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Fabian lifts Glendale softball to win over Burbank in league opener

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Sammy Fabian has had her share of key hits in her four-year tenure with the Glendale High softball program.

So, with the score tied in extra innings and a runner in scoring position in Tuesday’s Pacific League-opening game against Burbank, the Nitros had just who they wanted at the plate in the decorated senior.

Fabian, an all-state and All-CIF standout, took her place in the batter’s box, went with the first pitch she saw and rocketed it into left field, scoring the winning run to lift Glendale to a 6-5 win in eight innings against the host Bulldogs at McCambridge Park.

Fabian had two hits on the day, as well as scoring a run, but her single in the top of the eighth inning is one the Nitros (7-3) really needed.

“Sammy is the exact person we wanted up to bat in that spot,” Glendale Coach Chris Funaro said. “We had two fast runners at first and third and her at the plate and there is no better person in that situation than Sammy.

“She sees the pitches so well, she knows what’s going on in every situation and she’s just so smart. It is just such a pleasure to coach her and the way she swings the bat is just so beautiful to watch.”

With the score tied at 5 in the eighth, Glendale’s Miya Legaspi legged out an infield single to shortstop and Valeria Hidalgo (two for three) followed with a sharp single to shallow left field. That set the stage for Fabian, who took her place against Burbank (1-8) pitcher Alyssa Porras.

“That pitch to Sammy was supposed to be for an unintentional walk,” Burbank Coach Mike Delaney said. “But it was right over the plate.”

Fabian rook the offering and roped a single that hopped in front of the left fielder, allowing Legaspi to motor home with the winning run.

“Those are the types of situations that I always like to be in,” said Fabian, who is headed to UC Santa Barbara. “I want to be in that situation and take everything that I’ve learned and just try and get the hit. I was just thinking that I just had to find a way to get it through. I knew if I could get the hit that the runner would be able to make it home.”

The Nitros took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Esme Piedra singled and scored on a base hit to right-center field by Aurora Funaro (two for three with a walk and two runs batted in).

However, the lead didn’t last long, as Burbank took a 2-1 advantage in its half of the first. Alex Davis walked and was plated by a single to center field by Anysia Gonzalez (two for four with two runs scored). Gonzalez scored on a single through the right side by Bene Snyder (two for four with three RBI).

Glendale jumped back in front, 4-2, with two runs in the top of the third, spearheaded by a two-run double from Janet Dominiguez (two for three with a walk and three RBI).

But once again the Bulldogs battled back, tallying two runs in their half of the third to tie the score at 4. Snyder had a two-run single in the frame.

A walk by Funaro in the fifth inning put the Nitros back in front, 5-4. But down to its last three outs, Burbank scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh when Gonzalez singled and scored on a Glendale throwing error.

The Bulldogs had runners in scoring position in the second, fourth and fifth innings and came up empty.

“I love our spirit and I love the way that we fight and we never give up,” Delaney said. “We just weren’t mentally focused for the entire seven innings.

“What has been a problem for us all year, leaving runners in scoring position. And I think that all comes down to kids just trying to do too much instead of just putting the ball in play.”

jeffrey.tully@latimes.com

Twitter: @jefftsports

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