Royal on the attack, Simi tries to claw its way back
The Simi Acorn’s midseason baseball report
Royal Highlanders (17-2, 6-2), tied for first in Marmonte

YOUNG GUN-Sophomore Nick Barnese took the mound for the Pioneers this past Wednesday against Agoura. Despite another solid appearance, Barnese (4-3) took the loss as the Simi bats couldn't provide any support, losing to the Chargers, 4-0. Currently, both the Highlanders (No. 10) and the Pioneers (No. 15) are ranked in the Los Angeles Times' Top 25 list. Royal is ranked No. 1 in Div. I according to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) coaches' poll.

Longest win streak: seven

Tournament action: 5-0 in Southern California Invitational, March 4-12; 4-0 in San Luis Obispo Easter Tournament, March 29-31.

Nicest surprise: Tyler Diamond, senior, utility

Biggest win: 3-2 victory over Simi Valley, April 15.

In a nutshell: The Royal Highlanders and Los Angeles Dodgers have a lot in common. Both teams are atop their respective divisions. Both teams have found success despite injuries to key personnel. And most important, both teams continue to find new ways to win ball games, be it with great pitching, solid defense or timely hitting.

"We’re playing well and I think we have some confidence," head coach Dan Maye said. "At the beginning of the year we had a lot of potential at different spots, and little by little, it’s been chiseled away. All of the sudden you lose a guy who can’t pitch, but he’s hitting really well. Then we lose another guy. Then our second baseman (senior Matt Zabel) is out with a (pulled hamstring). Then we lose a guy to grades. It’s like they’re chiseling away at us and we’re trying to take that as another way of stepping up and saying, ‘We’re not going to be denied.’"

There’s no denying the fact that the Highlanders’ bats have been on fire nearly all season long. Senior first baseman D.J. Smith (.527 BA, 31 RBIs, six HRs, 1.036 slugging percentage) leads the league in batting average, RBIs and slugging percentage. Senior shortstop/pitcher Phil Boscarino (.516 BA, 34 hits, six HRs, .571 OBP) is second in the Marmonte in batting average and is tied for the league lead with nine stolen bases and six home runs. He also has three saves on the year.

Diamond, whose two-run bomb over the centerfield wall provided the winning runs in Royal’s 11-7 victory over Newbury Park Wednesday, has played all three outfield spots as well as third base and pitcher this year.

"He probably has the most roles of anybody and he’s accepted it well and he’s done a good job," Maye said.

Sophomore Justin Czyrklis and senior Robert Pena have split time behind the dish, with Czyrklis catching on Wednesdays and Pena catching on Fridays.

"We need to just keep on winning and let everyone else beat each other," Czyrklis said of his team’s shot at capturing its first league championship since 1999.

Senior pitcher Clayton Edwards (6-0, .854 ERA, 46 strikeouts, one save, two complete games) has been a bona fide No. 1 starter all season long. Junior Grady Ihnat (3-1, 2.41 ERA, three walks allowed) is a crafty lefthander who has served admirably as the Highlanders’ No. 2 starter. With Royal scoring an average of 6.5 runs per game, both hurlers have enjoyed pitching with leads.

"When you have runs, you know you have a little bit more to work with," Ihnat said. "It helps you out a lot."

On the injury front, Zabel will probably be day-to-day for the remainder of the season with a nagging hamstring injury. Smith, who has a shoulder ailment, isn’t expected to pitch again as a precautionary move. And junior Kevin Harrington, the team’s third leading hitter with a .358 BA and 17 RBI, has been ruled academically ineligible and will not suit up again in 2005. Boscarino jammed his thumb during practice this week, but went out and hit a pair of home runs Wednesday and looks to be fine.

RHS is currently ranked 10th in the latest Los Angeles Times’ high school baseball poll, its highest ranking of the season.

Simi Valley Pioneers (13-6, 3-4), fourth in Marmonte

Longest win streak: nine

Tournament action: 3-2 in Daily News Tournament, March 4-12; 4-0 at St. Paul Easter Tournament, March 26-30, first place.

Nicest surprise: Frankie Reed, freshman, P

Biggest win: 7-2 victory at Thousand Oaks, April 6.

In a nutshell: Prior to Wednesday’s shutout loss to Agoura it looked as if the defending Div. II champs might get themselves right back into the thick of the Marmonte race—now they’re really going to have to work for it.

Despite their second loss of the season to the Chargers, the Pioneers have still won 10 of their last 12 games and their only two losses during that span were nail-biters to the Marmonte’s top two teams, Royal and Agoura. So not all is bad—but things must get better soon.

"Absolutely, I think the league is still up in the air," Pioneers head coach Matt La Belle said. "But we have to put together a few wins in a row."

Today the Pioneers will have a chance to get things going in the right direction again as they travel to Calabasas to take on the last-place Coyotes. Simi’s first contest with Calabasas was postponed due to rain, so this will be the first time these two ball clubs have met this season.

As expected, the Pioneers’ big two—catcher Bryan Anderson (.500, three HRs, 15 RBIs) and shortstop Ben Orloff (.441, 26 hits, 14 RBIs)—have delivered thus far, with juniors Nick Giarraputo (16 RBIs, eight doubles) and Aaron Pelone (.339, 12 RBIs) adding additional pop at the plate.

"We knew that we would have to have those guys (Orloff and Anderson) dominate if we wanted to be successful, and they have," La Belle said. "Plus, we’re seeing some of the younger guys follow in their footsteps . . . and that’s been a real boost."

The biggest surprise this season has been the Pioneers’ unexpected success on the mound, primarily freshman Reed (4-0, 0.57 ERA) and sophomore Nick Barnese (4-3, seven complete games), two young guns bursting with promise.

Senior Nick Nyberg and freshman Nick Russo round out the heart of a staff that sports a team ERA of under 2.00. The Pioneers haven’t allowed more than four runs in seven games.

"Our pitching is something I’m real excited about," La Belle said. "I mean, with the exception of one guy (Nyberg), they’re all new guys. We have one freshman and one sophomore starter and our closer is a junior. These guys have done real well for us and they’re only going to get better."

Every game is critical from here on out if the Pioneers hope to fight their way back into that third and final playoff spot. Their second straight loss to Agoura was a huge setback, but the Pioneers know they have the hitting and pitching to get right back into it.

The second half schedule is favorable to the Pioneers. Simi gets Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and Royal at home. The team’s only road games remaining after today are May 4 and 6 against Newbury Park and Westlake respectively.