ANY AREA CODY WHATEVER SPORT, WHATEVER POSITION SUITS CIPRIANO.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - The two Westlake High coaches were thrilled with Cody Cipriano's decision to come out for the football team a few games into the season.

Baseball coach Josh Eby figured the gluttony of summer ball Cipriano played earned a change of pace. And Warriors football coach Jim Benkert's need for defensive-backfield help paid off with the late addition. Cipriano made an interception in the end zone to beat Moorpark to win the Marmonte League title. Westlake reached the Southern Section Division IV final.

``I wasn't scared of him getting hurt,'' Eby said. ``But there were a few moments where he went up for a few passes and I was kind of holding my breath.''

But one of the region's best baseball prospects wasn't exactly suffering from burnout after he participated in travel ball, the Area Code Games and a Team USA series against a Japanese all-star team.

The football break is over. Westlake begins a promising season under Eby, its new head coach, Friday against El Camino Real of Woodland Hills in the Daily News Invitational.

``The summer after your junior year, there's tons of baseball. But you know what, every guy that's out there playing baseball, it's what they love to do,'' Cipriano said. ``If I could play baseball every day for the rest of my life, I wouldn't mind doing it. It's a pretty good life to live.''

Particularly when one can contribute to a ballclub in so many ways. The reigning Marmonte League MVP, who will play at UC Irvine next year, is versatile enough to play shortstop, second base and third, where he'll play for Westlake this season. And his hitting has never been in question after a junior season in which he hit .506 with 10 homers and 32 RBI.

But Irvine might be able to unearth even more of his talents if Anteaters coach John Savage chooses to. Westlake's closer last season, Cipriano should fill in nicely for graduated starting aces Justin Blaine and Tyler Carr. The right-hander boasts good velocity - his fastball regularly is clocked in the mid-80s - and a wicked changeup for an out pitch.

``I think he'll (be a success) either way,'' Warriors second baseman/pitcher Kyle Griffith said. ``He's good offensively, he's good defensively. He'll probably be our No. 1 pitcher because he has good stuff. He's got a pretty strong arm. We'll see what happens.''

UC Irvine lured Cipriano away from California, Loyola Marymount and others. If the mound is in his collegiate future, there might not be a pitching instructor with a better resume than Savage, a former USC assistant. Cipriano knows Savage's history with big-league stars, citing his former Trojans pupils Barry Zito and Mark Prior.

``I'll play both (pitcher and infield) until someone tells me not to anymore,'' Cipriano said.

He plans to make the most of this senior season of baseball at Westlake, which he hopes will end as football did - with a Marmonte League championship and a deep playoff run. Although Eby thinks focusing on football helped Cipriano take his mind off baseball long enough to rekindle his passion for the game, he's come to expect nothing less.

``He brings a big, competitive desire out there,'' Eby said. ``He'll battle all day long against another team.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Cody Cipriano played football for Westlake in the fall, but his real sport - baseball - begins this week.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer