Calabasas Baseball Standout Rubanowitz Saves Best for Last

In his last opportunity to represent , Alex Rubanowitz celebrated in grand style Saturday, going 2 for 2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs for the Southern Section in a 15-3 win in the annual City Section vs. Southern Section All-Star Game at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.

The UC Riverside-bound shortstop scored the go-ahead run the seventh inning of the nine-inning game, and also turned a double play for the final out.

“There were a lot of really good players, the best in the area, so it was a great just to be out there and great to play in a game like this. It was a lot of fun,” Rubanowitz said. “I enjoyed it.”

In the seventh with the score tied 3-3, Rubanowitz led off with a double off Sylmar’s Juvenal Terrazas. In the ninth, Rubanowitz singled off Birmingham’s Kevin Torres.

David Hubinger of St. Francis was named game MVP, and it was a close call between Hubinger (2 for 3, two doubles, three RBIs) and Rubanowitz, who also was strongly considered.

Hubinger did not make an appearance until the seventh inning, and his two-run pinch-hit double highlighted a three-run rally to help the Southern Section pull away for good. An inning later, Hubinger hit a run-scoring single, as the Southern Section scored 10 runs over the final three innings to win going away.

The Southern Section won for the first time since 2008 in a series the City leads 3-2.

Valencia’s Nick Rivas earned the relief win, and Terrazas took the loss.

VIEWPOINT VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO STAY STRONG

After finishing 14-6 and advancing to the Southern Section Div. V semifinals, boys volleyball team graduates just one starter—senior Drew Johnson—so the Patriots expect to have another strong season this coming school year.

“We had a great year. The boys jelled at the right time,” coach Byron Goff said. “Drew Johnston is a big loss, but we do have everyone else returning from the starting seven."

Among the key returnees are junior setter Jack Borenstein, junior middle blocker Austin Brockhaus, sophomore outside hitter David Cutler, junior outside hitter Mark Cohrs and sophomore opposite hitter Chris Kimes.

Viewpoint lost in the playoffs to eventual section champion Chadwick.

“I can’t wait for next year,” Goff said. “I think we have the firepower coming back, whereas the other three schools that were in the final four with us, they all lose a lot of players.”

MARIN MAKES BID TO TAKE OVER AS CALABASAS QB

Once Calabasas begins summer football drills beginning Monday, Brandon Marin enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback, a big job considering Marin has to fill the shoes of the graduating Kyle Zion, who was the Coyotes’ top player last year, as the team finished 3-7 – a step up from past seasons.

Marin has looked sharp, but he is still being pushed by junior Ike Fuchs, first-year coach Christian Pierce said.

“They’re still competing for the first spot,” Pierce said.

The good news is whomever wins the job should have lot of talented receivers, a team strength.

“I love our receivers,” Pierce said.

Among the top receivers are juniors Caleb Madden, Matt Gutthridge and Devin Doyle and senior Nema Sahebifard. Madden, Guttlridge and Doyle have experience playing on last year’s team,, and Sahebifard is an intriguing prospect, a converted basketball player who is 6-foot—3 and 225 pounds.

“Nema is very athletic with nice size and good feet,” Pierce said.

Sagebifard has returned to football after a two-year absence.

“He played as a freshman. He has the size and he could be a dominating guy,” Pierce said. “Obviously, he has to bet back in the rhythm for football by running routes, that kind of thing, and that’s what he is going to do.”