SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Segraves Swings, Shows Simi Valley the Gate, 5-4 : Baseball: Alemany rallies from three-run deficit to send Scyphers into retirement.

With a quick swing, Alemany High’s Doug Segraves gave his team continued life in the Southern Section Division I baseball playoffs and ended Mike Scyphers’ career as coach at Simi Valley.

Segraves’ two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday scored Brian Andreason from third base to give the Indians a 5-4 victory and a second-round date with Fountain Valley on Tuesday.

The loss ended a tumultuous week for Simi Valley (17-10), which finished the regular season in a four-way tie for third place in the Marmonte League.

The Pioneers were first declared out of the playoffs after losing a tie-breaking coin flip with Westlake, then saw the Southern Section overturn that process and give them a berth Thursday because they were 2-0 against Westlake.

“I was looking fastball all the way,” said Segraves, who lined the first pitch he saw from Pioneer reliever Neil Oberheide into the right-center field gap. “[Alemany Coach Tim Brown] told me right before I went up that he wasn’t throwing the curveball for strikes so I was expecting the heat.”

Alemany, the Mission League champion, rallied from a 4-1 deficit, pulling even when Rob Glenn hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

Simi Valley leadoff hitter Tim Nykoluk reached third with one out in the seventh but was stranded.

Alemany (17-9) manufactured the winning run when Rex Supa singled with one out, pinch-runner Andreason moved to second on a walk to Gus Lira and took third on a fielder’s choice. Simi Valley walked Rob Rehfeld intentionally, bringing up Segraves.

“I really thought we dominated the early innings but they converted in the seventh and we didn’t,” said Scyphers, who announced his forced resignation, effective at the end of the season, on May 10th.

Simi Valley scored twice in the first against Alemany starter Rudy Pantoja when catcher Brian Kavanagh smashed a two-run home run over the distant center-field fence.

Alemany answered with a run in the bottom of the first on doubles by Rehfeld and Kris Yeaman, but the Pioneers jumped to a three-run lead with single runs in the third and fourth.

That chased Pantoja, who allowed three earned runs and three hits in four innings.

Danny Arguello (6-3) pitched three innings of one-hit relief for the Indians.

Simi Valley’s Billy Castonguay lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs and seven hits. He was relieved by Oberheide (0-2), who was unable to add to his four saves.

“I kind of figured this game would go down to the last inning,” Brown said. “I doubt there were any two other teams as closely matched in this entire tournament.”

Segraves said the uncertainty over which team Alemany would face did not distract the team.

“We came out here to practice every day and just told each other that whoever shows up that’s who we go after,” Segraves said. “They beat us at their place in the [first round of the playoffs] last year so it’s a little bit of sweet revenge.”

The defeat brought to a close Scyphers’ 17 years as coach of the Pioneers, and nearly brought his emotions bubbling to the surface.

“We went 0-3 to end the season and I just don’t think we were the same team as before my resignation was announced,” Scyphers said, his voice choked and his eyes moist. “That’s why I wanted to keep it quiet. It’s the kids’ season and my off-field stuff shouldn’t affect them.

“It’s been a nice run and I’ll miss the game.”