However, Arizona tallied four unanswered runs and ended the locals’ season with a 4-2 victory at Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino.
It was the second straight season that a Major softball team from Burbank fell in the Western Regional, one step away from qualifying tor the Little League World Series.
“We did play very well in the first three innings,” Burbank Manager Rocco Buffolino said. “But then I think what happened was maybe the moment became a little too big. Just the moment might have been too much. That just happens sometimes.”
Burbank, the Section 2 and Southern California Division 3 champion, didn’t waste much time getting rolling against the representative from the Casa Grande Little League, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Kelsey Acosta walked, advanced to second on a single by Annie Buffolino and took third on a groundout by Makaiya Bedford. Acosta scored on a groundout to second base by Alissa Valenzuela.
The Media City squad made it 2-0 with a run in the second inning. Bella Scozzola started things off with a walk, advanced to third on a single to right field by Clarisa Robles and scored on a groundout to the pitcher by Lizzy Zamora.
But then the Burbank offense sputtered.
“We definitely had our share of opportunities, we just couldn’t push any more runs across,” said Rocco Buffolino, whose team stranded five runners. “I always tell the girls that you have to have good pitching and good defense and not only hitting, but key hitting, is what you need to win. We just didn’t get that timely hitting today.”
In the circle for Burbank, Valenzuela did a good job at keeping Arizona in check over the course of the first three innings, surrendering just one hit. Valenzuela struck out five and walked three in five innings.
Arizona cut the deficit in half, 2-1, with a run in the fourth inning. Arizona then vaulted ahead with three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, 4-2.
Burbank put a runner on base in the top of the sixth inning with one out, however, the runner was picked off.
Arizona received a fine effort from pitcher Amyah Rodriguez, who struck out six and walked three in six innings. At the plate, Rodriguez was two for three with a double, triple and two runs batted in.
For Burbank, Buffolino was two for three.
Both teams had four hits and committed one error apiece.
“It’s disappointing for the girls to be that close to the World Series and just fall a little short,” coach Buffolino said. “I told them that they have to keep their heads up and this season has been a success for multiple reasons: one, they came together as a team and two, I asked all the girls if they got better from day one and they all said yes. That’s how you mark success.
“And the great thing is I get eight players back and 75% of my pitching staff back for next season.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports