Banner year for Burbank Little League

JEFF TULLY

The faces of the Burbank-Tujunga 11-year-old Little League All-Star

Softball team said it all.

Just moments earlier Wednesday, a team comprised of players from

Burbank and Tujunga Little Leagues defeated Temecula, 5-0, to capture

the state championship in the inaugural Division 3 Tournament.

Along with the hugs, the high-fives and the congratulatory wishes

from family and friends, the girls took a few minutes to revel in

their historic accomplishment, bouncing around Scholl Canyon Park

infield like ping-pong balls.

Perhaps lost on the girls in the midst of all the excitement --

they are only 11-year-olds -- was the significance of their feat.

Although seven of the 13 players from the squad are locals, their

ability to bring home a state title is reverberating throughout

Burbank Little League.

The Division 3 title is the culmination of a successful and

breakthrough season for Burbank Little League.

In just its fourth year of existence, Burbank Little League has

been able to grow and prosper, despite not having a permanent home

field to call its own.

“I am so proud of this team, and all of our teams and players in

our program,” said Burbank President Roger Koll. “We have over 270

kids in the program, and we have gotten bigger every year.

“And this is the first year we have had softball teams. So, to win

something like this in just the first year we have had the sport, is

a huge accomplishment.

“The girls should be proud, and this will be a lifetime memory for

them.”

Bringing home a championship can only serve to elevate Burbank

Little League among its peers.

“I hope it provides a boost for Burbank softball,” said

11-year-old team Coach Paul Rodriguez.

“Sure, I hope it does good things for Tujunga, but most important,

I hope it boosts the confidence for Little League Softball as a

whole. If it does that, then it would be great.”

This season, five Burbank teams -- or squads including area

players -- advanced to all-star tournament play. And most of the

teams did well, competing against programs that have been in

existence for decades.

Along with the 11-year-old team, a 9- and 10-year-old softball

squad with area players combined with athletes from Tujunga to

capture the District 16 championship.

Another team that enjoyed unprecedented success was the Burbank

Major Baseball squad, comprised of 11- and 12-year-olds. The Ron

Gobble-coached group won four games and advanced to the District 16

title contest, losing to Crescenta Valley, 4-1.

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It was a struggle bringing Little League to Burbank in the first

place. The city never included a Little League program, and many

thought there just wasn’t enough room for another organization to

coexist alongside the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services

Hap Minor Baseball league.

However, a small group of supporters thought there was a place for

Little League in the city, and they worked hard to make the local

organization a reality.

Two individuals who helped make that happen are Koll and Gobble.

“I am very proud of everyone who has been involved in the process

of getting his league started, and all they have done over the past

four years,” Koll said. “It was years of working to reach that

success.”

Koll -- who was at Scholl Canyon Park Wednesday to help the

11-year-old team celebrate its championship -- thinks the league has

been able to thrive and be successful because of a fine group of

volunteers.

“We are an all-volunteer organization, and we have a lot of

dedicated parents from Burbank who have supported us, and who have

continued to help develop the Little League,” he said.

“I look forward to continued success for years to come.”

Gobble was also in attendance at the championship game. In fact,

Gobble has been at many Little League softball and baseball games

this season.

Ron’s daughter, Kristina, was the starting center fielder on the

Burbank-Tujunga 11-year-old team, and his son, Josh, played for him

on the 11- and 12-year-old Major Baseball squad.

Ron Gobble said he feels a sense of pride seeing the positive

steps the Burbank Little League has taken in such a short time, and

knowing he had a hand in helping the organization gain a foothold in

the community.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is the number of people who are

stepping up to volunteer to help us out,” said Gobble, who was an

all-league baseball player at Glendale High. “There is a lot of work

involved in maintaining this organization.

“But when that 11-year-old team goes to put their championship

banner up at our home field, we really don’t have -- what I call -- a

home field. We have Brace [Park] on Saturdays, but it’s not the same

as having a home field from March to June.

“But considering all of the obstacles these kids have had to

overcome, essentially playing on the road most of the time, I’m very

proud not only of the kids, but the parents who come out to support

the program.”

One measure of the Burbank Little League’s success is the number

of athletes who are taking part in the organization. From just 13

teams four years ago, the program grew to 21 teams this season.

The teams doing well in tournament play is another indication of

success.

“It’s amazing that the boys’ 9-10s, the boys’ 11-12s and the boys’

9s all won opening day in the district tournaments,” Gobble said.

“That’s really nice to see.”

And with many of its players returning to play next season, look

for things to only get better for the Burbank Little League.

* JEFF TULLY is the sports editor of the Burbank Leader. He can be

reached at 637-3245, or by e-mail at jeff.tully@latimes.com.