Scoring explosion leads Burroughs softball to win over Crescenta Valley
In two explosive innings, the Burroughs High softball team reaffirmed itself as a contender and arguably the top team, regardless of standing, in the Pacific League race.
As Indians junior pitcher Presley Miraglia was turning in a vintage effort, her teammates scored 13 runs over the fifth and sixth innings to stun host Crescenta Valley, 14-0, in six innings.
The victory split the season series between the squads as two-time reigning league champion Burroughs (15-8, 8-2) and Crescenta Valley (16-7-1, 8-2) are tied for first place with Arcadia (13-4-1, 7-2 heading into Thursday) also in the picture.
Though the win was certainly important for the league title hunt, revenge was also on the minds of players after the Falcons snapped Burroughs’ 22-game league winning streak with a 5-4 win in Burbank on April 4.
“The score caught us by surprise because we planned for this to be a really tight game,” said Burroughs sophomore Mia Storer, who finished with two runs. “We were all pumped for this game. It was a big deal to show that we could fight back.”
Burroughs led, 1-0, heading to the sixth inning when back-to-back errors led to Burroughs’ first two batters reaching base.
The gaffes opened the floodgates, as the Indians responded with six straight hits that included a two-run double from Hannah Talavera (two runs batted in and two runs) and run-scoring doubles from Tati Caceres and Brianna Johnson.
Miraglia added a run-scoring single, while Jessie Amaya ended the offensive display with a sacrifice fly to right field as the Indians led, 8-0. Overall, Burroughs sent 10 batters to the plate and finished with seven runs on six hits, while aided by two errors.
In case that wasn’t enough, Burroughs put together an encore effort in the sixth.
The Indians were again aided by two errors, while they scored six runs on four hits and three walks.
Storer drove in one run on a bases-loaded walk, while Amanda Flores drove in two with a double, Kaitlin Escamilla connected on a scoring single and Morgan Mersola contributed an RBI fielder’s choice.
By the time Crescenta Valley came up for its final at-bats in the bottom of the sixth, the Indians plated 13 runs on 10 hits with the benefit of four errors and three walks.
“The girls just got beat today, offensively, defensively and with pitching,” Crescenta Valley Coach Amanda Peek said. “You can’t win a game like that, but now we get to see what type of fight we have in our team coming up.”
Scoring for Crescenta Valley proved an uphill task versus Miraglia.
The reigning All-Area Softball Player of the Year looked every bit the part as she struck out eight batters and allowed one hit in the shutout victory.
Crescenta Valley’s lone hit came with one out in the sixth courtesy of a single from Jessica Yzaguirre.
Other than that, Miraglia was in a zone.
“It felt great to pitch well for my team and it feels great to still be in it,” said Miraglia, who finished two for three with two runs batted in. “This game was really important and I wanted to do my best.”
With the league race now wide open, Indians Coach Wes Tanigawa is thrilled to have his team in control of its league title destiny.
“It’s absolutely great,” Tanigawa said. “One thing I told the girls is that we’re definitely capable of doing this. The title was starting to slip out of our hands and it was frustrating, but it’s great to be back in the driver’s seat.”
