Serving Up Aces: Viewpoint Wins League Tennis Title

Viewpoint’s boys tennis team won the Liberty League title Friday by defeating rival Buckley of Sherman Oaks, as the Patriots improved to 12-1 including an 8-0 league record.

Viewpoint is No. 1 in the Southern Section Division IV rankings heading into the playoffs.

“Our whole team has been solid all season long,” coach Travis Kukugawa said. “We have five senior starters, and we’re looking for them to lead us in the postseason. If the boys remain focused and play with a sense of urgency, there’s a good chance they will put themselves in a position to be there in the end.”

Bryce Beisswanger is the No. 1 singles player, and Darius Mackenzie is No. 2. Ben Willner and Charlie Werman are the No. 1 doubles team, and Nishanth Yamani and Jeremy Wacker are No. 2.

PERFECT 10 FOR VIEWPOINT BASEBALL

Viewpoint’s baseball team, coming off a 13-2 win Monday over Yeshiva, has won 10 in a row and sits in first place in the Liberty League.

But with rival Buckley (8-10, 3-1) one game back and the teams not scheduled to face each other until the finale on May 13, it looks like the league championship might not be decided until the last game.

“It looks like it’s going to come down to the end for the outright championship,” ace pitcher Tyler Sprague said. “We shared the league title last year, and it would be much better to win it outright.”

Viewpoint has won five consecutive league titles.

In the victory over Yeshiva, Sprague was 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs. Alex Pachino added three hits and four stolen bases, and Jack Leonard was 1 for 3 with a run and two RBIs. Mason Alford pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts, allowing one earned run in the complete-game win.

“The team is playing really well overall everyone doing what they have to do,” Sprague said. “We’re playing good baseball and peaking at the right time to finish league and go into the playoffs on a hot streak and make a run.”

MUST-WIN SITUATION

It’s do-or-die time for baseball team, as the Coyotes (8-14, 3-7) are among four tied for last in the eight-team Marmonte League heading into a game Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at first-place Simi Valley.

Simi Valley has won 10 in a row, and a Calabasas upset could turn the whole season around.

With a team ERA of 3.81, Calabasas should have a lot more wins, but the Coyotes have scored a total of 93 runs, lowest in the league.

Jacob Fields is 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA, and Alex Rubanowitz is batting .303 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.

LOOKING FOR A WIN

Calabasas’ softball team has lost eight in a row heading into a Marmonte League game today at 3:30 p.m. at Westlake, and the Coyotes (6-11, 1-8) would love to steal or a win or two down the stretch.

“We’re excited and working hard to try to win the next few games and pick up a few more wins and last beat last year’s record,” pitcher Taylor Gunther said.

VIEWPOINT VOLLEYBALL GOING STRONG

Viewpoint’s boys volleyball team remains undefeated in Liberty League competition after a three-game sweep Monday at Providence in Burbank, as Jack Borenstein had 41 assists and Drew Johnston had 20 kills.

The Patriots, ranked No. 5 in the Southern Section Division V poll, are 10-5 overall, 8-0 in league. Tonight is senior night, as the Patriots take on visiting Holy Martyrs before finishing Thursday at Glendale Adventist.