Calabasas Baseball Team Makes Its Pitch

With strong pitching, Calabasas High’s baseball team is 2-2 heading into a nonleague game Saturday at 11 a.m. against visiting Palmdale.

After giving up a total of four runs through the first three games, Calabasas is coming off a 6-2 loss Thursday against Kennedy, and standout shortstop Alex Rubanwitz believes the Coyotes will be OK this season.

“We’re pretty solid right now, and our pitchers are doing awesome,” Rubanowitz said. “Our defense is very solid, too. The offense has not quite come together yet, but a lot of our pitchers are doing well against the opposing hitters.”

So complete is Calabasas’ staff that Rubanowitz is not pitching at all this season after 2-1 with a 4.48 ERA as a junior. Instead, the UC Riverside-bound shortstop is concentrating on hitting and fielding. In four games, he’s hitting .385 with two home runs and three RBIs, though he is not getting much help, as Calabasas has a team batting batting average of .237 with a total of six extra-base hits.

But pitching wins championships, and the team ERA is 2.37, so Calabasas could be in good shape.

“We have three good starters with Travis Cassidy, Jacob Fields and Sean Ladendecker,” Rubanowitz said. “I believe in our pitchers. It’s an amazing pitching staff.”

TENNIS READY TO SLAM

A year after winning the Southern Section Div. IV boys tennis championship, Viewpoint High should be even better this season with the return of most of its players – including top singles players Bryce Deissanger and Kobi Jaffe, plus the addition of top freshman Darius Mackenzie.

“We’re looking to make some noise again,” coach Travis Kikugawa said. “They boys are looking really sharp early on, and we’re testing ourselves against the very best in the area. If the boys can continue to stay on course and focus on training and competing, they’ll find themselves in good position.”

The team was 19-1 with Deisswanger leading the way as the No. 1 singles player. He’s a senior captain, and colleges are taking an interest in him.

“He is definitely a player looking to play at the next level,” Kikugawa said.

Jaffe returns at No. 2, and he should also make an impact in doubles, along with the team of Nishanth Yamani and Jeremy Wacker.

GOLF TEAM GETS IN THE SWING

Viewpoint’s boys golf team returns six of seven from last year, including Alex Angard, the reigning Prep League MVP who won the two-day Toyota Tour Cup tournament at Carlton Oaks on Feb. 19-20.

“I believe he’s ranked as one of the top 10 players in California,” Viewpoint coach Paul Bastedo said.

The other golfers are senior Will Bastien, junior Daniel Cha and sophomores Jake Kester, Ian Levy and Trevoer Kaufman.

Viewpoint has the league title seven years in a row. This season, Webb figures to pose the most serious challenge.

“If we stay healthy and play to our potential, we will contend for another league title,” Bastedo said.