COYOTES WIN IN SPITE OF TUMULT CALABASAS 7, N.P. 5.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

CALABASAS - The big hitter was missing. So the Calabasas High baseball team simply found other ways to win.

Solid relief pitching by Matt Green and Kevin Cohn combined with a series of timely base hits gave Calabasas a 7-5 victory over visiting Newbury Park in Friday's Southern Section Division III first-round playoff game.

The Coyotes' leading hitter, John Henry Jacobs, junior reserve Justin Klip, and head coach Rick Nathanson were suspended for disciplinary reasons before the game and didn't take part, school officials said.

Nathanson said the players are out for the remainder of the season and his own return this season ``is doubtful,'' although he said he will be back next year.

The officials would reveal neither the reason for the suspensions, nor their length.

``We would rather the focus be on the kids playing a great game and winning,'' Calabasas assistant coach Rick Allen said. ``We're not talking about anything else.''

Nathanson was surprised when a school administrator informed him while the team was warming up that he was suspended, he said.

``I told the boys to stay focused and stick together,'' he said.

The suspensions added drama to a game that already had extra intensity because it pitted Calabasas against a member of the Marmonte League, in which the Frontier League-champion Coyotes will play next season.

The victory set off a postgame celebration unusual this early in the playoffs for a team that reached the quarterfinals last year.

``We're one big family,'' Cohn said. ``We're here to do whatever we need to to help each other.''

Calabasas had no extra-base hits but all but one starterhad a least one hit. Brett Waxler, the No. 8 hitter, went 3 for 3.

Starting pitcher Justin Segal left with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Green (4-1) struck out the next batter to end the inning and then left the bases loaded again the next inning by striking out two more.

Cohn relieved Brad Schultz with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning. Cohn allowed one run but got out of the jam with two strikeouts, then pitched a hitless seventh for his first save.

``I heard they're very good with the sticks,'' Cohn said. ``That's why I was nervous. I was very, very nervous.''

Steven Hartman, Cody Collet and Mason DeMatteo each had multiple hits for Newbury Park (16-13), which led 3-1 until Calabasas scored six runs in the fourth inning.

The Panthers, who were part of a four-way tie for the Marmonte League title, were making their first playoff appearance in eight years.

``We're not disappointed,'' Newbury Park coach Mike Lee. ``This is beyond what we could have ever imagined. To go from seventh place last year to being here, and starting league 0-2, to being league champions, ... we exceeded all of our expectations.''

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Photo:

Calabasas' Josh Bernstein, left, and Drew Saberhagen, behind the cooler, dump cold water on coach Rick Allen's head after the Coyotes beat Newbury Park in the playoffs.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer