Calabasas High Softball Team Is on the Rise

Don’t look now, but beleaguered softball program could be primed for a major turnaround.

After going 6-16 last season and 1-13 in the Marmonte League, the Coyotes are 3-1, including a 3-2 win Thursday over cross-town rival Agoura in the league opener.

“It’s a pretty good start for us but we still have a ways to go,” coach Barbara Hofer said.

Calabasas has never won a Marmonte title since joining in 2001, but this is one of the first times the Coyotes have a dependable, experienced pitcher. Taylor Gunther (3-1), a junior right-hander who is a returning starter, held Agoura to four hits and struck out nine.

“She had a good game,” Hofer said. “Taylor is doing a good job. Hopefully, we’ll keep improving behind her.”

In the victory over Agoura, Maddy Gamm was 2 for 2 with a double, two runs and an RBI, and Cat Raff was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

“We had some timely hitting, which was nice,” Hofer said.

Calabasas looks to parlay the momentum Saturday in a tournament at Whittier High, beginning at 1:15 p.m. with a first-round match up against Corona Del Mar, followed by a 3 p.m. game against Baldwin Park.

“We usually make a pretty good showing out there,” Hofer said.

Marmonte League powers Royal and Thousand Oaks await next week, and it will be interesting to see if Calabasas is up for the challenge.

“We still have a long way to go,” Hofer said.

CALABASAS, AGOURA FACE OFF IN BASEBALL

It’s a big baseball day today, as Calabasas plays host to neighborhood rival Agoura. First pitch is 3:30 p.m., and both are jockeying for position in the always-competitive Marmonte League.

“We have a lot of friends on that team, and we’re planning on beating them,” Calabasas shortstop Alex Rubanowitz said. “I’m friends with Chad Clark, their star guy at shortstop, and I know (pitcher) Dan Kolodin and some of their other pitchers.”

Kolodin is Agoura’s ace with a 1-0 record and a 2.10 ERA. Calabasas counters with Jacob Fields (1-0, 1.75 ERA) and Travis Cassidy.

Both teams lost their Marmonte openers Wednesday, as Calabasas  (3-3, 0-1) fell 10-3 to Newbury Park, and Agoura (2-4, 0-1) lost 16-7 to Moorpark.

Like a lot of teams struggling to adjust to new restrictions on aluminum bats, Calabasas has a team batting average of .222. However, Rubanowitz, who has signed with UC Riverside, is doing well. He’s batting .312 with two home runs in 16 at-bats.

“I think the bats are fine,” Rubanowitz said. “They’re not as good as last year, but they do the job. It’s the same thing – you see the ball, you hit it.”