Bulldogs struggle to make it home in loss

Jeff Tully

The Burbank High softball team had no trouble putting runners on base

in its nonleague game against visiting San Gabriel at McCambridge

Park.

However, the Bulldogs did struggle to bring those runners home, as

they mustered just one run Wednesday in a 2-1 loss to the Matadors.

Burbank (3-8) got runners on base in six of seven innings, but

ended up stranding 10.

“That is just too many to leave on base,” first-year Burbank Coach

Ken Schafer said. “We had our chances, but we couldn’t score when we

needed to. We probably should have scored a few more runs in the

early innings.

“I think we should have beaten them today.”

The Bulldogs did hammer out eight hits and were impressive at the

plate. Starters Kelsy Rohy, Kristin Talamantes and Jeanette Gonzalez

each had two hits each for Burbank. The team also had just one strike

out.

The Bulldogs also came through with fine plays on defense.

Centerfielder Lindsay Talamantes had two gems, including a diving

catch in the seventh inning that robbed Ashley Gray of a hit. Third

baseman Andi Diaz prevented a hit in the second with a diving catch

that left her sprawled on the dirt.

But despite the exploits in the field, the Bulldogs’ failure to

manufacture runs led to their downfall.

Burbank got runners to second base in the first and third innings

and advanced a runner to third in the second inning. However, all of

the runners were left stranded.

The Bulldogs were finally able to push across a run in the fourth

inning on hits by Gonzalez, Rohr and an run-scoring single by Ammy

Acuna.

Burbank starting pitcher Casey McCarty did a good job keeping the

Matadors (2-4) in check the first five innings. In fact, the senior

carried a two-hitter into the sixth. With catcher Kristin Talamantes

calling the pitches, McCarty fooled many of the San Gabriel hitters

with a wicked changeup.

However, in the sixth inning, San Gabriel scored two runs on

singles by Gray, Mel Villarroel, Denise Garcia and Emma Sanchez.

“Casey did a great job early on,” Schafer said. “But maybe we left

her in a little two long.

McCarty (0-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven, allowing

no walks and six hits.