Calabasas Likes Low-Profile Status

The flashy record is missing, as is the high playoff seeding.

But the Calabasas High baseball team doesn’t really care, probably because its players are too young to know better.

Defying anybody’s expectationslogic, the Coyotes (13-12) are in the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs, where they will play Norwalk on Wednesday.

They don’t have the top seeding are not top-seeded, like they did were in past years, past and their record won’t scare anybody, but they earned a touch of legitimacy with a first-round victory over Westlake laston Friday.

“This is the least-impressive record of any Frontier League champion we’ve had here and I think we kind of like that,” Calabasas Coach Rick Nathanson said. “In years past, we’ve been been very highly ranked, but the farthest we’ve gone was in 1997 to the [quarterfinals].

“I think we enjoy being the upstart and not having to live up to any expectations other than those we’ve put on ourselves. The kids are relishing that. We like being a 13-12 team and moving on in the playoffs.”

The Coyotes won their fifth Frontier Leagueleague title in seven years, thanks primarily to two juniors, pitcher Tony Sulser and first baseman Randy Curtis, who have been highly effective lately.

Sulser, a right-hander with a 9-2 record, has been is 4-0 with a save in the team’s last six games. Curtis, who is hittingbatting .463 on the season, is 19 for 28 in his last eight games.

Nathanson calls the duo “two of the best kept best-kept secrets in the Valley.”

“They’re rising to the occassion as the games get a lot more meaningful,” he said. “The numbers they have put up have been phenomenal and I think the other players on the team feed off their leadership.”

Freshman pitcher Justin Segal, another young Coyote, is expected to pitch Wednesday start at Norwalk.

Said Nathanson: “I don’t think anybody really expected us to battle the way we have been, but I think we’re capable of playing with anybody if we put our ‘A’ game out on the field.”

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After three months of anticipation and preparation, the City Section baseball playoffs begin today, with top-seeded Chatsworth High (23-3) favored to meet second-seeded No. 2-seeded Banning (26-5) in the June 3 final at Dodger Stadium on June 3.

San Fernando Valley teams have won 25 of the last 26 City Championships. There are 16 teams each in the championship bracket and 16 teams in the division tournamentbrackets. It is the first time since 1982 that teams weren’t put in 3-A and 4-A classifications, which could make for some competitive opening-round matchups.

Teams that expect to reach Dodger Stadium will need at least two pitchers because of the Tuesday-Thursday playing schedule. Chatsworth, with Mike Kunes (10-1), Scott Sellz (6-1) and Ryan Robbins (7-0), has the deepest pitching staff.

There are the usual elite players participating in the playoffs, such as UCLA-bound Kunes, and pitchers Kameron Loe of Granada Hills and pitcher Ivan Hernandez of Sylmar, but it’s the unsung players who could make the difference. Among those to watch:

* Scott Drake, catcher, Chatsworth: If the Chancellors advance to the semifinals or final and there are no short backstops, no one will be more critical than Drake, a converted infielder. Runners can score in bunches when catchers don’t block curveballs in the dirt with men on base, especially at Dodger Stadium.

* Carlos Reguengo, pitcher, Poly: This is the chance for Reguengo (11-2, 1.88 ERAearned-run average) to show he ranks with the best pitchers in the City Section. Don’t be surprised if Poly Coach Chuck Schwal ends up using him in every game, whether he’s either starting or relieving.

* John Voita, third baseman, El Camino Real: After missing 24 games with because of a broken shoulder suffered in the opening game, Voita has been cleared to play in the playoffs. He was a top sophomore shortstop at Calabasas last season. He has worked hard just to return from his the injury. His fielding and hitting could give the two-time defending champion Conquistadores a boost.

* Peter Tuber, pitcher, Granada Hills: If all goes as Coach Steve Thompson hopes, Tuber will pitch in the quarterfinals and final for the Highlanders. He didn’t play baseball his first two years of in high school after being a star in Little League. Now he’s in position to help the Highlanders win their first City title since 1984.

* Jamie Mah, shortstop, Sylmar: Never has a freshman led Sylmar in hitting--until this season. Mah’s hitting and fielding is are crucial if the Spartans expect to advance.

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Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella is taking the gamble of the year in not starting Hernandez on the mound today against Roosevelt with the hope of using him Thursday for in a potential quarterfinal game against Chatsworth on Thursday.

He Donatella has decided if he wants that to reach Dodger Stadium, he’ll the Spartans have to beat Chatsworth, and Hernandez is the one to do it.

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Item: Marmonte League champ Thousand Oaks is one of only two Southern Section Division I teams from the area region still alive in the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Reaction: Not overly surprising.

Item: Highland is the other team still alive in Division I.

Reaction: Huh?

The Bulldogs (21-5), in only their eighth season, have outlived the likes of Crescenta Valley, Crespi and Notre Dame, and have advanced to the second round for the first time.

They meet No. 2-seeded Riverside Arlington on Wednesday.

“I don’t think a lot of people knew about us, but we’re very close to having an unbelievable season,” Highland Coach Mike Van Cheri said. “We’re kind of a late bloomer.”

Catcher Jason Allec, who has signed with Cal State Northridge, and second baseman John Santor, who has hit 14 home runs, have provided plenty of offense for sparked Highland, which hit six home runs in a 21-3 first-round victory over Warren last week.

On the mound, junior right-hander Drew Kennedy, a former reliever, is 5-0.

Highland has improved each of the past three seasons, finishing third in the Golden League two years ago and second last year.

This year, the Bulldogs won the league title and could earn further more respect with a victory on Wednesday.

“It’s a big challenge for us, a big step for the program,” Van Cheri said.

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Senior catcher Isaac Romero set a Rio Mesa record in a playoff loss to Santa Barbara last week by playing in his 107th consecutive game.

Romero, who had two hits, caught every game since he was a freshman.

Staff writers Mike Bresnahan and Eric Sondheimer contributed to this notebook.

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High School Baseball

City Section Playoffs

First round

Today -- All games 3 p.m.

City Championship bracket

* San Pedro at Chatsworth

* Sylmar at Roosevelt

* Grant at Granada Hills

* L.A. Marshall at Poly

* Narbonne at El Camino Real

* Kennedy at Westchester

City Division bracket

* Bell at Taft

* Hamilton at Reseda

* Monroe at Cleveland

* San Fernando at Palisades

* Birmingham at Huntington Park

Southern Section Playoffs

Second round

Today -- All games 3:15 unless noted

Division I

* Th. Oaks vs. L.B. Wilson at Blair Field, 7 p.m.

Division II

* Canyon at Damien

* Royal at Sunny Hills

* Santa Barbara at Hart

Division III

* Calabasas at Norwalk

Division IV

* Westminster La Quinta at La Canada

* Nordhoff at Chaminade

* Paraclete at Anaheim Western

Division V

* Pasa. Poly vs. Kilpatrick at Newbury Park

* Brentwood at St. Bonaventure

* Crossroads at L.A. Baptist

* Desert Chr. at Downey Calvary Chapel

Division VI

* Heritage Christian at Grace Brethren

* Cornerstone Chr. at Rolling Hills Prep

* L.A. Lutheran at Murrieta Calvary Chapel