Improving Moorpark Rises From Depths in Marmonte

It won’t be a worst-to-first turnaround, but it might come darn close.

Depending on the outcome of Moorpark High’s game today against Agoura, the Musketeers could pull off one of the Marmonte League’s best rebuilding jobs in recent seasons.

Moorpark (17-11, 6-4 in league play) needs to win one of its last two Marmonte games to clinch a playoff berth. The Musketeers, who could finish as high as second, won only one league game last season and finished in last place.

“We’re still in control of our own destiny,” first-year Coach Geoff Combe said. “If we should happen to falter [today] against Agoura, then we’re going to need some help from somebody.”

Since Moorpark finishes against first-place Thousand Oaks on Thursday, Combe is hoping the Musketeers can take care of business today and seize an opportunity.

“We’re [28] games into the season and we’re still trying to get them to get that fire, that emotion to know that anytime they take the field, they have an opportunity to win,” Combe said of his players.

“It’s been a long process, but the kids are getting there.”

Moorpark, in second place the entire season, has had problems winning outside of league competition.

Combe has a reason for that.

“I’m a firm believer that you win league [games] to get into the playoffs and then you give other kids an opportunity in the other games,” Combe said. “We’ve put quite a few different lineups out there.”

It would be the first time the Musketeers earn a playoff berth since joining the Marmonte League in 1999.

Moorpark was 4-20 in its two previous Marmonte seasons after finishing second at 13-2 in the Frontier League in 1998.

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Simi Valley, among two area teams to win the equivalent of a Southern Section Division I title, will finish lower than third in the Marmonte League for only the second time in more than a decade.

The sixth-place Pioneers (12-12-1, 4-7) have been reduced to playing spoiler in their final game today against Newbury Park (16-10, 6-4), which is tied for second with Moorpark. A Simi Valley victory could force Newbury Park into a must-win situation against Agoura on Thursday.

“Our goal is only to end the season on a good note,” said Coach Suzanne Manlet, who guided the Pioneers to the Division I title in 1993. Camarillo won the title in 1991.

Simi Valley defeated Newbury Park, 1-0, Saturday in a Thousand Oaks tournament game.