IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers A SWING AND A DRIVE- Simi Valley's Zach Kaminkow rips the ball during a game against Toluca in the Pinto World Series last weekend. On Monday, the Simi defeated Hart 5-4 to win the championship. By hosting the Shetland and Pinto World Series last weekend, Simi Valley Youth Baseball got to showcase its stateoftheart athletic complex. A title-winning performance by one of the league's home teams was just icing on the cake.

The Simi Valley Pinto team, consisting of 7- and 8-year-olds, capped off a fun-filled weekend with a 5-4 win over the Hart PONY baseball to win the Pinto World Series.

"This is absolutely incredible," head coach Shawn Kaminkow said. "All 12 boys played their heart out this weekend. The biggest key for us winning was to always stay focused and to believe that we had the best team."

Simi led 5-1 heading into the game's final inning, but Hart would not go quietly. Hart scored three runs to cut the lead to 5-4, and had the winning run on second base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

Simi pitcher Pierson Ohl then got Hart catcher Noah Scharlin to hit a fly ball to right field. Battling sun in his eyes, Simi right fielder Nick Johnson made the catch to secure the championship.

"That's one of the advantages of having the home field," Kaminkow said. "Every practice we spend 20 minutes catching fly balls in right field with the sun. All the practice finally paid off."

Simi player Johnathan Lavallee, who hit a home run in the third inning, was thrilled to win the title.

"Last night I dreamed that this day would be this good," Lavallee said. "It ended up being a really close game, and when (Johnson) caught the fly ball in right, I was so excited I didn't know what to say to him."

Although the Simi Pinto team won the championship, a lot of teams, players, parents and volunteers walked away happy as well.

The festivities kicked off Thursday, July 17, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library with an opening ceremony that included free food such as hot dogs and cotton candy, numerous games and a speech given by former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.

"The speech Lasorda gave was enthralling," Simi Valley parent and committee member Eric Rose said. "Lasorda talked to the kids about honoring your parents and having fun playing baseball. Even the 6yearolds were hanging on his every word."

The next morning tournament action began with games being played on each one of the complex's five fields.

The complex also had a snack shack and a souvenir stand for parents and players to buy tshirts featuring their favorite teams.

Visitors were not shy about their appreciation for the Simi facility.

"I've been to two other Shetland and Pinto World Series at other venues, and this one in Simi just blew them away," Westlake Shetland head coach Chuck Carney said. "There were a couple times I heard parents say to each other, 'Do you believe how great this is?'"

Brad Martz, the field director for PONY baseball, was also amazed at the job Simi Youth Baseball did.

"The Simi folks are very well organized," Martz said. "The fields are in excellent condition and everything is running like clockwork. And to top it off, the opening ceremony was one of the best youth baseball events I've ever seen."

According to Simi Youth Baseball board members, an estimated 3,000 people, not including players and coaches, paid for admission during the tournament. Simi Youth Baseball president Mike Fine said the massive exposure was great for the community.

"This has been fantastic," Fine said. "To be honest, the best part of this tournament for me is looking around and seeing people overwhelmed and excited about how nice this place is."

Kaminkow said he loved how Simi Valley was transformed into a youth baseball haven, and he's glad the city will be hosting the tournament again next year.

"I loved driving around town this weekend and seeing all the kids and parents from different teams in restaurants talking with each other," Kaminkow said.

"I loved seeing numerous cars on the road painted with different team names. This tournament just solidifies Simi Valley as being the best there is for youth baseball."