1993 TIMES BASEBALL: All-Ventura County Team : PLAYER & PITCHER OF THE YEAR : Charged-Up Battery : Kevin Nykoluk: Simi Valley catcher packed an offensive wallop and provided solid defense.

Kevin Nykoluk had big expectations.

The Simi Valley High catcher figured his team would score runs in bunches, allow few and win--often. And the Pioneers did just that.

Nykoluk, 18, knew he would produce. Moreover, Nykoluk knew he would lead.

For all Nykoluk counted on, however, he was unprepared for one thing: his selection as The Times’ Ventura County player of the year.

How unprepared?

“It’s a total shock to me,” he said. “There are a lot of good players around.

“There are so many good players on our team. I never expected it.”

Maybe he should have.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Nykoluk was a top performer for the county’s top team. He enjoyed an outstanding senior season, batting .467 with 10 home runs, 51 runs scored and 50 runs batted in.

What’s more, he excelled behind the plate. Nykoluk called a good game and was a standout receiver.

Not a bad closing act for a guy who was selected Cal-Hi Sports sophomore and junior player of the year. But listen to Nykoluk and you might wonder if he is the correct choice.

“We had a different hero every game,” he said. “It wasn’t just me. A lot of guys on our team could have won it.”

Hyperbole? Actually not.

Simi Valley was that good. The Pioneers ran roughshod over the competition, losing only one game en route to the Marmonte League title. Simi Valley finished 13-1 in league play.

The Pioneers were ranked No. 1 by USA Today for much of the season before being upset, 3-0, by Esperanza in the Southern Section Division I championship game at Anaheim Stadium. The Pioneers were 27-4 overall.

“It just wasn’t our day,” Nykoluk said. “Luck was on their side. We were really close.”

The Pioneers might not have been close without Nykoluk. He provided much of the power in their playoff run.

Nykoluk hit one homer in each of Simi Valley’s first two postseason games and went deep twice in the quarterfinals against Diamond Bar. With the score tied, 6-6, with Diamond Bar, Nykoluk smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Pioneers an 8-6 victory. He drove in 10 runs in five playoff games.

“It doesn’t bother me when the game is tight,” Nykoluk said. “The best players around do it under pressure.

“I like the pressure moments.”

Nykoluk also revels in being counted on by Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers. Before Nykoluk’s clutch at-bat against Diamond Bar, Scyphers pulled his standout senior aside for a little chat.

“He told me that was the time to get it done. . . . that All-Americans come through in those situations,” Nykoluk said. “I think he expected things from me because I showed I could get it done.

“It’s great to have him believe in you because he is a great coach. It’s an honor.”

Nykoluk is undecided about his future.

He was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 20th round of the amateur baseball draft. However, Nykoluk has not signed with the club because he is awaiting word from Arizona State and Miami about possible scholarship offers.

Whatever lies ahead, Nykoluk said, it can’t top the last few years.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet that I’ve played my last game at Simi Valley,” he said. “It will probably hit me next year that it’s over for me.

“It’s pretty sad. But I’m sure glad I played there than someplace else.”