Pickoff play helps Simi Valley take down Royal
SVHS alone in first place after upending Highlanders, 6-4
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SWEET SWING- Pioneer center fielder Brett Hale makes contact during Wednesday's Marmonte League showdown at Royal.

It's a bang-bang play that Simi Valley High pitcher Nick Russo and first baseman Eric Bernstein have worked on many times in practice.

The formula is basic: A pickoff call comes from the Pioneer dugout, and as the opposing runner leads off first base, Bernstein breaks toward the bag. Russo, a southpaw, fires the ball at Bernstein, and, if things go according to plan, Simi Valley gets the runner before he can get back to the base.

On Wednesday, playing the first of two Marmonte League regular-season games against crosstown rival Royal- Round 1 was in the Highlanders' backyard- Simi Valley's defensive play worked to perfection as Russo picked off Royal's Bryan Berglund, who represented the tying run at first base, to record the final out of the Pioneers' 6-4 victory.

With the win, Simi Valley remained atop the Marmonte League standings with a 5-1 league record. The Pioneers are 12-5 overall. Royal fell to 13-6 overall, 3-3 in league.

"We are always on the same page when it comes to that play," said Bernstein of the gameending pickoff. "It's because we've played together for so long that we are able to connect and know what each other's going to do."

It wasn't the first time the play had worked, Russo said, but it was the timeliest.

"I knew it was coming as soon as the runner got on," said Russo, who earned the save after pitching a scoreless seventh inning. "We always do that little backpick right there. It's worked for us before, so why not?"

Simi Valley junior righthander Drew Sandler earned the victory after pitching six innings, allowing four runs on six Highlander hits. Sandler also hit a solo home run off Royal starter Tanner Peters to stake SVHS to an early 1-0 lead.

"It was a really big game," Sandler said. "It's the first time I've gotten the start against Royal, and I wanted the ball the whole game.

"But, you know, I hit my pitch count, and we had Russo come out, and I knew he was going to get the job done, and he did."

Royal senior Matt Magill erased Simi's early lead with a two-run, opposite field home run in the bottom of the second inning that also plated Jeff Winters, who had led off the inning with a single.

The Pioneers answered back in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs, although they could've had more.

After Bernstein knocked in Matt Orloff with a single to right field to tie the score at 2-2, Brent Keys went home on a Royal error to make the game 3-2 in favor of Simi Valley.

Although the Pioneers appeared poised for a big inning, Peters was able to escape a noouts bases-loaded jam to keep Royal's deficit at a single run.

Highlander catcher Mike Vinyard led off the bottom of the third inning with a single. He scored the tying run on an RBI double to left-center field by Cody Buckel.

Royal took a 4-3 advantage when Buckel went home on a passed ball shortly thereafter.

But Simi Valley remained unfazed, and the Pioneer offense came right back in the top of the fourth inning and won the game by putting up three more runs.

In the fourth, Keys singled in Chance Cross to tie the contest at 4-4. Orloff later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4 Simi Valley.

Peters was replaced by Buckel after hitting Bernstein with a pitch. Brett Hale's fielder's choice RBI allowed Keys to score the game's final run and give the Pioneers a 6-4 cushion they would not relinquish.

Peters, who entered the game with a 2.13 ERA, was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.

It was a rare bad outing for Peters, one of the league's hardest throwing and most dominant pitchers.

Peters "was throwing a lot of high pitches, and he's usually really down with his location and can work his changeup," Royal head coach Dan Maye said.

"He couldn't work his changeup whatsoever, and much of that is probably because the adrenaline was pumping a lot more because this was SimiRoyal."

Buckel, a sophomore, was solid in relief for the Highlanders. He allowed three hits and no runs in 3 2/3 innings of work.

"That was really good for him," Maye said. "He did a great job and kept us in the game."

Both teams are back in action today at 3:30 p.m. Simi Valley will host Agoura, while Royal travels to Newbury Park.

Marmonte standings