Simi Has the Arms For Run at Title : The Pioneers Combine on a Five-Hitter in 5-0 Shutout of Royal

Scott Radinsky, Simi Valley High’s senior pitching sensation, was hosing down the mound on his home field, unaware that only 10 yards away his coach, Mike Scyphers, was heralding the left-hander as one of best prep pitchers in the Free World.

“That’s a No. 1 draft choice,” said Scyphers, pointing to Radinsky. “He has to be one of the best pitchers in the state, one of the best anywhere.”

Then why is the best pitcher hosing down the mound?

“That’s his home,” Scyphers said. “That’s his bread and butter. He does it after every game, after every practice. He grooms it. He has to live with it.”

Radinsky and the mound are quite compatible. Radinsky pitched only two-thirds of an inning in relief Wednesday, but he did strike out Royal’s Sean Sullivan to end what could have been a Highlanders’ rally.

Simi Valley beat Royal, 5-0, and did it with the combined pitching efforts of Radinsky, Todd Sullivan and Shaun Murphy.

The Times’ No. 1 team in the Valley had 10 hits--enough to win, but not comparable to what happened when the two teams met last season. Simi Valley erupted for 29 hits in a 30-0 win.

Even so, hitting, or the lack thereof, is what has Scyphers feeling a bit uneasy, as the Pioneers try to win their first Marmonte League championship since 1982.

“We got some hits today,” said Scyphers, who, at 33, is in his eighth season as the Simi Valley coach. “But they weren’t anything to write home about.

“We’re going to have to swing the bat a lot better if we want to win league. We’ve got to make some adjustments, take some more batting practice and shake ourselves. They’re too good of players to worry about whether they’ll start hitting. But I am running out of patience.”

Running out of pitching doesn’t seem likely, not with Radinsky, Sullivan and Murphy. Each earned post-season honors last year.

Radinsky (2-1) has 41 strikeouts in 17 innings. He has two one-hitters and a 1.67 earned run average. He has given up only six hits. He has been scouted by major league organizations and has been clocked at more than 90 m.p.h.

Sullivan, who started Wednesday, gave up five hits before being replaced by Radinsky. Radinsky got the Pioneers out of trouble in the fifth, but had control problems in the next inning and, after loading the bases, was pulled in favor of Murphy.

Murphy struck out Royal’s Dan Presta for the last out of the sixth and retired three straight in the seventh.

“I’m happy our pitchers got their second straight shutout,” Scyphers said. “I can’t remember the last time I used three pitchers, let alone the last time three combined for a shutout. But I think that’s the sign of a good ballclub when you only get 10 hits, use three pitchers and you still win, 5-0.”

Simi Valley (1-0, 5-2 overall) has seven starters back from last season’s team, which finished second in league to Camarillo. The two teams meet Friday. The only player starting who didn’t play at all last season is Corey Aurand, who played junior varsity ball as a sophomore but didn’t go out for the team last season. Aurand, the No. 9 hitter, is battling for a starting spot in left field.

“He’s there for now,” Scyphers said. “After getting three hits today against Royal, he’ll probably stay there.”

Murphy, who plays center field when he’s not pitching, had two hits against Royal (0-1, 2-5 overall). In the 30-0 rout last season, Murphy broke five school records at the plate. Sullivan is also a strong hitter, as are seniors Von Herron, Mike Hankins and Dave Milstein.

Scyphers looked at the fence surrounding the outfield at Simi Valley. “We can get hits and we can score runs,” he said. “I know we can because we have.”

Asked if he thought the Pioneers could win the league title, Scyphers looked over at Radinsky.

“Yeah,” he said, “I would say we’re the favorites.”

ROYAL--Presta and Kinyoun.

SIMI VALLEY--Sullivan, Radinsky (5), Murphy (6) and Laker.

WP--Sullivan (2-1); LP--Presta (1-1).