Indians’ patience pays off

OLIVE PARK -- The Burroughs High softball players chose not to get

discouraged when they loaded the bases in the first two innings

Tuesday against Burbank, and failed to score.

Instead, the Indians figured if they knock on the door hard

enough, they were going to eventually score runs.

Burroughs’ patience paid off in a Foothill League game at Olive

Park, as the Indians downed the Bulldogs, 3-0, in their first meeting

of the season.

“It was frustrating that we left that many runners on base the

first two innings,” said Burroughs Coach Jennifer Gomez, whose team

is 10-8, 2-3 in league. “But it was encouraging for the players

because we were putting runners on base and hitting the ball well.”

The Indians scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth

innings.

Burroughs’ offense was paced by freshman Sara Budrick. Along with

going four for four, she also scored two runs and had an inside-the-

park home run in the sixth.

“That is our first home run of the season,” Gomez said.

Pitcher Dani Regan (10-8) kept Burbank (5-13, 1-4) in check, going

seven innings and allowing four hits.

The Bulldogs’ best hitter, senior Kristin Talamantes, got special

attention from Burroughs. In her three plate appearances, Talamantes

-- hitting .512 -- was walked three times on 12 straight pitches.

“Kristin is a player we have a tremendous amount of respect for,”

Gomez said. “We didn’t want to give her a chance to hurt us like

she’s done in years past. She is a player who can kill you with one

swing.”

Talamantes, who has been recruited by several Division I colleges,

will sign with Mercer University in Georgia, said Burbank Coach Ken

Schafer.

“It was a good strategy to walk her,” Schafer said. “That’s just

respect for a player they realize is a great hitter.”

Janette Galindo had two hits -- including a double -- for

Burroughs.

Emily Rohr had two hits for Burbank.