Juan Carlo / Star staff La Reina's Allie Martin lays down a bunt during the Regents' 7-3 victory over Burroughs in the CIF-SS Division III softball playoffs.

After 22 years as Don Hyatt's right-hand man, Bob Sisco took over as the La Reina High softball team's head coach this season.

"Mr. Sisco's been here forever," said sophomore Sarah Fox.

Wednesday, the Regents gave their long-time guru his first postseason victory as a head coach. Even if Sisco wasn't interested in the wild-card round.

"It doesn't count yet," said Sisco.

Starter Kaitlynne Burkett and reliever Makenna Cox combined to throw a six-hitter and Fox paced the offense with two big doubles as host La Reina beat Burroughs of Burbank, 7-3, in a CIF-Southern Section Division III wild-card game.

"Five more wins and you guys are champions," La Reina assistant Tom Bailey told the team.

La Reina (14-12) will play at La Serna, the Del Rio League champion, in Friday's first round.

In a meeting of two third-place 13-12 teams the Regents made the biggest move in the bottom of the first inning, when the first four batters scored to open up a 4-0 lead.

Bryanne Buchanan walked, Allie Martin reached on an error and Fox, who entered play hitting a team-best .444 with a team-high 20 RBIs, doubled to deep left-center field to plate two runs.

"I didn't even think I hit it hard," said Fox, whose shot briefly appeared to clear the fence. "That's what people in the dugout asked me, Did it go out.' "

Fox and Maija Ehlinger scored on Taylor Yamek's two-run single.

Burkett (8-5) struck out seven and scattered four hits in five innings pitched, but the sophomore's biggest moment came in the visiting third when she wriggled out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam by striking out a pair of batters.

"I was kind of nervous, but I know my team would back me up," said Burkett. "It gave me a lot of confidence."

As did the La Reina lineup. After Burroughs scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to pull within 5-3, the Regents matched them run-for-run.

With two outs in the La Reina fourth, Fox doubled and Ehlinger drove her home with a single up the middle. Alex Mogan doubled to lead off the La Reina fifth and scored on Jordan Needle's single to left field. Needle scored on Buchanan's singled through the left side of the infield.

"We're definitely an offensive team," said Fox. "Everybody can contribute."

La Reina may have had to traverse the wild-card round, but the Regents will go to Whittier on Friday with confidence, having won 10 of 16 games while facing some of the area's top teams, including Simi Valley and Oak Park.

"We have a really young team," said Fox, "but we've played some good teams."