BASEBALL

Calabasas has gone from being the hunter to the hunted.

A year after upsetting Westlake in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs, the Coyotes are in a must-win situation today against Nordhoff.

Calabasas (11-6, 5-2 in Frontier League play) is one game behind the Rangers, who defeated the Coyotes once already.

Nordhoff right-hander Scott Drew pitched a complete game in a 6-3 victory over Calabasas. Calabasas Coach Rick Nathanson expects to see Drew again, even though Nordhoff played Malibu on Monday and must play Santa Paula on Friday.

“He pitched a good game, he throws his fastball and curveball for strikes and makes you hit him to beat him,” Nathanson said.

Expect a fast game. Drew (5-3) has issued only nine walks in 42 innings, and Calabasas starter Tony Sulser (4-2) has allowed 11 walks in 58 innings.

Sulser, who has 73 strikeouts and a 1.33 ERA, was bothered by a back injury in absorbing the loss against Nordhoff.

*

Mike Grossman, a senior transfer from El Camino Real, has emerged as a dangerous hitter for Calabasas. He is batting .578.

Grossman has settled at third base after playing catcher, first base and outfield. Freshman Aaron Lowenstein won the catching job, pushing the versatile Grossman to third.

“Mike is our marquee utility player,” Nathanson said. “He is quietly having quite a year.”

*

Behind the pitching of Jon Bierly and Chris Vega, Ventura (13-6-1, 6-1-1) is making a run for the Channel League title, which figures to be decided this week in the Cougars’ two games against Santa Barbara (14-3, 8-0).

Bierly (5-2) has seven complete games and has allowed only 30 hits in 50 2/3 innings. Vega (5-0) has two saves and pitches best in tight situations.

Ventura has four players batting over .330, including Bryan Minkel, who is 23 of 55 (.418) with seven doubles. The Cougars love to run, and Kelly Callahan leads the team with 13 stolen bases.

Shortstop Ryan Coultas heads a strong defense.

The Cougars’ success is especially remarkable because they haven’t played games at home. The on-campus field is condemned for safety reasons.

*

Simi Valley’s home field has a well-deserved reputation as a launching pad, yet the Pioneers have hit only one home run at home this season.

“We have big, strong guys who crank them out right and left during practice, but they haven’t gotten into the groove during games,” said Coach Joe Gordon, who hit 15 home runs as a Pioneer senior in 1990.

The only home run came when John Arisohn cleared the center-field fence against Moorpark. John Day, Mike Nykoluk and Danny Turock have hit homers on the road.

“We didn’t expect to have a power-hitting team,” Gordon said. “We do a good job of putting the ball in play and making things happen.”