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The Acorn Camarillo Acorn Moorpark Acorn Simi Valley Acorn Thousand Oaks Acorn |
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Simi Valley Pioneers
Headcoach: Matt La Belle (4th season) Overview: Simi Valley just missed the playoffs last year despite being very young and not having top pitching ace Nick Barnese, who played only one game in '06 after being suspended early on for conduct detrimental to the team. Now Barnese is back, and so is the core of the Pioneer lineup after getting a year of varsity experience under their belts. The Pioneer batting order begins with junior center fielder Brett Hale, who has shown great promise in the leadoff spot by going 8-for-9 with four doubles and a home run in Simi's first two games. In the No. 2 spot is Matt Orloff, a slick-fielding second baseman. After what Matt La Belle called a "phenomenal freshman year," sophomore Drew Sandler bats third. Senior Eric Bernstein hits in the cleanup spot and will play third base. Jordan Flores bats fifth, while Jeff Forgerson will likely hit sixth. Sophomore Jonathan Meyer plays shortstop. Other Pioneers that should contribute are three-year varsity player Nick Russo and right fielder Chris Talley. On the mound, SVHS lost Giarraputo to graduation but gains Barnese, who has committed to Cal State Fullerton. Barnese has shown no rust early in the season, pitching six innings and striking out 10 batters in the Pioneers' first game against Burroughs High. Barnese is followed by what La Belle describes as "three No. 2 starters." The three hurlers are Russo, Sandler and Flores. With a bevy of talent, SVHS should contend for the Marmonte crown. Head coach Matt La Belle says: "This team is young, but experienced. After missing out last year, the team will not be happy with just making the playoffs this year. They want to win the league title." |
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