Radinsky Sets a Record Straight; Simi Wins Title

Scott Radinsky pitched a two-hitter and struck out 14 as Simi Valley High overpowered Boone (Fla.), 12-2, in the championship game of the Colonial High tournament Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

The Pioneers supported the senior left-hander with 14 hits and a seven-run third-inning to emerge from the 16-team, double-elimination tournament without a loss.

Radinsky, however, was the real story.

He set a tournament record with 28 strikeouts in a pair of complete-game efforts and allowed only earned two runs and four hits in 13 innings.

“If we don’t have Scott, we don’t win the tournament,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said. “That’s how dominant he was.”

Radinsky (6-1) was joined by Simi Valley second baseman Von Herron on the nine-man, all-tournament team.

Simi Valley sent 12 batters against Boone in the third inning to give Radinsky all the support he needed. The Pioneers had seven hits in the inning, including a two-run single by first baseman Scott Sharts.

Everyone in the Simi Valley lineup had at least one hit in the championship game, stopped after six innings because of a 10-run rule.

Corey Aurand had a solo home run in the second, doubled in a run in the fourth and scored three times to pace Simi Valley. Duane Mulville added three hits, including a solo home run in the fifth inning, scored twice and had two runs batted in. Shaun Murphy also had two hits.

In earlier tournament games, Simi Valley defeated West Orange (4-3), Colonial (3-0) and Apopka (16-9), all from Florida.

“We brought home the most important trophy,” Scyphers said. “After each game we won, people were saying that we weren’t that good and that we got lucky.

“That kind of kept the fire in our eye throughout the tournament.”

There was one other incentive for Simi Valley, Scyphers said.

“When we stepped on the field for the first time, their PA announcer said something that stuck in the back of our minds. He said, ‘Welcome to the Colonial Classic, where the best high school baseball in the nation is played,’ ” Scyphers said.

“When the kids heard that, they wanted to show that the best baseball is played in Southern California.”

On this weekend, it was.