Anguiano, Sharts Lead Simi Valley

The long and short of Simi Valley High’s 3-0 victory over Hoover in the first round of the Southern Section 5-A Division playoffs Friday at Simi Valley were Scott Sharts and Jesse Anguiano.

The long being the 6-foot, 6-inch Sharts, who improved his record to 10-0 with a three-hit shutout and his 20th career win. The career total equals brother Steve’s school record, set in 1981-82. Sharts had five strikeouts, all against Hoover’s first three batters.

The short being the 5-6 Anguiano, who got the Pioneers’ first hit--a one-out double in the third--and their only necessary hit--a one-out home run in the fifth. He also singled home Simi Valley’s third run with two out in the sixth. To condense, the Tornadoes were caught in the eye of the 135-pound whirlwind.

Simi Valley (22-5) will play Culver City, a winner over Notre Dame, in the second round Tuesday.

“I’ve always wanted to go 4 for 4 or something like that,” said Anguiano, who was 3 for 3. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”

While Anguiano had a career day, sophomore Jeff Sommer had a record-breaking day. His sixth-inning home run was his seventh of the season, breaking Sharts’ sophomore record. Sommer yanked an off-speed pitch from Hoover starter Sean Regan high over the fence in right field to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Joe Gallegos followed with a triple to center field and Anguiano grounded his single through the left side.

“I love it when those guys hit home runs,” Sharts said. “I just love it.”

For much of the game, however, Regan kept Simi Valley at bay. He did not allow a hit until Anguiano’s double and did not give up another until the fifth, when Anguiano hit his third home run. He limited the Pioneers’ first six batters to one hit. Sharts, who leads the Southern Section with 15 home runs but has not hit well lately, was 0 for 2 and walked.

But Regan discovered that Simi Valley doesn’t necessarily need more than one or two poor pitches.

“What can you do?” Regan asked rhetorically. “I got ‘em up a little and that’s going to happen. It’s just part of the game. I give ‘em my best and saw what they could do with it.”

The Tornadoes (11-12) mounted their best rallies in the second, fifth and seventh innings, but never produced the big hit. Of the five runners Hoover left on base, three were stranded in scoring position. Regan was 2 for 3, including a fourth-inning, two-out double.

Simi Valley did not get hits when it needed them early, but later on, the Pioneers found a little punch.

“We didn’t get some timely hits and then we finally got a lift from Jesse,” Coach Mike Scyphers said. “And Scott was in command the whole way.

And that is the short and long of it.