Calabasas Makes Its Move for Spot in Frontier History

No one at Calabasas High is sure of the exact number, but it’s been at least 20 years since the Coyotes last won a league softball title.

That could change today if Calabasas can at least split a season-ending Frontier League doubleheader at Santa Paula.

The Coyotes put themselves in position to clinch on Thursday with a 5-2 victory over defending-champion Moorpark at Calabasas.

“This is so satisfying,” said senior shortstop Kelly Cheever, whose sacrifice fly in the third inning broke a 2-2 tie. She added a run-scoring double in the fifth. “It’s nice to know you can leave a legacy.”

Moorpark (17-5, 12-2) is just leaving.

The Musketeers, who had earned no less than a share of the league title in their first five years in the Frontier, will join the Marmonte League next season.

If Moorpark is to claim a sixth consecutive title, it needs to defeat Nordhoff today and hope for third-place Santa Paula to sweep Calabasas (15-5, 12-1).

That isn’t likely with the Coyotes pitching sophomore right-hander Amy Rosson.

Rosson (12-4), third in the region with 203 strikeouts, fanned nine Moorpark batters in a six-hitter. She walked three and hit one batter.

Sara Hall and Rosson each had two hits for Calabasas, which overcame a 2-0 third-inning deficit. Meaghan Finnerty had a two-run single for Moorpark.