THE TEAM AT A GLANCE : COACH OF THE YEAR

Mike Scyphers: After being picked in a coaches’ poll to finish third in the Marmonte League, Simi Valley won the league championship with a 12-2 record and finished 22-5 overall. But those achievements should have surprised no one. In Scyphers’ 13 seasons as coach, the Simi Valley program has been the standard for the rest of the county. He consistently gets the most out of his players. Scyphers, who also was The Times’ coach of the year in 1989, has guided his teams to seven league championships and three runner-up finishes. His lifetime record is 256-88. Scyphers, 38, is feisty, outspoken and fiercely competitive, and his teams reflect his personality.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dmitri Young: Perhaps the finest player ever in Ventura County, Young (6-foot-2, 215) capped a four-year career at Rio Mesa High last week when he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals as the fourth pick overall in the amateur draft. For the fourth year in a row, Cal-Hi Sports magazine named Young the state’s top player in his academic class. Young has played outfield, third base and shortstop in his career, and this season he played shortstop and helped Rio Mesa to its second consecutive Channel League title. Young hit a county-high 11 home runs, batted .425 and had 34 hits, 38 runs, 31 runs batted in and eight doubles. Just as impressive are his career numbers: Young had 159 hits and 36 doubles, both Southern Section records for players above the Small Schools Division level. Other totals include 137 runs, 127 RBIs and 29 home runs. Mix in good speed, an excellent arm and a dependable glove and it is clear why Young is projected to become a major league player.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Brian Vasey: Vasey, a senior pitcher-shortstop, was the most valuable performer on a talented Simi Valley team, exhibiting uncommon versatility and a competitive nature to match. The 6-1, 175-pound right-hander posted a 10-1 record and an earned-run average of 2.09. He pitched the key games in the Pioneers’ dash to the Marmonte League championship, and he earned a victory in the Southern Section 5-A Division playoffs. Vasey, who made the Cal-Hi Sports all-state large-schools team, batted .460 with 40 hits and tied for the county lead with 39 runs. He also had 12 doubles, 24 RBIs, three home runs and a team-high 13 stolen bases. “Brian always found a way to get it done even when he didn’t have his best stuff,” Scyphers said. “He’s an intelligent player and, obviously, a winner.” Vasey probably will attend Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Fla.

FIRST TEAM

Frank Adame: The junior right-hander led Hueneme into the 5-A playoffs and pitched a one-hit shutout against Lompoc in the first round. A curve specialist who changes speeds effectively, Adame (5-10, 165) posted a 10-2 record and county-leading 1.34 ERA. He allowed only 48 hits in 73 innings, struck out 72 and walked 35.

Angel Aragon: A stocky junior, Aragon (6-1, 190) was a power player for Channel Islands. He posted a 10-2 record and 1.91 ERA and earned a victory in the first round of the 5-A playoffs. The right-hander has excellent control; he struck out a county-high 85 and walked only 14 in 80 2/3 innings. Aragon also batted .380.

Steve Bernstein: A catcher who transferred to Simi Valley from Royal, Bernstein (5-11, 200) batted .545 in Marmonte League play. Overall, he batted .444 with 32 hits. Bernstein hit 12 doubles and drove in 31 runs, but most impressive was his eye for the strike zone--he walked 28 times and had an on-base percentage of .600.

Jacob Cruz: One of the nation’s top high school players, Cruz (6-0, 165) will attend Arizona State. The Channel Islands center fielder has great range and a tremendous arm. Cruz also combines speed and power offensively: He hit eight home runs and stole eight bases. Cruz batted .443, scored 31 runs and had eight doubles and five triples.

Robert Fick: A junior catcher who transfered to Newbury Park from Thousand Oaks, Fick quickly became one of most consistent hitters in the county, batting .459 with 34 hits. Fick (5-11, 160), a left-handed batter, was a bright spot for the seventh-place Panthers, hitting a team-high seven doubles and driving in 18 runs.

Aaron Fischer: Fischer, a junior, established himself as Simi Valley’s best power hitter, belting nine home runs and driving in a county-high 38 runs. The 6-2, 200-pound first baseman also led county players with 43 hits and batted .473. Fischer hit nine doubles, but perhaps most impressive, he struck out only three times.

