Police Investigate Simi Valley Coach : Prep baseball: Mike Scyphers is removed from his duties because of probe into possible financial and disciplinary trouble.

Mike Scyphers, among the most successful high school baseball coaches in Southern California, has been removed from coaching at Simi Valley High because of a police probe into possible financial and disciplinary improprieties, Simi Valley police said Tuesday.

Scyphers, who has brought the Simi Valley program to national prominence in his 16 years as coach, denied any wrongdoing.

The coach, 41, will keep his position as a physical education teacher and has not been arrested, police said.

School officials declined to elaborate on the charges, but the police confirmed the Simi Valley school district is auditing the baseball program’s finances.

According to police, the investigation was prompted by school district officials, who contacted authorities last month to request assistance investigating “possible financial improprieties, improper discipline practices and other conduct, which may have criminal application related to the boys’ baseball program at Simi Valley High School.”

Scyphers said he was unaware he was under investigation until he arrived at school Tuesday morning and found a substitute teacher in his class.

Scyphers said he was told to report to Principal Kathryn Scroggin’s office.

“I’m really bitter about it,” Scyphers said. “I’ve built a real good name for this program and someone out there is trying to tear it down.”

Scyphers stood quietly outside a school building with his head down and continued to defend his practices. Scyphers also works as a college basketball referee and is part-owner of a batting cage business in Camarillo.

“They can’t even begin to say I’ve taken more money out of this program than I’ve put into it,” Scyphers said.

Police were at Simi Valley High on Tuesday interviewing baseball players. Members of the team declined comment, saying police ordered them to do so.

According to Scyphers, police asked players about a traditional team disciplinary practice called “the block.” When a baseball player violates team rules, his teammates bid for the opportunity to administer a single swat with a wooden paddle to the offending player.

Players pay cash to Scyphers, who said he used the money for incidental team expenses such as a team party at the end of the season or gasoline for the baseball field lawn mower.

“If this is about ‘the block,’ that’s ridiculous,” Scyphers said. “It ranged from $2 to $4 and we’ve only done it maybe five times this year. . . . It’s been a tradition at this school since 1980, but I’ve really slacked off lately.”