Bulldogs

BASEBALL Burbank 5, Glendale 1: A day after defeating Pasadena, the Nitros dropped a Pacific League home contest Wednesday afternoon. Senior Rafael Ruiz knocked in the lone run for the Nitros (4-8, 2-6) in the seventh with a bases-loaded grounder to short. Pitcher Dillion Howard (0-1) picked up the tough-luck defeat, allowing three unearned runs over four innings before being replaced by sophomore Brandon Keene, who surrendered two runs in three innings of work.

PASADENA - Coming within a point of a tie late in the opening half, the Hoover High football team appeared ready to perhaps seize its first win of the season, or at least come close to it, against host Pasadena. But the inspired play by the Tornadoes seemingly jolted the Bulldogs, who then answered with four consecutive touchdowns to take a 49-19 Pacific League victory Thursday night. Hoover (0-8, 0-5) remained winless, while Pasadena (5-3, 4-1) won its fourth straight game.

PASADENA - The Pasadena High football team knew it could score on Crescenta Valley in Friday's Pacific League game, and the Falcons knew that they would have fits against the Bulldog offense. The only question was whether the Bulldogs - who allowed more than 40 points in each of their previous two league contests - could stop the Falcons enough times to win. Pasadena proved it could stop Crescenta Valley when it needed to. The Bulldogs shut down the Falcon offense for the majority of the second half and exploded for 33 unanswered points in the process en route to 53-42 home win. Crescenta Valley's second-team offense scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes to make the score respectable.

PASADENA - Defending home court starts with defense, as the Pasadena High boys' basketball team proved on Friday night in an 80-59 win over Crescenta Valley that was also a huge step for the Bulldogs' in defending their Pacific League title. "We had to [come out with intensity]. Somebody was going to be [knocked] out of first place today," said Pasadena Coach Tim Tucker, whose team and the Falcons entered the game in a three-way tie for first place in league with Muir. The nine-time defending champs are used to having a target on their backs, particularly when the Falcons come to town, but on Friday looked anything but ready to concede league superiority.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — It turned out to be a win-win for the girls' tennis teams from both Flintridge Prep and Burbank on Friday, as the Rebels loaded up on confidence and the Bulldogs played for experience. Prep was clicking on all cylinders as it rolled through Burbank, 14-4, at Scholl Canyon Park. Singles play continued to be a strength for the Rebels, as their top two singles players, juniors Kira Lee and Jenise Vargas, won all their sets. Lee was close to perfect, as she didn't surrender a single set, winning them all, 6-0. "It felt really nice to go out there and do really well today," Lee said.

BURBANK - Prior to Crescenta Valley High boys' tennis team meeting Burbank in a Pacific League match for the second time in less than a week, Burbank Coach Loi Phan predicted Tuesday's contest would be close again. Crescenta Valley and Burbank backed up Phan's statement, as Burbank earned an 11-7 home victory. "I just told both teams during the introductions that it would be that way," said Phan, who saw Crescenta Valley best Burbank, 9-9(79-70), on Thursday at Crescenta Valley.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — A year ago, the Pasadena High football team defeated Hoover because it was too fast and when it got to the outside, the Tornadoes couldn't catch the Bulldogs. Not much changed this season. The Bulldogs rushed for 212 yards and limited the Tornadoes to 71 total yards through three quarters in a 41-7 Pacific League victory Friday at Moyse Field. "Their speed was too much for us," Tornado Coach Chris Long conceded. Pasadena's speed made a difference on offense and defense.

BURBANK — With each strikeout recorded by Crescenta Valley High pitcher Kyle Murray, each Burbank batter walked slowly back to the dugout frustrated. It became a common occurrence in what turned out to be a career day for Murray. Murray struck out 15 and hit a solo home run for good measure Tuesday to help lift visiting Crescenta Valley to a 3-1 Pacific League win against Burbank. Murray, a senior right-hander, got stronger as the game quickly moved along on a warm afternoon.