Ryan Kritscher: The Thousand Oaks senior was the consummate leadoff hitter, batting .431 with an on-base percentage of .615 and a county-high 40 stolen bases in 42 attempts. Kritscher (5-8, 170), a second baseman with a strong arm and a knack for making key plays, scored 37 runs and had 31 hits. He struck out only three times.

Dave Landaker: Landaker (6-0, 170), a junior shortstop, impressed scouts early in the season with his stellar range and soft hands. Royal won the Babe Herman tournament largely because of Landaker’s play. As the season wore on, Landaker’s bat became equally impressive. He hit .408 and had 33 runs, five home runs and 15 stolen bases.

Mike Lee: Although the Thousand Oaks right-hander was consistent, two of his performances stood out. Lee, a senior, pitched a no-hitter against Agoura and a complete-game victory over Ocean View in the first round of the 5-A playoffs despite five errors by his teammates. Lee (6-1, 200) was 6-1 with a 1.40 ERA in 60 innings.

Mike Mitchell: Mitchell, a two-time all-county selection, led Rio Mesa with a .457 batting average and 11 doubles. The senior first baseman also hit seven home runs, scored 32 runs and had 29 RBIs. Mitchell (6-4, 190), who has signed a letter of intent to attend UCLA, posted a 5-1 pitching record with an ERA of 2.56 in 15 appearances.

Rob Neal: Neal, Westlake’s fleet center fielder and a two-time all-county choice, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round last week. Neal (6-1, 185) was a major cog in Westlake’s championship season a year ago and he improved this season, batting .407 with 29 runs, six home runs, six doubles and seven stolen bases.

Kevin Nykoluk: Simi Valley’s Nykoluk, the only sophomore on the all-county team, emerged as a clutch hitter. The 5-10, 150-pound outfielder tied teammate Brian Vasey for the county lead in runs with 39. Nykoluk, the Cal-Hi Sports state sophomore player of the year, batted .400 with 36 hits, 26 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and seven home runs.

Todd Preston: Preston, a senior who will attend Cal on a football scholarship, had his offense improve dramatically after moving from third base to right field. Preston (6-2, 185) led Westlake with a .447 average, eight doubles, four triples and 27 RBIs. As a football quarterback last fall, Preston was county back of the year.

Brian Sturges: Sturges, a hard-nosed Thousand Oaks senior, moved from shortstop to catcher early in the season and soon became recognized as the best defensive catcher in the county. The strong-armed Sturges (6-0, 175) also batted .365 and drove in 24 runs. He had 11 stolen bases and a team-high five home runs.

ALL-VENTURA COUNTY SECOND TEAM

Player School Position Yr. Anthony Chessani Fillmore Pitcher Sr. Dan Haas Camarillo Pitcher Sr. Angel Lopez Rio Mesa Pitcher Sr. Jose Gastelum Channel Islands Catcher Jr. Jim Pettit Hueneme Catcher Sr. Jason Cash Newbury Park Infielder Sr. Rico Lagatutta Westlake Infielder Jr. Jon McMullen Rio Mesa Infielder Jr. Mike Muncy Camarillo Infielder Sr. Brett Herman Thousand Oaks Outfielder Sr. Steve Meek Oxnard Outfielder Sr. Anthony Morales Buena Outfielder Sr. Richard Naranjo Royal Infielder Sr. Tyler Nelson Simi Valley Infielder Sr. Jose Reyes Hueneme Outfielder Sr. David Skeels Thousand Oaks Infielder Sr. Garth Teron Santa Clara Pitcher Sr.

ALL-VALLEY FIRST TEAM

Name School Position Yr. Steve Marden San Fernando Coach 16 yrs. Dereck Ornelas Sylmar Player of the Year Sr. Mike Rossiter Burroughs Pitcher of the Year Sr. Jason Chandler Burbank Pitcher Sr. R.J. Simone Hart Pitcher Sr. Adam Pearlman Chatsworth Catcher Sr. Robert Garcia Sylmar Infielder Sr. Marlon McKinney Poly Infielder Sr. Nestor Martinez Chatsworth Infielder Sr. Jose Nunez San Fernando Infielder Jr. David Rojas San Fernando Infielder Sr. Gregg Sheren El Camino Real Infielder Sr. Jesus Perez Poly Outfielder Jr. Mitch Root Chatsworth Outfielder Sr. Chris Tampoya Palmdale Outfielder Sr. Thurman Williams Chatsworth Outfielder Sr. Russell Ortiz Montclair Prep Utility Jr.