On the Upswing: Calabasas' Baseball Team Is on a Roll

Talk about your ups and downs. After losing five baseball games in a row, a lot of people were ready to write off Calabasas High’s team.

But the Coyotes have responded by winning three in a row, including an 11-0 victory Saturday over Granada Hills, and just like that Calabasas is 6-7, 2-4 heading into a Marmonte League game Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. against visiting Thousand Oaks – just three games out of first place with eight to play.

“It’s great to see that our team is coming around. It’s been a big boost,” pitcher Jacob Fields said. “But we’re actually a pretty young team with only six seniors, so we expected a slow start with so many young players. We’re learning what it takes to win in the Marmonte League, as we seniors have to lead by example.”

Fields was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two steals in the win over Granada Hills, raising his average to .343. He also pitched three innings to earn the win, and overall Fields is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Fields, Sean Ladendecker and Travis Cassidy are all solid pitchers, so coach Ed Edsall figured it was just a matter of time before the slumping Coyotes would succeed.

“We’ve been working on our hitting all season, and it was kind of frustrating for a while, but we stuck with it,” Edsall said. “We’ve been in almost every game except for maybe one exception, but when we had runners in scoring position, we were missing that one hit.

“We tried everything – making adjustments, changing the lineup, trying everything. I told all the coaches, ‘Man, when we start hitting, good things are going to happen.’”

Cassidy, scheduled to start Wednesday against Thousand Oaks, is 0-4, but in the four losses Calabasas has scored a total of six runs. A year ago as a junior, Cassidy was 5-5 with a 2.60 ERA.

“We’re having fun, we’re hitting, and we’re looking forward to playing Thousand Oaks,” Edsall said. “We told the players, I know we have four losses in the Marmonte League, but teams can make the playoffs with four losses in our league. It’s pretty even in this league – one week you’re in first, and the next you’re right back in the middle of it.

"It makes it fun. I think the team is coming together. We’re still standing.”

Shortstop Alex Rubanowitz is batting .312 with three home runs and nine RBIs. Anthony Discosimo was 3 for 4 against Granada Hills to raise his average to .360. Sophomore Sammy Ross is batting .357, and he has an eight-game hitting streak.

“Everything is coming together right now,” Rubanowitz said. “Our bats are coming alive, our pitching is pretty good, and our defense is solid. I think we have a chance to win the league title. In the Marmonte League, everybody can beat everybody, so it’s up to us.”

Ross has been especially impressive because he was expected to play on the JV until Edsall decided at the last moment to keep the youngster on the varsity.

“We wanted Sammy to play a lot, so that’s why we were going to him on the JV, but it took just a couple of games for him to earn a starting spot on the varsity,” Edsall said. “There’s no doubt he’s a varsity player, and he I think he likes being here and is definitely happy about the way things have turned out.

"He has a ridiculous amount of potential down the road. He’s swinging the bat well, and he’s very mature on the field for a sophomore. I expect him to have a great career.”

CALABASAS SOFTBALL TEAM LOOKS TO BREAK LOSING STREAK

After finishing third in the 12-team Whittier tournament, Calabasas High's softball team has dropped three Marmonte League games in a row to fall to 6-6, 1-3 heading into a league game Tuesday against visiting Westlake. First pitch is 3:30 p.m.

“We’re doing all right,” coach Barbara Hofer said. “We’re almost turning the corner but we’re not quite there yet. We went 11 innings against Moorpark, and we were up three runs against Thousand Oaks. We just need to learn how to hold the lead and get the clutch hit. The little things that help you win games.”

Hofer said she’s impressed with pitcher Taylor Gunther.

“She’s throwing pretty well,” Hofer said.