BURBANK - A strong effort put forth by Crescenta Valley High in the second half of Friday night's Pacific League girls' basketball contest against Burbank fell short, as the Bulldogs came out on top, 41-34. Burbank sisters Damarie and Jamie Gonzalez helped hold off the Falcons, combining for 21 points. Damarie, a senior, finished with 12 points and three assists, while Jamie scored 11 and was credited with two assists. Courtney Seidler finished with 10 points and dominated on the glass, pulling down a game-high eight boards for the Bulldogs (9-7, 3-0 in league)

BURBANK - Burbank High pitcher Daniel Starkand and his counterpart at Crescenta Valley, Kyle Murray, battled in a valiant head-to-head tie baseball game through seven innings Friday. Unfortunately for the two hurlers, neither was around to garner a decision when the game was finally decided in the 10th inning. Both Starkand and Murray pitched well and gave way to relievers after the Bulldogs and Falcons were knotted at 1 through regulation. Despite having its chances to win the contest in regulation and in extra innings, Burbank wasn't able to cash in on its opportunities.

BASEBALL Burbank 5, Glendale 1: A day after defeating Pasadena, the Nitros dropped a Pacific League home contest Wednesday afternoon. Senior Rafael Ruiz knocked in the lone run for the Nitros (4-8, 2-6) in the seventh with a bases-loaded grounder to short. Pitcher Dillion Howard (0-1) picked up the tough-luck defeat, allowing three unearned runs over four innings before being replaced by sophomore Brandon Keene, who surrendered two runs in three innings of work.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - For the sixth straight game, the Glendale High baseball squad failed to muster up an earned run. Unlike the previous five which ended in losses, however, Tuesday afternoon saw the Nitros receive a solid outing from starting pitcher Daniel Aragon and timely defense, as they capitalized on errors to nullify another subpar day at the plate for a 1-0 Pacific League victory over the visiting Pasadena Bulldogs Tuesday afternoon....

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - There was one strike separating the Glendale High softball team from a spotless first inning. Burbank High's Laina Do didn't change her approach with a 1-2 count and two outs, though, as she lined a single into left field. The hit scored the Bulldogs' Caitlyn Brooks, who worked a lead-off walk, and Do came around to score as the ball rolled all the way to the fence on a fielding error. "The key to hitting in my personal opinion is to have confidence," Burbank Coach Nicole Drabecki said.

BURBANK - Prior to Crescenta Valley High boys' tennis team meeting Burbank in a Pacific League match for the second time in less than a week, Burbank Coach Loi Phan predicted Tuesday's contest would be close again. Crescenta Valley and Burbank backed up Phan's statement, as Burbank earned an 11-7 home victory. "I just told both teams during the introductions that it would be that way," said Phan, who saw Crescenta Valley best Burbank, 9-9(79-70), on Thursday at Crescenta Valley.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE - In a match that was years in the making, the Hoover High boys' volleyball team missed an opportunity to pick up its first victory this season after a 25-18, 25-20, 25-17 Pacific League defeat to visiting Burbank on Wednesday afternoon. “We came out really excited and I think we got overly excited and played really tentative and made a lot of mistakes,” Tornadoes co-Coach Christian Hong said. “Burbank did a good job with their serve, they served really tough on us and we just didn't play as well as our ability.” The victory was the fourth in a row for surging Burbank (4-10 overall, 1-3 in league)

BURBANK - The battle for third place in the Pacific League tightened up in the third quarter, when the Glendale High girls' water polo team's offense finally showed up. The Nitros made a game of it with a second-half resurgence, but Pasadena made a fourth-quarter stand to claim a 6-5 win Thursday in the league championship tournament at Burbank High. “We just really emphasized the defense that we still had to run and take our time and use the clock on offense,” said Pasadena Coach Jennie Jacobsen-Huse, whose defense held the Nitros without a goal and to just one shot over the final 2:16 of the game to preserve a one-goal lead.

BURBANK - The battle for third place in the Pacific League tightened up in the third quarter, when the Glendale High girls' water polo team's offense finally showed up. The Nitros made a game of it with a second-half resurgence, but Pasadena made a fourth-quarter stand to claim a 6-5 win Thursday in the league championship tournament at Burbank High. "We just really emphasized the defense that we still had to run and take our time and use the clock on offense," said Pasadena Coach Jennie Jacobsen-Huse, whose defense held the Nitros without a goal and to just one shot over the final 2:16 of the game to preserve a one-goal lead.