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.