Burbank, Bell-Jeff softball earn No. 1 seeds in CIF playoffs
Following a superb regular season that included 21 victories and a Pacific League championship, the members of the Burbank High softball team had their body of work recognized Saturday after being awarded the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.
The CIF Southern Section office unveiled its playoff pairings for all seven divisions. Along with Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Burroughs will be a part of the postseason picture. Burbank and Burroughs will take part in Division III and Bell-Jeff will look to defend its title in Division VI.
Burbank first-year Coach Mike Delaney said the Bulldogs (21-3) are honored to be the top seed, but is well aware that opponents will look to give Burbank all it can handle.
“It’s nice to be the top seed and it’s been a goal of ours since the start of the season,” said Delaney, whose team will meet Quartz Hill or La Salle in a first-round home game at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at McCambridge Park. “We know that we still have to go out there and play our best
“It’s good to know that we control our own destiny and we’ll get at it come Tuesday.”
Delaney brings some championship pedigree to Burbank after guiding Village Christian to a Division V championship in 2003 and a runner-up appearance in 2004.
Quartz Hill (13-11) and La Salle (15-8) will partake in a wild-card game Monday. Quartz Hill and La Salle finished fourth in the Golden and Del Rey leagues, respectively.
The winner of the Burbank contest will then face La Habra, Palos Verdes or Kaiser in a second-round matchup Thursday.
Burbank wasn’t the lone local team to earn a top seed.
Bell-Jeff, which went 13-4-2 and captured the Santa Cruz League championship under coach Florencio Galindo, earned top billing in its division. The Guards will meet visiting Liberty Christian in a first-round game at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at Gross Park.
Liberty Christian went 8-4 and received an at-large berth after finishing second in the four-team San Joaquin League.
The winner of the Bell-Jeff game would then face Alverno or Cal Lutheran in a second-round game Thursday. Alverno won the Horizon League championship and Cal Lutheran finished tied for second in the Arrowhead League.
Burroughs went 19-6-1 and took second in the Pacific League under coach Doug Nicol.
The Indians will face Bishop Amat or Lancaster in a first-round contest at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at Olive Park. Bishop Amat went 16-9 and placed second in the Del Rey League. Lancaster (12-13) finished third in the Golden League.
The winner of the Burroughs game would then meet La Serna, West Torrance or Paso Robles in a second-round matchup Thursday.
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Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich .