Burbank at a loss after defeat

NORTHRIDGE — In its previous three games prior to Sunday, it had combined to score a staggering 57 runs.

It thought it had enough offense to contend for a Section 2 Tournament championship.

Its offense was finally halted in the past two days, as the Burbank Junior Baseball All-Star team’s torrid offensive pace ended.

In its final two games, it scored nine runs, resulting in two losses and an end to its season. Burbank was eliminated from tournament play with a 13-3 loss to Encino on Monday in a second-chance bracket game of the Section 2 Tournament at Northridge Little League Fields. The game was called at the end of the sixth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Burbank used to be the team that scored runs in bunches and had games take three-plus hours.

It defeated Crescenta Valley by a 24-14 margin in the District 16 Tournament championship game, a day after falling to the same team, 15-14.

Burbank started the Section 2 Tournament with a 19-13 win against Encino on Saturday.

It met Encino on Monday with a short-handed roster and without its coach. Burbank Coach Mike Lockheimer, his standout son, Conner Lockheimer, and starter Jared Whaley were all ejected in Burbank’s 7-6 loss to San Marino National on Sunday. All three had to serve a mandatory one-game suspension Monday.

The trio missed Encino putting on its best offensive show, and Burbank displaying its worst.

“We expected a lot more,” Burbank assistant coach Jim Noud said. “We’re all disappointed in how we played. We knew it was going to be a tough one. We had some bad at-bats.

“We had the depth that should’ve made up [for the loss of Lockheimer and Whaley]. Whether it was a lack of effort or a lack of focus, we didn’t play well enough.”

Encino limited Burbank to one hit through four innings before the locals collected four hits and two runs in the fifth. Fischer Cabot had two of his team’s hits and two runs and Tony Argenziano had one run for Burbank.

Encino had a multitude of players stand out.

Jake Baer scored four runs and Jerry Goosenberg tallied two. Baer and Jose Campos each had three hits, as Encino had 16 total.

“That’s a team that can really hit the ball,” Noud said.

Burbank did too, until Sunday’s loss to San Marino National, which will meet Encino in today’s 5 p.m. title game at Northridge Little League fields.

Said Noud: “I’m proud of the guys. We still had a good season.”