Bulldogs, Guards at home for quarterfinals

The Burbank High and Bellarmine-Jefferson softball teams have taken separate routes in the CIF Southern Section playoffs this season.

The Guards have dominated the first two rounds in Division VII, outscoring their opponents, 34-0, in notching two wins.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have had to battle and were able to hold on for a pair of 1-0 victories in Division III.

Although the teams have taken different paths in the postseason, both have earned berths in the quarterfinals, and both will play home games at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Burbank will take on Bishop Amat at McCambridge Park and Bell-Jeff will face Bloomington Christian at Gross Park.

The Bulldogs (23-6) — the runner-up from the Pacific League — are fresh off a 1-0 second-round win against Downey on Tuesday. The Lancers (22-3), the Del Rey League champion, defeated Torrance, 3-1, in the second round.

Bell-Jeff (21-5-2), the No. 2 seed, won its third straight Santa Cruz League title this season. The Guards beat Animo Leadership, 16-0, to earn a second-round win Tuesday. Bloomington Christian (20-8) finished second in the Victory League. The Ravens defeated Viewpoint, 3-0, to advance to the quarterfinals.

Bell-Jeff advanced to the Division VII championship last season for the first time in program history.