Heartbreakers win title
Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
As Hallie White and Nesleen Lobarbio explained it, the Burbank
Heartbreakers’ win Wednesday in the championship game of the Little
League District 16 Major Softball Tri-Cities Tournament came down to
two essentials their coaches preach.
“Everyone is heads-up [on defense],” White said. “And
hitting-wise, everyone makes connections.”
The Heartbreakers (23-1-1) made several impressive plays on
defense -- including White’s snag of a line drive, which she turned
into a double play to end the game -- and produced eight hits to
capture the title with a 7-2 win against the Crescenta Valley Fenway
at Scholl Canyon Park.
White and Lobarbio were their team’s catalysts on offense,
combining for three hits, including a pair of doubles by Lobarbio.
White scored twice and Lobarbio drove in a run.
The Heartbreakers started their scoring early, plating two runs in
the first inning and three in the second.
Heartbreaker Hattie Linares also scored twice and teammates Solana
Sanchez and Tatiana Sanchez had one run apiece.
Muir-Chase 10, Burbank Diamonds 0: One team had a 14-0 hurler on
the mound for Wednesday night’s Little League District 16 Junior
Softball Tri-Cities Tournament championship. The other team was
without its ace pitcher.
It was easy to tell which team was which.
Muir-Chase pitcher Baillie Kirker struck out four in a two-hitter
to remain undefeated this season, and her team took advantage of 11
walks by Burbank Diamonds pitchers to claim a five-inning victory at
Scholl Canyon Park.
Burbank ace Chantal Bevard pitched a complete game a night
earlier, striking out three and walking none in a four-hitter to
defeat Western Studios, 5-4, so she was not allowed to pitch against
Muir-Chase.
Instead, starter Alexis Hernandez walked six and gave up four runs
in 1 1/3 innings. Elisa Serna gave up six base on balls and six
runs.
Chuck Schilken