So Far, So Good For Calabasas Football Team

After finishing spring practice, football team is on a three-week break before drills renew on June 20, and first-year coach Christian Pierce is satisfield, though a lot more will be revealed in August when the pads come on.

“You can’t have any heavy contact until August 15, so right now our main objective is figuring out the depth chart and moving guys into the right positions offensively and defensively,” Pierce said. “Everything else we can do, but no live contact.”

After finishing 3-7 last year, Calabasas is on the lookout for new talent, and among the intriguing young prospects is Aaron Bastion, a 6-foot-3, 342-pound defensive lineman whom could be the Marmonte League’s biggest player if everything works out.

“We’re grooming him,” Pierce said. “He has good footwork. He used to be a hockey player, so he has good feet.”

The defensive line figures to be a strength. Tyson Jones, a top sophomore linebacker last season, is moving to defensive end, and he is expected to be an impact player no matter what position he plays. The other defensive end, John Dehhaghi, a returning senior, is among the team’s top hitters, too.

RUBANOWITZ TO PLAY IN CONNIE MACK LEAGUE

The Major League draft came and went this past week without Calabasas standout shortstop Alex Rubanowitz being drafted, as there was an outside chance someone would pick the UC Riverside-bound senior.

Once Rubanowitz plays for UC Riverside, he will be eligible for the draft again in three years.

Meanwhile, Rubanowitz is playing in a competitive Connie Mack League in Orange County that features wood bats. Sean Ladendecker, a Calabasas teammate, is playing, too.

“It’s mainly guys from Orange County, and the reason I’m doing it because the coach, John Elliott, is just a great coach, and he is also a scout,” Rubanowitz said.

Rubanowitz was the only Calabasas player selected to the All-Marmonte League team.

Here is the complete list:

ALL-MARMONTE LEAGUE

Player of the Year: Cody Ramer, INF, Simi Valley, Jr.

Pitcher of the Year: Alex Daley, Westlake, Sr.

First-team: Alex Rubanowitz, Calabasas, Sr.; Spencer Dubois, Moorpark, Sr.; Matt Higginbotham, Moorpark, Sr.; Taylor Zander, Newbury Park, Jr.; Dominic Lovullo, Newbury Park, Jr.; Luke Eubank, Newbury Park, Jr.; Nick Kinsman, Royal, Jr.; Ryan Tinkham, Royal, Sr.; Reece Schmidt, Simi Valley, Sr.; Nick Vigo, Simi Valley, Jr.; Avondre Bollar, Thousand oaks, Sr.; Michael Miller, Westlake, Sr.; Luke Dykstra, Westlake, Fr.; Collin Yelich, Westlake, Jr.

SUMMER FIRST SERVE

A great boys tennis season for Calabasas came to a tough ending when the Coyotes, 20-0, lost to Harvard-Westlake in the Southern Section playoffs.

Now that it’s the offseason, singles standout Brett Buford is focused on improvement.

“I’m the team captain for next season, and I’m trying to get better by going to some college camps,” Buford said. “I like to improve as much as possible during the summer.”