Play Ball! Baseball Season Starts Today for Calabasas High

It’s big sports day today for , as the baseball team opens the season with a challenging game at 3 p.m. against host Harvard-Westlake at Franklin Field in Encino. At the same time, Calabasas’ softball team plays an opening scrimmage at Oaks Christian in Westlake Village.

Calabasas sends ace Travis Cassidy to the mound, and the left-hander is among the Marmonte League top returnees after going 5-5 with a 2.60 ERA – not a bad record considering the Coyotes finished 13-15. He is scheduleded to face UCLA-bound Lucas Giolito, a 6-foot-6 junior who throws 96 mph and is among the Southland’s top right-handers.

“Travis has been our most consistent pitcher for four years. He’s our guy,” coach Ed Edsall said. “He has improved a lot and has really worked hard in the offseason.”

It’s a tough opener, but that’s the way the Coyotes want it.

“We’ve got all our pitching back, and I like setting the tone right off the bat,” Edsall said. “We’re going to be challenged, and that’s kind of nice. If our guys stick to their approach, I think we’ll be OK. But anytime you face a pitcher like Giolito, you just have to player you game and make no mistakes.”

There are new restrictions on aluminum bats this season, and that’s going to make it more difficult to score runs, Edsall said.

“It’s going to make a pretty big difference,” Edsall said. “The umpires are going to be coming in with list of bats that have been certified, a little cheat sheet, and it’s going to be interesting because some of the bats are going to be illegal.”

Calabasas also returns pitchers Sean Ladendecker, Jacob Fields and Alex Rubanowitz, so there are plenty of arms, though Ladendecker (4-4, 5.17 ERA) is recovering from arm trouble and has been switched to being the closer.

“He’s a big righty, and he’s working back to get some innings,” Edsall said. “He had a setback in the summer, but he should play a huge role. Our pitching staff is pretty experienced. They know what it takes, and they’ve worked really hard getting ready for today.”

Rubanowitz, also a top shortstop, batted .341 with 26 runs, and he has signed with UC Riverside.

“He is the guy. Everyone on the team looks up to him,” Edsall said. “He’s our strong, silent leader by example, the cornerstone of our team.”

SOFTBALL TEAM LOOKS FOR BREAKTHROUGH

After going 6-16-1 last season, including 1-13 in the Marmonte League, Calabasas’ softball team is aiming to improve this season, as the Coyotes have yet to win a league title since joining in 2001.

The good news is returning key players, including pitcher Taylor Gunther, a junior right-hander.

“She throws pretty well,” coach Barbara Hofer said.

Calabasas figures to be tested against Oaks Christian, one of the area’s top programs through the years, before opening Wednesday at 3 p.m. against visiting Louisville of Woodland Hills.

“We lost four starters from last year, so we’re kind of in a wait-and-see mode,” Hofer said. “We’re up against quite a field in the Marmonte League. They’re all really good teams, and every year we find new goals to work on. It’s a challenge to stay motivated, but they understand what they’re up against. It’s a challenge, but we’re working to improve.”

Ali Steinman should play a big role. She’s a returning second-team All-Marmonte selection, and the senior captain plays third, shortstop and pitcher. She’s the team’s leading returning hitter after batting .285 with 15 RBIs as a junior.

Others to watch out for include Maddy Gamm, a returning center fielder who bats lefty and has good speed, along with junior Jenna Abrams, senior Kat Raff and freshman Shayna Gamm, Maddy’s sister.