Scyphers Addresses One Final Objective : Simi Valley Coach Hopes Frustrations of Past End With 1st Section Title

They have been roads oft-traveled by Mike Scyphers over the past 15 years, so much so that a path is beaten on both and directions are committed to memory:

* The daily commute to work: Take the 101 Freeway over the Camarillo Grade, go north on the 23 Freeway to the Olson Road turnoff, then follow the winding road that snakes its way into Simi Valley.

Since 1979, the year Scyphers became baseball coach at Simi Valley High, he has made the 44-mile round-trip trek from his home in Camarillo more times than he can remember. The journey has worn a bit longer in recent years, strained by the realities of family commitments and sprinkled with signs that the end may be near.

* The road to the Southern Section championship: Take the Marmonte League by storm, detour briefly at a national tournament and win that with flair, stop long enough to bask in national accolades, then blaze into the playoffs until . . . you come to a screeching halt.

Funny things have happened to the Pioneers on the road to the championship game. In short, they’ve never been able to get there from here.

But that road also may be nearing an end.

Tonight at Anaheim Stadium, Simi Valley (27-3) will play for its first championship, taking on Esperanza (24-5) for the Division I title.

“I think if you knock on the door long enough, someone’s going to let you in,” Scyphers said.

For Scyphers, 40, who teaches driver’s education, the postseason road has been rutted with hard knocks.

Under Scyphers, the Pioneers have won eight Marmonte League championships. Playoff appearances have totaled 12. Talented players have come and gone; Simi Valley was heralded as the nation’s top high school team in 1986 and again this season.

However, twice Simi Valley has been knocked off in the semifinals and four times in the quarterfinals (see accompanying chart).

In 1986, the Pioneers were 26-4 and No. 1 in the nation, blazing a 12-0 trail to the league title. They traveled to Orlando, Fla., and won the prestigious Colonial tournament, a feat that was repeated in 1992. Senior right-hander Scott Radinsky, now with the Chicago White Sox, was 14-1 with 180 strikeouts in 100 innings in 1986.

Yet the season came to a frustrating finish with a 6-5 loss to Esperanza in the semifinals.

Each year, it seemed, Scyphers’ powerful teams fell short of expectations.

Scyphers, whose record stands at 300-102, insists he has never viewed the situation as such.

“I don’t think you judge a program by the number of (Southern Section) championships,” Scyphers said. “I think you judge a program by overall consistency.

“I’m not concerned about venting any frustration or looking back on the past. Once a game is over, it’s over and there is no ‘I shoulda done this’ or ‘I shoulda done that.’ Maybe I can take some of my experiences and lend it to my players, but they’re the ones who are going to have to catch it and hit it.”

Yet even Scyphers would be hard-pressed to deny that this has been a milestone season.

Simi Valley has twice been ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today. In April, the Pioneers again defeated some of the nation’s best teams by winning the prestigious Upper Deck tournament at Cal State Fullerton. In May, they claimed another Marmonte League title, going 13-1.

Along the way, Scyphers picked up his 300th victory.

And somewhere along the way, much to the coach’s consternation, talk of retirement sprouted in conversations with reporters.

After Tuesday’s 10-0 semifinal win over Notre Dame, inquiring minds again wanted to know about Scyphers’ future.

What better bow to tie around an impressive career than the big W at the Big A?

Scyphers, however, is talking extra innings. He insists he will return “for at least one more year.”

However, he adds that it is a promise he makes every year--and hints it is one he may not make for much longer.

Fatherhood and coaching increasingly have become more difficult to juggle as Scyphers’ three children have grown. Seven-year-old Brett Scyphers plays shortstop in a youth league in Camarillo and this week was named to the league’s all-star team. Consequently, father and son have had to struggle to attend each other’s games.

Daughters Kelly, 11, and Krista, 9, play on softball teams. And all three take music lessons.

Scyphers says he has been able to attend most of his children’s activities. But it often has meant hitting the road immediately after the final pitch of Pioneer games.

“What would get me out of coaching first is not being able to see my three kids play as much as I could.”

When talk of retirement arises, Scyphers is quick to change the subject. “Why would I want to quit?” he says.

Perhaps there is too much ground to be made up. Starting with tonight. Esperanza is two up, also having defeated Simi Valley in 1988 in a quarterfinal game.

Scyphers and his players are focused solely on tonight’s game. With each victory on the road to Anaheim, coaches and players engaged in nothing more than congratulatory handshakes and backslaps.

“We didn’t dog-pile,” Scyphers said. “Esperanza dog-piled. Maybe that’s their style. We didn’t dog-pile after Upper Deck. Upper Deck wasn’t important to us.

“If we win tonight, that will be the only time we’ll dog-pile.”

Only then will Scyphers enjoy a fitting climax. The Pioneers and their coach finally will be top dogs.

Scyphers at Simi Valley

Mike Scyphers’ record as baseball coach of Simi Valley High:

SEASON BY SEASON

Year Overall League Place 1979 10-10 4-8 4th 1980 20-7 9-3 2nd 1981 20-3 11-1 1st 1982 19-8 11-1 1st 1983 20-7 9-3 2nd 1984 16-10 6-6 4th 1985 24-5 9-3 2nd 1986 26-4 12-0 1st 1987 20-7 9-3 1st 1988 23-6 10-2 1st 1989 23-4 10-2 1st 1990 13-12 5-7 4th 1991 22-5 12-2 1st 1992 17-11* 9-5 2nd 1993 27-3 13-1 1st Total 300-102

* -- Pioneers finished 23-5, 11-3 and won Marmonte League title but were forced to forfeit six victories, including two in league play.

IN THE PLAYOFFS

Year W-L Result 1980 3-1 Lost in semifinals 1981 1-1 Lost in second round 1982 2-1 Lost in quarterfinals 1983 1-1 Lost in second round 1985 1-1 Lost in second round 1986 3-1 Lost in semifinals 1987 1-1 Lost in second round 1988 2-1 Lost in quarterfinals 1989 2-1 Lost in quarterfinals 1991 1-1 Lost in second round 1992 2-1* Lost in quarterfinals 1993 4-0 Before title game today Total 21-13*

* -- Two playoff victories were forfeited and are reflected in overall playoff record.