Burbank-Jewel City Major baseball eliminated

Despite building some momentum off a hard-fought District 16 championship, it appears the competition at the Section 2 Major Baseball Tournament was too much for the Burbank-Jewel City/Jewish War Veterans All-Stars baseball squad.

Burbank bowed out of the tournament after an 11-1 defeat in four innings to District 40 champion and host Sherman Oaks on Friday afternoon in an elimination contest.

With the defeat, Burbank’s tournament run is over with a 0-2 mark and a run differential of 23-1.

“They played well and they won District 16,” Burbank Coach Chris Vanole said of his squad. “They came back and they fought and they played hard. I just think we were overmatched once we got into the sectionals.”

The contest was virtually decided in the first inning, as Sherman Oaks scored nine runs versus a solo score for Burbank.

“They hit the ball off us and it was quick,” Vanole said. “It was terrible. Our pitching in the first inning was bad and then I brought in Andrew [Verrengia] and he did well, but it was too little too late.”

Verrengia was a bright spot for Burbank, as the hurler allowed two runs over the game’s final three innings.

Unfortunately for Burbank, Sherman Oaks scored a single run in the second and third innings to force the mercy rule in the fourth inning.

“Andrew pitched well when he got in the game and he shut them down, but we didn’t hit the ball just like the game before,” Vanole said. “They hit the ball and we didn’t and that was it.”

Burbank entered the contest after suffering a 12-0 defeat to District 51 champion Quartz Hill on Wednesday in the tournament opener.