Burbank misses chances
The Burbank High baseball team has had a pretty impressive start to
the season.
The Bulldog faithful know it. The Burbank athletes are enjoying
every moment of it. And the rest of the Foothill League has taken
notice.
Canyon has read about the Bulldogs’ success, and the Cowboys made
sure to send a message to their league foe in a 7-4 win at Burbank
High.
As good as the Bulldogs are, they still might not be at Canyon’s
level -- yet. Burbank still has some kinks to work out before it can
defeat the Cowboys, and that was evident Friday.
Burbank couldn’t capitalize on its scoring opportunities, and was
hampered by too many mistakes.
The Bulldogs (6-3, 2-1 in league) committed five errors that led
to four unearned runs and stranded nine runners on base -- including
six in scoring position -- as they suffered their first loss since a
10-4 setback to L.A. Roosevelt on March 13 in the San Fernando
Valley Tournament.
“You have to be able to execute,” Burbank Coach Paul Marietti
said.
“We made too many errors. We beat ourselves.
“In order for us to compete with teams like this, and in order for
us to compete in the Foothill League, we have to be perfect on
defense.”
The team was far from perfect. A two-out error in the second
inning led to Canyon (7-1, 3-0) scoring its first run. The next
batter, Billy Omahen, blasted a first-pitch, two-run home run to left
field.
Despite the miscues, Burbank tied the game at 4 behind strong
performances from the bottom four batters of its lineup. Jesus
Sarabia, Daniel Harris and Saul Coreas combined to score all of the
Bulldogs’ runs. Robert Nichols, the No. 9 hitter, went two for three
with a run batted in.
“There is nobody that stands out in our lineup,” Marietti said. “I
expect things from the bottom just like the top. We scrap around and
take some hacks.”
The Bulldogs came close to pulling off the upset, but couldn’t
capitalize on a huge opportunity. In the sixth inning, Burbank loaded
the bases on an infield single by Nichols and two walks issued to
Paul Gonzalez and Jon Bertain.
But Canyon Coach Adam Scholffer inserted pitcher Matt McQueen
(1-0), who struck out Anthony Mazziotti on five pitches to end the
threat.