SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Burbank 2, Saugus 0--Burbank, last place in the Foothill League last season, culminated a remarkable turnaround with a two-run rally in the seventh inning of a league finale at Saugus.

The Bulldogs (16-7, 5-5 in league) finish tied with Canyon (15-10, 5-5) for third place. Canyon defeated Burroughs, 3-2, in eight innings on Thursday.

A coin flip today at Burbank will determine which team will receive the Foothill League’s final automatic playoff berth.

“I don’t even want to think about that right now,” said third-year Coach Debby Day, whose team has not advanced to the playoffs since the early 1990s. “We just want to enjoy this for a while.”

Jennifer McLarty (3-2) of Saugus had a no-hitter through 6 1/3 innings, but a walk, two-base error and consecutive RBI singles by Leslie Alfaro and Kristin Talamantes broke a scoreless tie.

Emily Brower (12-6) of Burbank struck out eight in a six-hitter and escaped several jams.

“The girls and I expected [to be successful],” Day said. “It was just a matter of proving to others that we were worthy.”

The Centurions (14-12, 4-6), who could have clinched the final playoff spot with a victory, loaded the bases in the seventh, but Brower got Jaclyn Holden to pop up on a check swing for the final out.

It was the final game in the 19-year career of Coach Ron Hilton, who announced his retirement from softball.

Saugus will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1984.