By Steve Ames Special to the Acorn

MORE TO COME-Collin Franklin of Simi Valley mans the first place bag during a game earlier in the season.

While ’04 was the year to remember with its CIF Southern Section Division II baseball championship, ’05 has not necessarily been the year to forget for the Pioneer baseball team.

Though Simi (15-10, 4-7) won’t get a spot in the playoffs, head coach Matt LaBelle is still pleased with how his young team–of which only six of the 16 are seniors–has handled itself on the field this season.

"We’re obviously out of it now," LaBelle said. "We don’t get the chance to go to the playoffs. But we’re still playing hard as we showed (against Newbury Park on Wednesday). Our pitching has been phenomenal."

Wednesday, the Pioneers blanked Newbury Park, 15-0, following up a 18-2 victory they had over the Panthers in April. In this week’s game junior second baseman Aaron Pelone led Simi Valley batters with a 4-for-5 afternoon at the plate.

Senior catcher Bryan Anderson and senior shortstop Ben Orloff were 2-for-5, junior designated hitter Matt McFadden and senior center fielder Robbie Fierro were 2-for-4 and right fielder/pitcher Frankie Reed was 2-for-2.

After today’s road game against Westlake, the Pioneers will round out the season at home with a game Monday against the Calabasas Coyotes and Wednesday vs. the crosstown rival Royal Highlanders.

All season long LaBelle has praised the performance of the young Pioneer pitching staff that includes freshman Nick Russo, sophomore Nick Barnese and junior Frankie Reed.

"Those three have a 1.5 between them," the coach said.

Orloff agreed with his head coach’s assessment.

"Our pitchers have kept us in every single ball game. So they’ve done a good job," Orloff said. "It’s how big these young guys have been, especially the pitchers. These guys have been awesome for us."

Despite going 11-3 against non-league competition, the Pioneers simply cound not find a way to beat the top teams in Marmonte. They are a combined 0-5 against Royal, Agoura and Moorpark.

LaBelle said that many of the losses have been a result of a lack of timely hitting.

"We just haven’t gotten clutch hits as much as we would have liked this year," he said. "But that happens. We’re looking forward to a couple of years with those (young) guys."

Despite the graduation of Orloff and Anderson, two of the area’s top ball players, the Pioneers feel they will welcome back a plethora of talent next season.

"With what we have coming back, our three and four hitters (Pelone and junior third baseman Nick Giarraputo), they’ve experienced Marmonte three and four spots all year. This is good preparation to come into. We (also) have some real good JV guys."

Anderson said he sees a difference between this season’s personnel, and last year’s.

"This team, they don’t have that much varsity experience," Anderson said. "Last year we all kind of played with each other through high school. It helped us playing during the games in the playoffs. I’ve never played with these guys in high school. So it’s kind of different."

However, his role as catcher and team veteran has not changed.

"I’m a leader, but I don’t try to boss the kids around," Anderson said. "They all do their own thing. It’s normal for me. I’m used to being the catcher and taking control most of the time during the games. There’s no pressure."

Orloff compared crosstown rival Royal’s performance this year with how Simi played last season.

"They’re tough," the shortstop said. "They’re playing pretty well. They have the old, experienced team like we had last year—a lot of seniors and lot of experience on that team."

LaBelle said the skills and team leadership that Anderson and Orloff have displayed throughout their careers at Simi will be sorely missed.

"They’re two of the top players in Southern California realistically," he said.

"Both of them are going on to play college and Bryan may have the opportunity to play at the pro level. So those guys are obviously the guys you look to, but they’re not prima donnas. They’re the hardest workers we have and that sets the pace for the younger guys, which is very huge."