Baseball: Simi Valley hopes the hits keep coming

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Simi Valley Coach Matt La Belle has been pleased with his team’s offensive performance and knows the Pioneers are going to have keep the bats pinging if they’re going to stop a talented Valencia squad in the Southern Section-Toyota Division I quarterfinals Friday.

Valencia ace Josh Corralles figures to be the toughest pitcher Simi Valley has faced since it endured the tosses that helped earn Thousand Oaks standout Chad Smith a scholarship to USC. Still, if the Pioneers can mimic some the offensive success of their first two playoff games, capturing their first divisional title since 2004 will remain a possibility.

‘We need to find a way to get it done,’ La Belle said. ‘We have to have good approaches at the plate and make smart decisions.’

And no one has been more of a batter’s box Einstein this postseason than Nick Russo. The senior southpaw may have pitched a couple of strong games against Vista del Lago and King, but he has also looked great from the plate. He hit a grand slam against Vista del Lago and had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored against King.

Of course, it wasn’t all about Russo. The Pioneers knocked out six doubles against King and Cal State Fullerton-bound shortstop Jonathan Meyer, pictured, has continued to perform well at the plate, too.

The challenge, however, will be to get something past Corralles, who has won his last four starts and is sitting on a 1.16 ERA. Simi Valley also must hold Valencia’s potent offense in check. As of Thursday morning, La Belle said either Austin Thiel or Drew Sandler would get the start.

‘Valencia is a well-coached team and they know how to win,’ La Belle said.

Go here for a full schedule of quarterfinal games and click here to see the brackets.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image by Austin Knoblauch