Simi Valley Comes Up Big Against Channel Islands

Expect big things from the Simi Valley High baseball team.

Like big hits and big innings that lead to big, big leads.

For the second time in as many Marmonte League games, the Pioneers were big winners Thursday, overpowering visiting Channel Islands, 14-5, to improve to 6-1, 2-0 in league play.

As was the case with Simi Valley’s 13-1 victory Tuesday over Newbury Park, this one was virtually over long before the last batter was out.

The Pioneers built a 12-0 lead after five innings with four runs in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth.

Bill Scheffels, Aaron Whitley, Jeff Michael and Denver Smith hit home runs for the first time this season.

Scheffels led off the second with a solo homer to right. Five batters later, Whitley added a three-run home run to left.

Michael, a sophomore designated hitter with eight runs batted in since moving up from the junior varsity on Tuesday, hit a three-run home run to left in the fourth. Smith, pinch-hitting for Scott Miller, immediately followed with a homer to center.

The Pioneers collected 13 hits, including a double by Britten Pond. They also stole six bases to raise their season total to 27.

“With our team speed, we’re making things happen,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said. “When pitchers start thinking about our runners, they’re not going to be making good pitches.”

Channel Islands (2-4, 0-1) unsuccessfully employed three right-handers--Cesar Puga (1-2), Victor Bernal and Mike Mariz. Puga took the most punishment, yielding seven runs. Bernal gave up five, Mariz two.

Conversely, Simi Valley right-hander Trevor Leppard (2-1) dominated, scattering three hits and not allowing a runner past second until the sixth inning, when Damon Espinosa doubled and scored on a groundout.

In the seventh, Leppard gave way to right-hander Bill Treadway, who struggled to record the final out while the Raiders rallied for four runs. Josh Babauta’s two-run double highlighted the inning.