Simi downs Downey in wild card round of CIF playoffs
By Steve Ames
Special to The Acorn

Simi Valley High (22-7 overall, 9-5 Marmonte League) is in the CIF Division II baseball playoffs after soundily defeating Downey 11-1 in a wild card game played Tuesday.

The Newbury Park Panthers (11-16, 4-10), the team they blanked 7-0 last week to end the Marmonte League season, unfortunately, is not.

Up next for Simi Valley is a matchup away from home against the Atascadero Greyhounds, the Pac 5 League’s No. 1 team, today at 3:15 p.m.

"We haven’t been there (the playoffs) since ’95, not since Coach Scyphers was here," Simi Valley Head Coach Matt La Belle said. "Mike (Scyphers) is obviously a great coach and has all of our school records for everything, so I’m honored to be getting his tradition back."

As for the Panthers, first-year head coach Scott Drootin said as he began the season he could see the players had a lot to learn.

"They were way behind," Drootin said. "We’re one of the few teams that at least improved the second half, and that’s all I can ask for. They worked really hard and they’re starting to get it. Unfortunately for the seniors, they’re not going to be here, but this team in the next couple of years is going to be pretty good."

Newbury Park lost seven of seven games during the first half, but Drootin said that it was not for a lack of effort.

"Our kids gave me 100 percent and I really enjoyed coaching these guys," he said. "I’m looking forward to the future with them."

Last week, Simi Valley beat Newbury Park, scoring two runs in the first, fourth and fifth inning and one more in the seventh inning. Senior first baseman Mario Colletto was 3-for-4 with one RBI, senior center fielder Leydell Shelton went 2-for-4 with one RBI and senior left fielder Evan Bryan was 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Senior pitcher Mike Roe limited the Panthers to three hits and got the win, and Le Belle was delighted to have it come against Newbury Park.

"He’s our guy. Mike (Roe) did a great job, came on and set the tone early," Le Belle said. "We scored a couple of runs early and we did a good job of hitting the ball up the middle and to the opposite field."

La Belle said that Simi Valley has had–in two of the past three years–games that would decide whether the Pioneers would go to the playoffs that have been played at Newbury Park. This year, he said he was happy things turned out in Simi’s favor.

"Really weird things have happened," he said. "We gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh two years ago to get knocked out and give Newbury Park the championship." The Simi Valley coach said he was also pleased with Colletto’s game against Newbury Park.

"Mario (Colletto) had a great game plus he made great diving catch down the line when they could have got going," Le Belle said. "He’s played pretty well defensively for us all year. He’s solid. He’s up there in our team leaders for our runs, RBI and plays good defense."

Of his team, Drootin said there are only three seniors on the Newbury Park roster this season and all three will go on to play baseball in college– pitcher Chuckie Fick at Cal State Fresno, second baseman Chase Dunning at Azusa Pacific and center fielder Jon Alia at Sonoma State.

"The one thing as a coach I pride myself as doing is (that) we have seniors who are going to play college baseball," Drootin said. "They’ll represent our school."

Speaking specifically about Fick, his coach said that he "was really a pleasure to coach."

"He was fantastic. I am going to miss Chuckie," Drootin said. "He gave us everything he had. He’s been a great kid. He’s one of the reasons I decided I wanted to come here (Newbury Park). He’s a real player and he plays for the coach."

Despite missing out on the playoffs, Drootin said he was satisfied with his first year at the healm of the Newbury Park program.

"I’ve never not made the playoffs, but this is probably one of the most enjoyable years I’ve ever had coaching," he said. "I probably had to coach harder than I ever have before, but I think it’s going to be worth it, I really do."

In the offseason, Drootin said he has plans to try and teach some of his players another sport— one played on water and not land.

"I may try to surf with some of these boys and show them how to surf," he said. "I want to show Travis Scott what a real surfer’s like."

As for Le Belle, he hopes it’s several weeks before his returning Pioneers need to start thinking about the 2005 season.

"We’re excited to go (to the playoffs)," he said. "We hope we can get pretty deep into the playoffs. Our guys are just great friends and they get along and our teamwork is just unbelievable."

"You look around and everybody is rooting for the other guy not to fail," he added. "Everyone still wants to fight for a chance to get it done. And they’re happy for the guys who aren’t getting it done. This leads to success."