Burroughs pitching does the trick, 3-1

Jim Riggio

It was another testament of how tough the Foothill League is in

baseball.

Great pitching came from both teams Tuesday, but in the end, it

was Burroughs High -- led by Mike Diaz -- that came away with a 3-1

win against host Burbank to even up the season series.

Both teams will play again at 7 p.m. Friday to see who wins the

rubber game.

Both teams are trying to earn a spot in the CIF Southern Section

playoffs after failing to make to the postseason last season.

“We only got one run offensively,” Burbank Coach Paul Marietti

said. “Games are not won and lost on one play. We didn’t hit the way

we should have. You can’t win if you get only [three] hits.”

Burroughs (10-10-1, 3-6-1 in league) scored the winning runs in

the sixth inning, as Diaz and Josh Campbell scored when Burbank first

baseman Dave Martinez was unable to dig out a low throw from

shortstop Jesus Sarabia, which would have ended the inning.

In spite of the only error of the game, Burroughs Coach Tom

Crowther praised Burbank’s defensive effort.

“From what we’ve seen, I feel Burbank has the best defensive team

in the league,” Crowther said. “They’re have been a lot of close

games in this league. It’s definitely a six-team league where anyone

can win on any given day.”

While both pitchers -- Burroughs’ Diaz and Burbank’s Ken

Ngarayawongse -- both pitched complete games, the winning pitcher had

to throw 105 pitches. His Bulldog counterpart threw just 69.

Crowther praised his pitcher, who improved to 5-2.

“He’s been pitching with little run support all year, and he’s

getting used to it,” Crowther said. “We keep telling him to go out

and just pitch and assume the runs will be there.”

Burroughs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as Brent Fekety

doubled to center field, took third on a sacrifice by Kyle Williams

and scored on a single by Diaz.

Burbank (7-11, 3-7) tied things up in the fifth.

Sarabia began the inning by reaching base after being hit by

pitch. He reached second on a sacrifice by Daniel Harris and a passed

ball got him to third. A single by Saul Coreas, just inside the

first-base line, brought Sarabia home.