WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers ONE MORE TO GO- Simi Valley High second baseman Tawny Reeger holds up the ball in celebration after making the final out of Tuesday's CIF-SS Division I semifinal game vs. Norco, won by the Pioneers 1-0. SVHS plays Valencia Saturday at 6 p.m. in the championship game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine. So far it's been quite a run: 30 wins, no losses and now the big one, the CIF-Southern Section Division I softball championship game is next for the Marmonte League champion Simi Valley High Pioneers.

The Pioneers' titlegame opponent will be the Valencia Vikings (28-5-1) of the Foothill League, the defending CIF-SS Division I and national champions, when the teams meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at Deanna Manning Stadium/Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park in Irvine.

For Simi Valley, it will be an opportunity to avenge last season's 5-0 loss to Valencia in a second-round playoff game.

"I take one team at a time, one year at a time," said Simi Valley head coach Russ Michael. "There will never be a team like this. There will never be a team like last year. It's a new team every year."

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers TEXTBOOK- Pioneer senior shortstop Sam Fischer turns a double play during Tuesday's 1-0 semifinal victory over Norco. The Pioneers beat Norco 1-0 in a semifinal game Tuesday at Rancho Santa Susana Park.

It was Simi Valley's second victory in as many days after beating Esperanza of Anaheim in the quarterfinals, which was postponed to Monday because of rain last Thursday.

"Anybody, when you get to this point, has to be a fantastic team," Michael said. "To win CIF you've got to play your best game. It doesn't matter who it is."

Michael knows Saturday's matchup could very well be his team's toughest of the year.

"Valencia, they're on a roll. They're playing good ball," the coach said. "They're a good ballclub. We'll be happy to face them. Our girls are excited because they feel (Valencia) knocked us out of CIF last year. It's kind of motivational for us. They're excited. They want it."

In Tuesday's semifinal, the Pioneers made the most of their half of the fourth inning by scoring the game's only run.

With two outs, senior second baseman Tawny Reeger hit a ball in the air. As Norco freshman first baseman Jordan Emanuele leaned to catch it, she collided with Reeger and dropped the ball.

Reeger hit the ground and began reaching for the first base bag to touch it.

"When the ball was hit in the air, I was thinking, 'Go to (first base),' until I ran into the girl. Then I was down," Reeger said. "I really wasn't thinking about anything until I heard the other team yelling, 'Tag her, tag her,' so I thought I'd better touch the base."

After the collision, Simi senior first baseman Haley Thomas singled to left field. With the bases loaded, senior designated hitter Allison Mapes singled to right field, scoring Reeger.

"Haley had gotten a hit; Tawny (Reeger) had gotten a hit. I just wanted to continue the trend," Mapes said.

"When I was given the opportunity I wanted to take full advantage of it, and I think I did."

Reeger was 2-for-2 on the day. Junior right fielder Amber Olive went 2for3. The Pioneers' other four hits were by senior shortstop Sam Fischer, Mapes, junior center fielder Jessica Soria and Thomas.

Simi Valley prevailed by staying calm during the tense moments of the fourth inning.

Reeger, reflecting on the team's composure, said, "The whole game we stayed loose. When we scored that one, we got a little more loose. No one was tight. That's really good."

Michael said his teams always begin some type of mental preparation during the preseason, when they work on controlling their nerves while discussing how to deal with pressure.

"You don't let pressure situations get to you," he said. "It's part of the game. Just move on to the next play and make the play, make more out of it. This year, I was successful with that."

Simi Valley sophomore righthander Amanda Oliveto won her 15th game of the season in the semifinal. She yielded six hits, including two to sophomore center fielder Nicole Sappingfield, struck out nine and walked four.

Norco junior right-hander Teagan Gerhart (28-6) absorbed the loss.

"I don't feel that (Oliveto) had her best day," Michael said. "Even on not her best day, she still is one of the best.

"What I've said all year long is that we have a full nine-player team out there. You saw our defense. Every game it's somebody else new. Mapes came up and got the big hit today as a DH. We're tough to beat."

Winning in every conceivable way no longer surprises Michael.

"It's the same thing like they've been doing all year long," he said.

"They're 30-0. There are no more surprises for me. My catcher had a tough day. That was, maybe, if there were any surprises, that would be it."

As his team draws closer to the championship, Michael thinks about 1993, the last and only time a SVHS softball team won CIF.

The '93 squad was coached by the late Suzanne Manlet, who died of breast cancer in January 2004 after coaching at Simi Valley from 1981-2003.

After Tuesday's win, Michael said winning another championship would be extremely special.

"You know what? Even in my professional days there's no feeling like that," he said. "It's awesome. I am so thrilled, so excited, so proud.

"It's something that has not been done since Suzanne Manlet did it. I'm really thinking of her right now. She was one of my mentors."