The night was filled with celebration as the Indians of John Burroughs High (13-10, 8-5 in league) prepared to meet their cross town rivals, the Bulldogs of Burbank High (13-10, 9-4), for the second time in Pacific League play. A Burroughs win would put the team even in league play and a coin toss would determine the final rankings. Their first meeting, at McCambridge Park on April 5, saw the Bulldogs defeat the Indians 3-0.

The evening started off with a special ceremony to induct Linda Lowande (class of 1981) and Barbara Hofer (class of 1987) into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame. Both women won Foothill League and CIF honors playing softball under coach Jerry Libman, who presented certificates to the former players. This was followed by a special recognition of senior players, accompanied by their parents, from both schools who were presented with flowers. Burbank honored seniors Samantha Koll, Krista Smith, Tiffany Tomlinson, and Vicki Wachowiak; the Burroughs seniors included Caiti Block, Melanie Shelton, and Jade Terry. With all of the ceremonies completed, the Burroughs Vocal Music Ensemble sang the National Anthem and the first pitch was thrown out to begin the game.

On the mound for Burroughs was Jade Terry with Katie Budrick behind the plate. They would face the battery of pitcher Kristin Peraza and catcher Alexis Hernandez. At the top of the 1st inning, Terry walked Daisy Beltran, who then stole second base. Kristina Ortiz then hit a ground ball that was scooped up by the Burroughs defense, but the throw to first was off and got past Cassie Colón. This allowed Beltran to score the only run of the game. Ortiz was thrown out running and the defense shutdown the next two Burbank batters. The bottom of the inning saw the Indians go down in order as Peraza logged two of her fifteen strikeouts of the game. The Bulldogs opened the 2nd inning with a single by Megan Schafer, but were unable to produce a run as Terry recorded the first of her six strikeouts in the game. For their part, the Indians went down in order with Peraza striking out the side. The 3rd inning had Terry giving up the second hit of the game - a single by Ortiz - followed by Peraza walking. The Bulldogs were stopped by the Burroughs defense, stranding the runners. In the bottom of the inning, Peraza added to her strikeout total as she again retired the side. In the 4th inning, Terry walked one batter while striking out another - but the defense backed her up, preventing a score. The Burroughs batter zeroed in on Peraza as two batters singled in the inning but were unable to score as Peraza added strikeouts 9, 10, and 11. Terry hit the leadoff batter in the 5th inning but struck out the next two batters, and Peraza (the third batter) popped out to the center fielder, Shelton. The Indians sent three batters to the plate only to see them go down 1-2-3. In the 6th and 7th innings, Burbank went down in order as Terry recorded two strikeouts. Burroughs did not score in their half of the 6th inning, sending the minimum of three batters to the late. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Terry, leadoff batter, tried to help her cause as she hit a double. Next up was Bri Casillas. Terry was given the signal to steal third just before Casillas swung for the third strike and the first out of the inning. Burbank catcher Hernandez gloved the ball and quickly fired a shot to the third baseman, Krista Smith. Terry was caught for the second out of the inning. Peraza then pitched her final strikeout of the game, ending any Burroughs hope for a comeback win.

Competition is intense; when rivals meet head-to-head, the level of intensity goes up several notches. The Burbank-Burroughs rivalry is no exception. The Bulldogs can howl throughout the city for the next year. The Indians will take the time to develop a different game plan. Before any of this can happen, however, both teams will prepare for next week's CIF playoffs as they have completed league play in 3rd and 4th places respectively.

We wish the senior softball players all the best as they graduate and elevate their life to a new level.