Calabasas Escapes Another Close Call

Another year, another close call for the Calabasas High baseball team in its battles against Moorpark.

Last year, the Musketeers were a botched squeeze play away from tying the Coyotes in one game and possibly breaking Calabasas’ hold on the Frontier League.

This time, a failed double steal by Moorpark in the sixth inning enabled the Coyotes to hold on to a 3-2 victory Friday afternoon at Calabasas.

“I’m sick of just playing with them,” Moorpark Coach Scott Fullerton said. “I just want to beat them.”

Moorpark (7-6, 2-1 in league play) trailed, 3-1, heading into the top of the sixth inning but a one-out double by Travis Ames scored Wes Rasmussen.

Coyote starter Matt Sagoian (4-0) recovered, getting Taylor Slimak to ground out to second base--advancing pinch-runner Zack Greene to third base--and striking out Richie Cartier to apparently end the inning.

But the ball got away from catcher Josh Goldfield and Cartier reached first base.

The Musketeers tried a delayed double steal, but Goldfield threw Cartier out at second base before Greene could advance halfway home.

“It was a big play for [Goldfield] to make,” Coach Rick Nathanson said.

“He had a tough play before but he just put it behind him.”

Calabasas closer Frank Carlisi retired the side in order in the seventh, stretching the Coyotes’ league unbeaten streak to 38 games, dating to 1994.

However, as one streak continued for the Coyotes (13-2, 4-0), another one ended.

Brian Fatur was hitless in three at-bats, ending a 25-game hitting streak that started last season.

But Fatur still wreaked havoc on the basepaths.

Fatur and Craig Tolan scored on a double by Marc Wilson in the third inning, giving Calabasas a 2-0 lead.

With Calabasas clinging to a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, Rasmussen made an outstanding play at shortstop on Fatur’s grounder to force Tolan at second base.

Fatur then stole second and third, and scored on a single by Wilson. Fatur has 20 stolen bases.

Ames (3-3), who had 28 strikeouts in his last two starts, scattered seven hits and struck out eight in six innings.

“We’ve seen him a lot the last couple of years and he’s gotten stronger and better this year,” Nathanson said.

Sagoian, pitching for the first time since taking a line drive on his pitching arm last week, gave up seven hits and struck out two in six innings.