Capili lifts Burbank softball to win in playoff opener over La Mirada

BURBANK — Allyson Capili has had her share of struggles this season for the Burbank High softball team.

In the Bulldogs’ CIF Southern Section Division III first-round game against La Mirada on Thursday, the senior outfielder struggled as well, striking out in her first two at-bats from the No. 9 spot.

But Capili had a chance at redemption in a precarious situation in the sixth inning at McCambridge Park.

PHOTOS: Bulldogs’ win over La Mirada

The senior came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs.

Capili fell behind in the count, 1-2.

However, Capili proved up to the challenge, as she made contact with the next pitch and powered it to left field to score two runs for the eventual winning margin in a 3-1 Bulldogs win.

“She’s had her ups and down this season, that’s why we have her hitting in the No. 9 spot,” Burbank Coach Mike Delaney said. “She has had her peaks and valleys this season.

“But she has been working on shortening up her swing with two strikes in practice and she did a good job of that in that at-bat. …It’s nice to see her come through like that.”

The Bulldogs (21-4), the No. 3 seed and Pacific League champion, had trouble getting their offense rolling in the early innings. La Mirada (14-15), the No. 4 team from the Suburban League, and its pitcher Valerie Alvarado did well at keeping Burbank in check. The Bulldogs managed just five hits in the game.

With the score tied, 1-1, Burbank got a rally started in the bottom of the sixth inning. Isabel Frias led off with a chopper through the middle for a base hit. Julia Duarte, who had three of her team’s hits, followed with a bunt single on the left side to put two runners on. After Frias was erased on a fielder’s choice by Jazmin Orozco, Bridgette Pisa walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout, the stage was set for Capili, who delivered to score Duarte and Orozco.

“I was thinking that I could not strikeout, I had to get the ball somewhere,” Capili said. “With the bases loaded in a game like this, I knew I had to help out my team. I was just planning on fouling it off until I found a pitch to hit.

“When I saw the ball drop in it was a good feeling.”

Burbank senior pitcher Caitlyn Brooks, who is headed to Notre Dame, scattered five hits, struck out eight and didn’t surrender a walk in picking up the victory.

Burbank was able to get on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Lily Winn led off with a walk and scored on a single up the middle by Duarte.

The Matadores tied the score at 1 by pushing across a run in the top of the third. Nicole Barrow doubled on a blooper down the left-field line and was plated one batter later on a single to left by Angel Urbina.

“They were a good team and their pitcher threw hard,” Delaney said. “I told the girls that we left too many runners on base and we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity early in the game to put them away.”

A fine defensive play by Burbank in the sixth inning likely kept La Mirada from scoring the go-ahead run with the game tied, 1-1. With a runner on second and two outs, Alvarado blistered a line drive that looked like it would get by on the right side. However, Bulldogs second baseman Cailey Stevenson nabbed the ball in mid-flight and held on for the out.

Burbank will now move on to the second round Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. The Bulldogs will take on host Bishop Amat, which defeated San Jacinto, 4-1, in its first-round game Thursday.