COYOTES PACKED WITH TALENT : CALABASAS TO HANG 3RD BASEBALL BANNER.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Shortly after taking over the Calabasas High School baseball program four years ago, Scott Drootin found himself inside the school basketball gym.

Like most schools, that's where Calabasas displays all of its league and CIF championship banners for its sports teams.

But among the swimming, track and football banners, Drootin made notice of a glaring absence. It seems there was no banner for a league championship in baseball.

``When I took this job that was one of the things that interested me,'' Drootin said. ``There were no banners or flags up there for baseball.''

Things have changed.

Since Drootin took over, the Coyotes have won three Frontier League championships. They wrapped up No. 3 - their second in a row - last week.

At the rate they're going now, the school might have to consider expanding the basketball gym to fit all the baseball banners.

So what exactly has changed in the four years since Drootin took control? Talent is the easy answer. Anybody who knows baseball will confirm that the Coyotes have certainly had a nice run of skilled players the past few years.

But perhaps most important is the change in perceptions Drootin has created. Losing is no longer accepted the way it once was at Calabasas.

In some ways the change goes back to when Drootin was the freshmen coach at Calabasas five years ago. The Coyotes started the season losing two straight games, and while talking to the club following the second loss, he sensed he was standing among players that couldn't care less if they lost every game.

``So I told them it's either going to be one way or the other,'' Drootin said. ``Either you're going to give 150 percent and work harder than any team in the Valley, or I'm walking out of here right now.''

Calabasas didn't lose another game all year. In fact, the Coyotes won the Marmonte League freshmen championship.

If anything, the success of that team has been the catalyst for the turnaround of the varsity program. Those players were a big part of the Coyotes' first varsity championship and have set a level of expectation that continues today.

This year's team has added the element of speed to the equation.

Drootin is convinced that has made all the difference in the world.

``We've got six guys that can flat out run,'' Drootin said. ``In the past we've relied on the three-run home run to score runs. With this team we can hit and run or steal bases. I've even had to put a steal sign in for the first time.''

Brian Fatur leads the way with 34 stolen bases. He also has 37 hits in league play and has yet to strike out in his high school career.

Yet while speed has been a key, the Coyotes' focus also has impressed Drootin.

He knew early on that his team had the ability to regroup after a tough loss against Taft.

``We bounced right back and beat a team from Barstow,'' Drootin said. ``At that point I got the feeling that these guys felt that they were as good as anybody.''

Six different players are batting .400 or better for the Coyotes, which indicates that on any given day a different player has the ability to step up with the big hit. Among the batters who come through in crunch time is Josh Goldfield, who has 24 RBI in league play.

Defensively, third baseman Adam Davey, shortstop Josh Harris and second baseman Darin Reisman give the Coyotes excellent infield play.

Davey has been especially effective at third base, often making highlight-type plays despite dealing with an injured arm all year.

``He's just a tough, tough player,'' Drootin said. ``There's no doubt that he's playing the best third base in the Valley right now and he's playing better than any third baseman I've ever coached.''

That defense supports a pitching staff that has six different pitchers with at least one win.

The staff ace is Tanner Trosper, whose record is 7-1 with a 1.65 ERA.

With the league championship taken care of, the Coyotes now set their sights on the playoffs, which start next week.Last year Calabasas was bounced in the second round, and though the Coyotes would love to improve on that, Drootin says nothing that happens with this team will surprise him.