Simi Valley Breezes Past Glendale, 16-2

Glendale High’s baseball team arrived in Simi Valley on Friday having recorded a mere 10 victories.

Simi Valley, on the other hand, won 10 games in March alone.

Not surprisingly, the Pioneers sent Glendale home with a 16-2 loss in a Southern Section 5-A Division first-round playoff game.

“We were looking forward to coming out here and seeing how they play baseball,” Glendale Coach Chris Axelgard said. “Obviously, they have a very good program.”

At least credit Glendale (10-8) with having the ability to provide Marmonte League champion Simi Valley, which improved to 22-4, with somewhat of a scare.

The Dynamiters, the No. 3 team from the Pacific League, trailed by just two runs after 3 1/2 innings and might have done more damage had they not come up with only one run after loading the bases with none out in the third inning.

“We put a little pressure on early,” Axelgard said. “We proved we belonged here the first three or four innings.”

Pioneer senior catcher Steve Bernstein admitted he was somewhat concerned. “I was kind of worried there for a while,” he said.

In fact, Bernstein might even have nervously run his fingers through his hair, but he and teammate Brian Vasey had shaved their heads as part of an agreement.

Simi Valley, which led, 4-2, after three innings, took a 7-2 lead into its half of the fifth and scored six runs before Glendale recorded an out.

The Pioneers scored seven runs altogether in the fifth to take a 14-2 lead that assured them of their 13th win in as many games at home this season.

“It was one of those games where you just feel you’re going to get it done sometime, somehow,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said.

Simi Valley had 14 hits and six walks against three Glendale pitchers.

That was plenty for Brian Vasey (10-1), James Manzi and Bill Treadway, who combined to limit Glendale to seven hits.

Simi Valley’s Mike Cardenas was four for five with two doubles and a triple. Kevin Nykoluk and Tyler Nelson each had two hits, and Nelson hit his fourth home run.

Aaron Fischer had two hits, including his eighth home run, a three-run shot with two out in the first inning that gave Simi Valley a 3-0 lead.

Lance Evans was two for two, including a triple, for Glendale.