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