Alemany Gets Paddled by Defiant Simi Valley : High school baseball: Pioneers show support for Scyphers before and after 13-7 victory in first round.

Before taking the field for their first-round Southern Section Division I playoff game against Alemany High on Friday, Simi Valley baseball players gathered in a circle and stretched one hand toward a paddle held above them.

“Win,” they shouted.

The moment was symbolic and prophetic.

The Pioneers won all right, swatting 15 hits and spanking Alemany, 13-7, before a standing-room-only crowd. The Pioneers (19-6) will meet Santa Monica, a 3-1 winner over Millikan, in a second-round game next week.

Simi Valley has won five in a row since Coach Mike Scyphers was suspended by school administrators in the wake of a police investigation into possible financial and disciplinary improprieties.

By displaying the paddle, the Pioneers were mocking criticism from school officials about “the block,” a disciplinary practice that has been a staple of Simi Valley baseball for 16 years.

“Geez, you know, I don’t know how (the paddle) appeared out here,” said Russ Stephans, the Pioneers’ interim coach. “I looked up, it was just . . . there. Must have been a message from God.”

The first nine Simi Valley batters reached base safely on two doubles, five singles and two errors by Indian shortstop Gus Lira in a six-run first inning.

Simi Valley made it 9-0 by adding three runs in the second inning on two hit batters, two walks, an error, a stolen base, a fielder’s choice and a single.

Kary Kozlowski, Simi Valley’s starter, cruised through four innings, allowing only a bunt single by Alex Peran in the first and an opposite-field single by Chris Yeaman in the fourth.

Only the Simi bullpen kept the game interesting. Alemany (20-8) scored five runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh against Pioneer relievers Casey Vermette and Jeff Weaver.

Ryan Hankins, making only his third pitching appearance of the season, came on to get the final two outs with the bases loaded.

Afterward, Kozlowski, holding the paddle like a torch, led Simi Valley players in a victory lap around the bases. At home plate, Kozlowski stopped and gave each Pioneer player a playful tap on the rear as they passed by.

“You know, I specifically told them not to do that,” Stephans said innocently. “I guess I won’t be back next year.”