BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: SULSER'S GOALS PITCHER FACES IMPORTANT STRETCH.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Tony Sulser wants a shot at Notre Dame's big hitters. The Calabasas High senior would love to test his nasty slider against a lineup with five players headed to Division I schools and six starters who entered the week batting better than .350.

Sulser could get his chance when the Coyotes host Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in a nonleague game Tuesday. But the pitcher knows better than to focus too much attention on that game. First, he has the matter of trying to keep the Coyotes in the Frontier League race when they host league-leading Nordhoff today. Sulser admits underestimating the ability of Frontier teams is one reason Calabasas is in second place instead of cruising to another title.

The defending champion Coyotes (12-7-1, 6-3) went five games into the season before losing, reached the final of the Westside tournament and were ranked in the Daily News top 10 early in the season after going just 13-13 last year. But Calabasas has two league losses to Nordhoff and one to Santa Paula.

``We just let down, the whole team,'' Sulser said. ``We were just showing up and expecting things to happen and not playing with the intensity you need to win. In league, I guess you can say we were overconfident.''

--Double trouble: Westlake's Mike Nickeas didn't waste time with base hits at last week's West Coast Classic in San Jose - doubles were his hits of choice. All three of his hits in the Warriors' opening game were doubles and he had another in the next game. The junior catcher, who ranks among area leaders with nine doubles this season, was named to the all-tournament team.

Doubles aren't the only hits Nickeas is getting a lot of this season. After batting .237 with only eight extra-base hits as a sophomore, he enters today's game against Newbury Park hitting .412.

--Making a name for himself: Patrick Sheffield has one of those brothers who seems to excel in everything. His older brother Chaney was a standout baseball player at Viewpoint a few years ago - he was named Liberty League MVP - and did well enough academically at the Calabasas school to attend Harvard, where he is 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA as a sophomore pitcher.

This year, Patrick is drawing attention of his own. The junior returned as the Patriots' starting shortstop and is a consistently productive switch hitter. The surprise has been his success as a pitcher. He did not pitch last season but has one of the staff's lowest ERAs this year.

``He's been living in his brother's shadows,'' Viewpoint coach Frank Pontello said. ``Now he's sort of emerging.''

--Title watch: Camarillo travels to Oxnard looking to repeat as Pacific View League champion. The teams split their two previous meetings, but Oxnard's loss Monday gave the Scorpions (21-4, 8-1) a one-game lead with three to play. Another pitching duel between Camarillo's John Gonzales, who struck out 10 in his loss to the Yellowjackets, and Oxnard's Matt Merricks is anticipated.

Westlake (20-3, 10-0) already secured at least a share of the Marmonte title and can win it outright with a win today at home against Newbury Park. Thousand Oaks (18-5, 8-2) has a firm hold on second, but third place is up for grabs.

``That's the Marmonte League for you,'' said Moorpark coach Scott Fullerton, whose team dropped to 3-6 in league with Wednesday's loss to Westlake but is not out of the playoff hunt. ``Everybody has a chance. Westlake and Thousand Oaks are beating everyone and the rest of us, everyone's beating everyone, so there's going to be teams under .500 with a chance.''

--Winning Heritage: Grace Brethren (14-4, 5-0) goes for a third consecutive Heritage League title when it faces Faith Baptist in the league finale Wednesday. The Lancers gave Faith Baptist its first league loss this week. Grace Brethren senior pitcher Tim Thompson will likely have a chance to set the state record for career wins. He tied Scott McGregor's mark of 51 on Tuesday.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo: (color) Calabasas leading hitter Randy Curtis and his teammates face Nordhoff today in a key game.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer