Two Driving, and Driveway, Forces: A Father-Son Story

Peace and tranquillity broke out at the Scyphers home in Camarillo about four years ago after the last father versus son basketball game took place.

It didn’t require intervention from Henry Kissinger to produce a truce.

Brett Scyphers entered his freshman year at Camarillo High, and his father, Mike, decided the competition between the two should be redirected.

It’s no surprise that Brett is known for his toughness and passion in basketball and baseball, because that’s the way his father played and coached.

Mike played basketball at Canoga Park and Cal State Northridge despite being an undersized guard. He coached baseball for 17 years at Simi Valley, winning eight league titles and compiling a 343-114 record until his resignation in 1995 after controversies concerning fundraising and a transfer student. He has since become a college basketball official and has worked NCAA tournament games.

Brett was coached by Mike through youth ball, and his father’s influence can be seen in his work ethic and dedication to fundamentals.

Despite being only 5 feet 8, Brett was a two-year all-league point guard for Camarillo. As a sophomore, he started at second base for the Scorpions’ Southern Section Division I championship baseball team.

This season as a senior, he has an 18-game hitting streak and is batting .532. His hitting success can be traced to a decision to give up switch-hitting and bat right-handed. As a fielder, he has made only six errors in three seasons. There are few second basemen with quicker hands.

Most impressive about Brett is the way he plays the game.

Ground balls that bounce off his chest are mere distractions. You can see his toughness in the way he ignores the pain to complete his task. He has assisted on 12 double plays this season.

In basketball, he was a true pest on defense, getting in the face of his opponent and hounding him from start to finish.

If he’s ever down, it isn’t for very long because he always picks himself up and prepares for the next challenge.

Of course, those father versus son basketball games left a lasting impression.

“One thing would lead to another because he thinks he knows all the rules because he’s a referee,” Brett said.

Added Mike: “When we play one on one, my wife has to leave the house and the neighbors shut their windows. It’s unbelievable. It’s at the point we can’t do it anymore. It’s constant berating, ‘That wasn’t a foul.’ It’s flat-out yelling because we’re so much alike and so competitive.”

The two are extremely close, probably because Brett and his father have spent so much time together at a Camarillo batting cage the family owns.

“It was made the year I was born, so it’s pretty much my second home,” Brett said.

Mike continues to teach at Simi Valley, and Brett knows how to tease him about his basketball officiating.

“Sometimes I’ll bag on him if he’s on TV and tell him he fouled out one of the team’s best players,” Brett said.

Brett is headed to Arizona in the fall to play baseball for Coach Andy Lopez. He’ll miss his daily routine of scanning the sports section and checking out the games on television with his father.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Brett said. “We talk about everything.”

And what happens if Mike ever referees an Arizona basketball game and Brett is yelling from the stands?

“I’ll give him a wink,” Brett said.

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Chatsworth’s baseball team has set a state record with 39 consecutive victories over two seasons.

The Chancellors (24-0) are also costing barbers in the San Fernando Valley lots of money because the players refuse to cut their hair until they lose.

“They need to oil their hair and put it in rubber bands,” said one father of a long-haired Chatsworth player.

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In the same week, the Pedroza family of Covina had plenty to celebrate. Shortstop Jaime Pedroza hit a game-winning home run for Northview, and older brother Sergio Pedroza hit a game-winning home run for Cal State Fullerton.

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It turns out the Class of 1999 from Southern California produced two NFL first-round draft choices at quarterback. Last year, former Newhall Hart quarterback Kyle Boller was taken by the Baltimore Ravens. On Saturday, former Venice quarterback J.P. Losman was a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. Both were Parade magazine All-Americans in high school.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.