World champs!
Simi Youth Baseball PONY squad steamrolls to a World Series title
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

BEST OF THE BEST- Members of the Simi Valley Youth Baseball U-13 PONY All-Star team celebrate Monday night's 12-2 victory over Jefferson Parish, La., in the PONY World Series championship game.

This past Monday night a limousine took the Simi Valley Youth Baseball U-13 PONY All-Star team for a drive through the Downtown Disney District. It was, however, at Chino Hills Community Park a few hours earlier where the team felt like it was at the happiest place on earth.

With a 12-2 win over Jefferson Parish, La., on Monday, Simi Valley secured the PONY World Series national championship.

Although Simi Valley blew away its competition in the finale, the weekend trip at Chino Hills was anything but a breeze.

In the opening game of the pool-play tournament last Friday against Chambersburg, Pa., Simi Valley fell behind 10-0 in the first inning. Although the situation looked bleak, head coach Chris Bosson was confident in his team as he huddled them for a meeting in the dugout.

"Our boys were a little tired from the opening ceremonies, and maybe we were a little distracted because of that," Bosson said. "The team's spirit was kind of slow at that moment, but I told them to relax and just try and win every inning from there on out."

Simi Valley went on to score 11 unanswered runs to complete a dramatic comeback.

"We were all kind of angry after the first inning of that game, but we all got together and did our best to help pick each up after that," Simi pitcher/outfielder Johnny Wilson said.

Simi would have no problems in its second game against Mazatlan of Mexico, winning 100. Then, on Sunday night, the drama really started to unfold.

With Simi up 9-7 in the top of the seventh against Victoria of Riverside, the game was called due to darkness. The umpires talked the situation over and decided that the game would resume the following day, two hours prior to the championship game, which was scheduled for later that afternoon at 7 p.m.

"We were completely shocked that the game was called," Bosson said. "We only had three outs to go, and instead we would have to drive everyone back home to Simi Valley and Moorpark that night, only to drive back the following day when we weren't even guaranteed a slot in the championship game.

"I told everyone on our team the most important thing was to get a good night of sleep and let me worry about the game. Of course, I didn't get much sleep that night."

Although the game was certainly on the team's mind, Wilson said he was confident they would win the first game on Monday.

"It was just three more hard outs to go, so I wasn't really thinking about that first game," Wilson said. "I was more excited about winning the championship game later that day."

Simi Valley would get those three outs to set up a championship game with Jefferson Parish. Once there, Moorpark High freshman Sean Houlihan made sure the team took home the title.

Houlihan, who'd won the home run derby prior to the start of the tournament, started hitting round-trippers in real games, too. After crushing two home runs in the game against Victoria, Houlihan made it four in a row when he clubbed two more homers against Jefferson Parish.

"I like inside pitches, and when I get them while at bat I like to hit them really hard," Houlihan said. "After I hit the second one in a row people on my team were joking, 'Oh, you should hit three in a row or four.' I never thought I would actually do it. I was just so happy after the fourth one because I really wanted to help our team win."

The 12 runs Simi Valley scored would be more than enough, as Simi pitcher Reese Schmidt held Jefferson Parish at bay for five innings before giving way to Wilson in the sixth.

"I got the last out by striking out someone on a curveball," Wilson said. "It was a great feeling after I struck the batter out. Everyone on our team went crazy with a big dog pile on the field."

Soon after the third out, the team boarded a limousine to take a victory ride in the Downtown Disney District.

"During the last inning I looked over and saw the limo waiting for us if we won," Houlihan said. "At that point I just couldn't wait to get the last out."

The next day, Bosson reflected on what it was like to coach the championship team.

"This team was all about heart and talent," Bosson said. "I'll always remember the way they worked together. Every single player on the team contributed in some way."

Wilson, who will be a freshman at Moorpark High, said the championship run was fun to be a part of.

"This was probably the best team I've ever been on," Wilson said. "Every single player on the team was always trying to do something to help, whether it was hitting, pitching, fielding or just warming up the right fielder. We all got along very well."

Besides Wilson, Schmidt and Houlihan, the roster for Simi Valley included Cole Acheronti, Cole Rutherford, Colin Yelich, Blake Yuckert, Tyler Bosson, Brandon Greiger, Nick Vigo, Cody Ramer and Jeremy Sworzyn. Bosson, Randy Acheronti and Roy Rutherford were the coaches.