The three players--Julio Vasquez, Shane Oren and Keith Evans--all have had their casts removed and could return within two weeks.
In addition, Granada Hills goalkeeper Nevin Smith is recovering from a broken thumb, and Evan Bernstein likely will miss the remainder of the season because of a knee injury.
FRONTIER LEAGUE
12 Years, No Rust
Call it the 12-year itch. Calabasas girls' basketball coach Steve Padaro, who coached the Coyotes from 1977 to 1981 and guided the Coyotes to a Southern Section runner-up finish in 1981, is back at the Coyotes' helm after a 12-year layoff.
A social studies and business teacher since leaving coaching a dozen years ago, Padaro contented himself with supervising players in his physical education classes. But a coaching vacancy in the fall prompted school administrators to ask Padaro to return to coaching.
He accepted a couple weeks before the season began and led the once-hapless Coyotes (3-17 last season) to six victories in their first nine games. His chief task: Raising his players' self-esteem.
"They still see themselves as, 'We're Calabasas and we're going to get our butts kicked,' " Padaro said. "They don't believe they're as good as they are."
But that attitude is changing, thanks to Padaro and standout forward Melissa Krolik, who averages more than 20 points and 15 rebounds a game.
"Our next goal is to win a league game," Padaro said.
Calabasas, which posted only one league victory last season, opens league play today against Santa Paula.
*
The Moorpark boys' soccer team, which competes in tiny Division V, is playing like a giant. The Musketeers have won 14 of 16 matches, including convincing victories over Buena, Notre Dame and Chaminade, and won the Royal tournament.
Pat Russo and Brody Trejos each has 12 goals and seven assists. Paul Dojo and Curtis Silverest each has eight goals and six assists.
The Musketeers' heady start has them wishing in vain for a matchup with nearby Division I power Royal.
"Our guys want to play Royal really bad," Coach Mike Scanlon said, "because our guys know they can beat them."
MARMONTE LEAGUE
Life Goes On
The Thousand Oaks girls' basketball team figured to experience a drop-off from last season, after losing Marion Jones, the state Division I player of the year, to graduation.
"It's a young team that needs a lot of playing time to eliminate a lot of the young mistakes," Coach Chuck Brown said of his Lancers (10-4). "But our young players like (sophomore guard) Nicky LaSala and (freshman forward) Jen Detmer have begun to play well."
Those players will have a chance to learn from Jones this weekend. Jones is a starting guard for fifth-ranked North Carolina and the Tar Heels' game against Northwestern will be nationally televised today.
Around the Leagues. . . .
* L.A. Baptist's Landon LaPack, who is averaging 18 points a game, set a school record by making six of seven three-point baskets against Nordhoff in the Fillmore tournament. Teammate Jeff Baumsteiger set a school record with 12 of his team's 32 steals against St. Bonaventure.
* Last month's Bell-Jeff tournament was a festive affair for the fabulous Baker Brothers of Burbank. Senior Brian Baker made the all-tournament team for the varsity and his sophomore brother Matt was selected the most valuable player of the junior varsity tournament.
* How's this for a youth movement? Brenda Escobar, a freshman forward, leads the Alemany girls' soccer team in scoring with eight goals. Escobar skipped a grade prior to high school and is only 13. The Indians' other forward, Alison Clapp, is also a freshman, and has three goals.
* Rachel McSorley has led the Nordhoff girls' basketball team to 10 wins in its first 13 games, including victories over Hart and defending Division III-AA champion Inglewood Morningside. McSorley, a 6-foot-3 senior, averages 17.5 points and eight rebounds a game.
* The Newbury Park girls' basketball team has three players averaging in double figures in points: Kara McKeown (10.9), Jann Thorpe (10.7) and Julie Wastell (10.6). The trio has powered the Panthers to a 11-2 record, both losses coming to Alemany.
* The Hart girls' basketball team, defending Foothill League champions, appears to have turned around after starting 1-3.
Four of the Indians' top six players missed those games, but after they returned, Hart won eight of 11. Point guard LaCresha Clark averages eight points and five assists.
Kennedy Cosgrove and staff writers Steve Elling, Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Paige A. Leech and Jason H. Reid contributed to this notebook.
