Sommer Snaps Slump to Lead Simi Valley, 8-6

Jeff Sommer, Simi Valley High’s designated hitter, sat on the bench Monday and watched his team lose. Two days later, he tried to show he doesn’t belong as a spectator.

In a consolation-bracket game in the Colonial Baseball Classic on Wednesday, Sommer--the only sophomore on the team--knocked in four runs as Simi Valley defeated Campolindo of Concord, Calif., 8-6, at Boone High.

Sommer, a 6-foot, 185-pounder who bats left-handed, did not play in Monday’s 5-4 loss to Lake Brantley because he had been in a batting slump. Wednesday, Sommer was 3 for 3 with two doubles for Simi Valley (8-4), which had 11 hits.

“He’d had a couple of bad games so I gave him Monday off,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said. “But, thankfully, he really came back today.”

Holding a 6-2 lead, Scott Sharts (4-0) was relieved by Mike Laker in the sixth. When Laker struggled in the seventh--Campolindo scored three runs to pull within 8-6--Sharts was brought back in. He allowed no earned runs and had three strikeouts.

Simi Valley plays Winter Park of Orlando, the defending champion, today at Boone High. Winter Park (11-4) was defeated by Chatsworth, 5-2, Wednesday.