Reporting from Burbank — For one team it was pure exuberance; for another it was only heartbreak.
The Burroughs High softball team needed a win Thursday evening against crosstown rival Burbank in the final game of the regular season to earn a share of the Pacific League championship.
Behind a four-hit shutout by junior pitcher Presley Miraglia, the Indians accomplished that feat, rolling to a 6-0 victory at McCambridge Park.
Burroughs (19-8, 12-2 in league) shares the title with Crescenta Valley, which earned its share with a 6-4 win Thursday against rival Arcadia. There will be no coin flip to determine if the Indians or Falcons will be the No. 1 team from the league for the CIF Southern Section playoffs since Burroughs will be competing in Division I for the first time and Crescenta Valley is in Division III.
The Indians have won or shared six of the last eight league championships, including three straight.
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Burroughs’ Presley Miraglia is congratulated after a strong inning of pitching against Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Amanda Flores hits a two-RBI-double against Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s catcher Amaya Broyls receives the ball a little late as Burroughs’ Nikki Ricciardella slides safely home to score in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Alex Davis, in centerfield, powers a throw to home plate to the catcher with plenty of time to get the Burroughs runner out in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Alyssa Porras pitches in the first inning against Burroughs in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Macie Jensen, in center field, stretches and jumps to make a catch on a deeply hit ball by Burroughs for the out in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Presley Miraglia gets low to deliver a pitch in the first inning against Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Katie Treadway tags out Burroughs’ Citlali Mendez attempting to steal in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs head coach Wes Tanigawa and the home plate umpire listen to Burbank’s head coach Mike Delaney go over the field before the game in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Lauren Lopez makes a pressure throw from second base to first base against Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Macie Jensen attempts to finalize a double play against Burroughs in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Amanda Flores tags out Burbank’s Sarah Garelick who bunted in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Nikki Ricciardella hits a sacrifice bunt to score a run against Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Bene Snyder makes a play on an infield ground ball hit by Burroughs in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s catcher Amaya Broyls tags out Burroughs’ Morgan Mersola as she tries to slide home to score in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Mia Storer chases down a fly ball hit by Burbank in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Allie Benson is all smiles after diving to catch a deeply hit fly ball by Burroughs in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Katie Treadway tries to make a play on an infield ground ball hit by Burroughs that just gets away from her in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Macie Jensen hits a single against Burroughs in a rival Pacific League softball game at McCambridge Park in Burbank on Thursday, May 11, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
“It would have been nice to be able to win the league by ourselves, but we accomplished what we wanted to do and that was win league,” Miraglia said. “It’s really not too bad that we have to share first, at least we are at the top, and that’s a lot better than second for sure.”
Burbank (12-13, 8-6) needed a win to earn a spot in the playoffs. With the loss, the Bulldogs finish tied for fourth in league with Glendale (8-6 in league). Since the Nitros defeated the Bulldogs in both league matchups, Glendale earns the fourth and final guaranteed playoff spot from the league. Burbank can’t apply for an at-large berth in the playoffs because it has a sub-.500 record.
It is the first time the Bulldogs have failed to make the playoffs since 2006, their final season in the Foothill League.
“We talked about what this game meant and the girls knew,” Burbank Coach Mike Delaney said. “They are all pretty smart girls so they were able to figure it out and they knew we had to win.
“It’s tough for our three seniors, but the girls have battled back and this team has improved so much from where they were in the beginning of the season. Not getting to the playoffs doesn’t take away from all the good things they were able to accomplish.”
Miraglia helped Burroughs bounce back from a 5-2 loss to Burbank earlier in the season that had the Indians at 6-2 in league before winning their last six league games to climb back into first. The junior right-hander was in complete control throughout Thursday’s game, striking out 11 and not allowing a walk.
Miraglia was 6-0 with six straight shutouts down the stretch in league play.
“I think everybody thought we would come out and take it easily and I think the girls probably fed into that a little too much,” Burroughs Coach Wes Tanigawa said. “That led to our two losses. But after that, it really kind of shocked the girls and they realized that they had to pick things up.
“This whole second half, the girls have been really grinding it out and they have really been playing mentally tough.”
Miraglia also contributed at the plate, going three for four, including two hits in the sixth inning.
Burroughs took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Miraglia reached on an error and was replaced with courtesy runner Citlali Mendez (two runs). Mendez was plated by a squeeze bunt by Nikki Ricciardella.
The Indians added to their lead with five runs in the sixth as they sent 11 batters to the plate. Amanda Flores (two for two with a walk) doubled to score two runs, Lauren Lopez drove in a run with a single, Morgan Mersola plated a run with an infield single and Ricciardella was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Burbank was able to get runners in scoring position in three innings, stranding runners at second in the second and fifth and one at third in the sixth.
jeffrey.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports
