Simi Valley Finds Host of New Fans

Simi Valley gave an early demonstration of its pitching potential in a scrimmage Monday against Canyon.

The Pioneers, ranked second nationally by USA Today, struck out 25 batters in 11 innings. Senior right-hander Trevor Leppard struck out seven of nine batters he faced. Hard-throwing senior right-hander Bill Scheffels fanned each of the nine batters he faced. Canyon managed only one hit.

The real thing started Friday when Simi Valley defeated Hawthorne, 16-3, in the opening round of the El Segundo tournament.

“We can’t worry about polls and we can’t worry about what other people are saying about us,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said. “We’re just going to stay focused. The kids are so hungry to get going this year.”

Next month, Simi Valley is scheduled to participate in the High Sierra Classic in Reno and the Upper Deck tournament at Cal State Fullerton. The Upper Deck tournament will include six teams ranked nationally by USA Today, including No. 1 Westminster Christian of Miami.

VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE

BASKETBALL

Although his team had just had its championship title dreams dashed by Dorsey in a quarterfinal-round City Section 3-A Division playoff game, North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller still managed to offer some comforting words to his disappointed players.

“I don’t build my teams on wins and losses,” Miller said. “I told the guys, ‘If this is the worst loss you ever have in your life, you’re lucky.’

“We’ve had two tremendous back-to-back years. I love my players and I’ve taught them not to base life on one game.”

Grant Coach Howie Levine witnessed a couple of coaching firsts this season, neither of which he is happy about. Midway through the season, Grant was actually held scoreless during one quarter of play. Last week, the Lancers’ season was ended by a first-round thrashing at the hands of South Gate in a City Section 3-A Division playoff game. The Lancers finished with a losing record (9-14) for the first time since Levine took over the program seven seasons ago.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” Levine said. “I haven’t had one team at Grant with a losing record. I thought we’d be a .500 team. I thought we’d be young and inexperienced, but. . . .

Grant finished 16-7 last year and 19-3 two seasons ago.

BASEBALL

Since Coach Jim Smith took over the Canoga Park program five seasons ago, pitchers have been hard to come by and perhaps the main reason the Hunters haven’t had much success in recent years. But, this season is different.

“We’ve been just one guy and volunteers,” Smith cracked. “Now we’ve got five guys who can really throw.”

All five are right-handers, but the absence of a left-handed pitcher doesn’t bother Smith in the least.

“I don’t even know what a left-hander looks like,” Smith said.

FOOTHILL LEAGUE

BASEBALL

Hart and Saugus, second and sixth in the Southern Section Division II preseason baseball rankings, figure to have two of the top pitching staffs in the Foothill League--and the area.

The Indians rely on senior right-hander Gary Stephenson (7-2, 1.75 earned-run average) and sophomore right-hander Luis Sanchez (7-0, 3.64 ERA). The Centurions counter with senior right-hander Bobby Cowan (12-2, 1.69 ERA) and junior right-hander John Maggiora (4-1, 2.21 ERA).

“Our guys are good but so are their guys,” Saugus Coach Doug Worley said. “There will definitely be some good pitching.”

Second team all-league outfielder Soren Halladay, who batted .426 with 13 RBIs as a sophomore, will not play this season.

Halladay, who has never played the position, will probably be the football team’s starting quarterback next season. He will spend the spring beginning to learn the position. However, Halladay stresses he is not giving up baseball because of football.

“I know a lot of people think that’s why I am doing it but that’s not really the reason,” he said. “I just got kind of burned out on baseball last season and I wasn’t having fun.

“Because of that I figured I might as well concentrate on football. Being the quarterback at Hart is a big responsibility.”

Staff writers Vince Kowalick, Paige A. Leech and Jason H. Reid contributed to this notebook.