Bulldogs

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.

BURBANK - The Burbank High and Glendale boys' basketball teams found themselves in a precarious position. At this point in the season, every misstep could prove disastrous; every loss could ultimately be the difference between making the playoffs and spending the postseason sitting home. With the first three of four playoffs spots just about locked up by Muir, Pasadena and Crescenta Valley, the Bulldogs and Nitros met Tuesday in a battle of squads scratching to stay in contention for the coveted fourth position.

LA CRESCENTA - The Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball team got pushed by Burbank in Friday's Pacific League game. Down by nine points early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs started draining three-pointers and not only grabbed the momentum but also jumped in front of the host Falcons. But Crescenta Valley responded to the challenge like a team determined to remain within striking distance of the league leaders. The Falcons stopped the Burbank run, wrestled back control of the contest and ultimately turned back the Bulldogs to gain a 62-55 victory.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Twelve divided by six equaled two for the Pasadena High girls' basketball team in Pacific League play Wednesday afternoon. The short-handed six-girl Bulldogs' squad, which was missing five players due to grades and injuries, used its height to cut down a Glendale squad twice as large in numbers in completing a two-game season-sweep of the Nitros, 49-32. "As long as we play smart, we'll be OK," Pasadena Coach Wesley Stewart said. "We're obviously limited in player availability, so we can't make silly mistakes like fouls.