Burbank Junior softball rolls into championship game
TUJUNGA – It stands to reason that sooner or later the Burbank Junior All-Star softball team will be challenged for more than a couple of innings this postseason.
So far, that hasn’t been case.
Burbank propelled itself to Thursday’s title game of the Little League State Division Championship tournament via a 13-5 victory over host Westchester Del Rey on Tuesday evening at Tujunga Little League Ballfields in a game that lasted 2 hours, 41 minutes.
Burbank will face Los Angeles or Westchester on Thursday back at Tujunga at 5 p.m. Los Angeles will take on Westchester on Wednesday in elimination play.
The prize at the end of the state division tournament is a berth to the Junior Regional Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. beginning July 19.
Through four postseason games, in which Burbank won the Section 2 Championship and opened with two victories in the state tournament, the District 16 representative is 4-0 and has won those contests by a combined 44-12 score.
“For the most part, even though we’ve only had four games, I’ve known most of these girls forever, since they were kindergartners,” Burbank coach Rocco Buffolino said. “I know what they’re capable of doing and I’m not surprised. There’s always room for improvement, but I didn’t think we did much wrong tonight.”
If there’s a common theme throughout the four contests, it’s Burbank’s penchant for the big inning.
Tuesday evening proved no exception as the squad rallied from a 1-0 deficit with a game-changing top of the second in which Burbank sent 10 players to the plate. The Section 2 champion scored seven runs on four hits and was the beneficiary of two errors, three walks and three wild pitches.
Annie Buffolino, Kaelyn Freed and Daniella Gray all contributed run-scoring singles. Clarisa Robles also scored when Westchester’s catcher illegally blocked home, while Kim Rudder completed a successful double steal in swiping home plate.
Burbank added two runs in the third when a pop up to second base by Melli Orozco was dropped with two outs, allowing Rudder and Lizzy Zamora to score to give the visitors a 9-1 lead.
In the fourth, Burbank again added two runs on a single from Victoria Sanchez and a fielder’s choice from Rudder to take an 11-2 advantage.
Burbank’s final two runs came in the top of the sixth with two outs.
Rudder and Sanchez were both plunked with two outs. Rudder scored on back-to-back wild pitches while Sanchez was singled home by Annie Buffolino (two runs batted in and one run scored) as Burbank took a 13-2 lead.
Westchester’s offense was generated early by hard-hitting left fielder Reina Paysinger, who tripled in teammate Rhyan Parker in the first inning. Paysinger later doubled home Bangie Rosello in the third inning to bring her squad within 9-2.
Westchester was pesky all night and thwarted Burbank’s chance at the mercy-rule victory as Burbank led, 13-2, heading to the bottom of the sixth.
The home squad scored two runs – on a wild pitch and on a grounder from Kayla James – to pull within 13-4 after six innings.
Westchester added a run in the seventh against Burbank closer Annie Buffolino set up on a double by Parker that cemented the 13-5 final score.
Rudder, who scored three runs and had an RBI, picked up the victory for Burbank as the starting pitcher allowed two runs on five hits through four innings with five strikeouts. Rudder was relieved by Savannah Benson, who pitched two innings and allowed two runs on two hits.
Gray, Burbank’s catcher, added two runs and one RBI.
“I liked that we went out there, swung the bats, put the ball in play and made things happen,” Rocco Buffolino said. “At this level, it’s about making things happen. Our pitching was good today and our next game is Thursday. I like our chances.”
Twitter: @campadresports
