ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Simi Valley’s Big First Baseman Also Shows His Strikeout Pitch

With several minutes to kill before Simi Valley High’s game against Long Beach Poly last week, Pioneer Coach Mike Scyphers and Jackrabbit Coach Joe Perruccio discussed some of Simi Valley’s past players, many of whom have turned professional or played at the collegiate level.

Eventually, the conversation turned to a certain Pioneer first baseman.

“And where’s that big first baseman?” Perruccio inquired.

“He’s pitching against you today,” Scyphers replied.

“No way.”

Scott Sharts, known in some circles as “that big first baseman,” by his own admission pitched the finest game of his career that day. He struck out a career-high 16 batters and allowed 3 hits in Simi Valley’s 11-1 win. He also had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

“That’s the best I pitched in my life, I think,” Sharts said. “Our bats just happened to be in it and I threw strikes. That was my greatest outing ever.”

His greatest outing came in the midst of one of his finest weeks. A chronology of a Sharts’ attack:

Tuesday: He’s the winning pitcher in Simi Valley’s 7-6 win over Canoga Park.

Wednesday: He hits 2 home runs--the second a 2-run shot in the seventh--in Simi Valley’s come-from-behind 7-6 win over El Segundo.

Friday: He strikes out 16 in improving his record to 2-0, adds 2 RBIs and 2 hits in the Pioneers’ 11-1 win.

Saturday: He hits 2 more home runs, raising his season total to 5 in 6 games, in Simi Valley’s 9-4 win over Westlake. He is 3 home runs short of tying the Southern Section career home run record of 25.

Sharts is batting .500 (11 for 22) with 12 RBIs, 6 runs scored and 5 walks. His slugging percentage is .513. In 13 innings, the 6-6, 220-pound senior right-hander has 29 strikeouts and a 2.10 earned-run average.

Sharts attributes the fast start to his decision to forgo his senior season on the basketball team. He was a starting forward last season and had little time to prepare for the ’87 baseball season. Still, he finished with 11 home runs and a .469 batting average.

“I think all that extra preparation I had really helped me,” he said. “I’ve started out much better than I ever have. I’m really pleased with the way I’m hitting the ball.”

He’s nearly as pleased as Scyphers.

“I think he’s a little more intelligent at the plate, more selective,” Scyphers said. “And when he gets his pitch, he takes advantage of it.

“Scotty’s a man right now.”