'It's All Good:' Viewpoint Baseball Ace has Recovered From Arm Problems

Tyler Sprague, a top returning pitcher for baseball team, is finally full strength again after battling arm problems over the final month of his sophomore season.

Sprague, a 6-foot-4 left-hander, hit 85 mph on the speed at the prestigious Headfirst Showcase in Long Island, N.Y., and he also looked sharp at the Top Prospect Showcase in Las Vegas for Ivy League coaches.

“It’s all good. I’m back,” Sprague said. “Everything is back to normal and back to the way it used to be.”

This past season, Sprague  was 5-2 with a 1.31 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 42 innings, but he pitched sparingly over the final month of the season for precautionary reasons, as Viewpoint finished 21-6. He also batted .375 with one home run and 19 RBIs.

Sprague is one of several key returnees, as Viewpoint looks to repeat as Liberty League champions.

“I actually like our chances this year. I think we are going to be stronger than last year,” Sprague said.

Viewpoint also picked up a key transfer in Joey Verhaegh, a senior who arrived from Crespi in Encino, a top large-school program. Verhaegh is busy as the quarterback of the football team, but he is a top baseball player, too.

“He’s pretty good,” Sprague said. “He should be a good addition to the team with the others guys coming back. I’m looking forward to the season.”

CALABASAS SOFTBALL LOOKS TO IMPROVE

Calabasas High’s softball team has struggled over the past few years, particularly against Marmonte League competition, as the Coyotes (6-15, 1-13 in 2011) have an overall league record of 7-73 over the past seven seasons.

In a move to become more competitive, the girls are taking steps over the summer to improve. For the first time, it was mandatory to participate in summer workouts, even for the players who play travel ball.

“We’ve been training and running out there for two to three hours a day, twice a week for a while,” returning pitcher Taylor Gunther said. “We’ve had summer camps before, but it was never mandatory. It was even mandatory for incoming freshmen.”

Gunther and teammates Maddy Gamm and Shayna Gamm also played together on a travel team, the Pacific Coast Predators, who competed in the highest ASA level of 18-under gold.

“We won some games, but we didn’t end up winning any tournaments,” Gunther said. “We were out there almost every weekend. We went to Colorado and to Las Vegas, and it was fun. We got to bond and do things together. It’s nice to travel somewhere and play in a different environment.”

Gunther is hoping the teamwork and success will transfer over once the Calabasas season begins this coming spring.

“I hope so. I hope we can win some more games this year,” Gunther said.

ACE SUMMER FOR RETURNING TENNIS STANDOUT

Brett Buford, a top returning boys tennis player for Calabasas, is having a good summer. He has performed well at several tournaments, including finishing as the consolation champion at an 18-event in San Luis Obispo.