FINISHING WHAT THEY STARTED PIONEERS HOPE TO BUILD ON DAILY NEWS TOURNAMENT SUCCESS.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Simi Valley High has the start down. Now the question is whether it can finish.

The Pioneers won the Daily News Invitational baseball championship with a dramatic sixth-inning comeback to beat El Camino Real of Woodland Hills 9-6 Saturday at USC's Dedeaux Field.

The 5-0 start and first Daily News championship in school history bodes well for Simi Valley, which starts Marmonte League play Wednesday against Calabasas.

``This is the biggest tournament around as far as I'm concerned,'' Simi Valley coach Matt La Belle said. ``This is the first time any of my players have played in a big stadium like this. To play in this stadium, and against a top team like ECR, will help us down the road.''

The Pioneers began last season 4-0 in the Daily News tournament, missing out on making the final by a tiebreaker. But the team went on to finish last in the Marmonte League.

Simi Valley wants to be a contender this year rather than just an early-season example of the league's depth. The Pioneers are trying to win a league title for the first time since 1993.

Pitching got Simi Valley through its first four victories, as the Pioneers allowed three runs in four games behind the pitching of Evan Bryan (perfect game last week) and Saturday's starter Julian Bellis.

But the hitters rallied the team from a 6-2 deficit Saturday, with two runs in the fifth and a 5-run sixth. First baseman Mario Colletto drove a single to left field to score outfielder Dylan Gaughen with the go-ahead run.

``We battled in this one,'' La Belle said. ``We were down pretty much the whole game but we kept coming. This is a big character builder.''

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com

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