STAR PAIR CARRIES THE LOAD DEPLETED TEAM BUILDS AROUND SENIOR LEADERS.

Byline: Kirby Lee Staff Writer

The Simi Valley High baseball team has two of the Marmonte League's premier players with seniors Bryan Anderson and Ben Orloff.

It is difficult for coach Matt La Belle to say what else he has after graduating 10 seniors from last year's Southern Section Division II champion team that set a school record for wins.

``We were so senior loaded last year most of the juniors and seniors don't have any varsity experience,'' La Belle said. ``We have been playing in the fall and winter and done some pretty good things but we're untested.''

Anderson and Orloff proved their mettle last season in helping Simi Valley (27-7) win its last 12 games in a row to win the school's first section baseball title after entering the post season as a wild-card entrant as the Marmonte League's No. 3 entrant.

Anderson, a catcher, was the Ventura County Most Valuable Player and an All-Southern Section Division II first-team selection. The University of Arizona signee hit .396 with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI. The 6-foot-1, 200 pound Anderson threw out 28 of 32 base runners and picked off 21.

Anderson, a Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Preseason All- America pick and three-year starter, is one double away from equaling the school's career-double record of 25 set by Southern Section Division II Player of the Year Dylan Gaughen last season.

Orloff, who has signed with UC Irvine, batted .281 and scored 29 runs to earn All-Marmonte League honorable mention honors. He is a four-year starter for the Pioneers and played at second base as a freshman and at shortstop the last three years.

Junior Nick Giarraputo also returns at third base and may occasionally pitch. Anderson, Orloff and Giarraputo will bat in the 1-3 slots. LaBelle said he wants to create as many at-bats as he can for Anderson and discourage opposing teams from issuing intentional walks.

``He's our man,'' La Belle said. ``If somebody is going to get more at- bats, we want it to be him.''

Pitching is an area where Simi Valley could use the most assistance. The Pioneers suffered a big blow when the senior pitcher Julian Bellis was lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John' surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament.

The loss of Bellis leaves Simi Valley with senior right-hander Nick Nyberg, who threw four innings last year, as the only pitcher with varsity experience.

A No. 1 starter has yet to be selected but it's a good bet that his name will be Nick, the first name of the top four candidates with Nyberg and Giarraputo, sophomore Nick Barnese and freshman Nick Russo. La Belle is also taking a look at seniors Chris Tautkus, Kasey McMillin and Robbie Fierro and juniors Matt McFadden and Frankie Reed.

``Everyone is throwing pretty well,'' La Belle said. ``None of them are going to overpower you with a fast ball but they all throw strikes.''

First-year players will fill the rest of the starting positions. Junior Kyle Chrisman, a converted catcher, will start at second base. Junior Collin Franklin, a member of the basketball and football teams, and senior Brandon Berman are competing at first base.

The outfield has yet to be determined with the exception of junior center fielder Aaron Pelone. La Belle, the 2004 Daily News Coach of the Year, is overly cautious when evaluating his team's prospects in league. He tabs the Pioneers for sixth behind Royal, Moorpark, Agoura, Westlake and Thousand Oaks, primarily because of Simi Valley's inexperienced pitching staff.

``In our league you have to be lucky and catch the right team at the right time,'' La Belle said. ``I think if things really go well, we'll have a shot. It's how you handle the Marmonte League pressure. I think we're going to do it but that's a pretty big assumption.''

AT A GLANCE

Sport: Simi Valley High Baseball

2004 Record: 27-7, 9-5, third in Marmonte League, Southern Section Division II champions

Coach: Matt La Belle, Second Year

Assistant coaches: Darren Aurand, Phil Belmonte, Wes Stephenson

Top returnees: Bryan Anderson, C, Sr.; Ben Orloff SS, Sr.; Nick Giarraputo, 3B, Jr.

Newcomers: Aaron Pelone, OF, Jr.; Nick Russo, P, Fr.; Kasey McMillin, P/OF, Jr.; Frankie Reed, P/OF, Jr.; Brandon Berman, 1B, Sr.; Kyle Chrisman, 2B/C, Jr.; Matt McFadden, Jr., OF; Nick Nyberg, Sr., P/OF; Robbie Fierro, OF, Sr.; Nick Giarraputo, 3B/P, Jr.; Nick Barnese, P/OF, So.; Chris Tautkus, OF/P, Sr.; Collin Franklin, 1B, Jr.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Shortstop Ben Orloff, left, and catcher Bryan Anderson anchor Simi Valley High's baseball team.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

AT A GLANCE (see text)