Before Mr. Weber's economics students began drawing blueprints of single-family homes and condominiums, they were shown pictures featuring aluminum bats and stitched balls.

Before Mr. Thomas began discussing oxidation numbers with his chemistry students, he dissected hits, runs and strikeouts from box scores.

Diamond talk is dominating the classrooms and hallways at Simi Valley High with the school's baseball and softball teams both reaching the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship games.

The baseball team kicks off the championship doubleheader tonight at 7:30 against Long Beach Wilson at Dodger Stadium while the undefeated softball team attempts to complete a perfect season on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Valencia at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

"Normally it seems like some teachers could care less about sports," Simi Valley senior softball player Tawny Reeger said. "But this year it seems like all the teachers are congratulating us and reading the articles about our games in our classes."

It's rare for an area school to have its baseball and softball teams reach the finals in the same season, but Simi Valley seems to have the magic formula. It is the only county school to have it happen before. In 1993, the softball team won the title and the baseball team lost in the final.

Considering the parallels between this year's championship showdowns, a few of the players think destiny deserves partial credit for the repeat.

The Pioneers are both facing the defending Division I champions, which have identical 28-5-1 records and also happen to be the teams that knocked them out of last year's playoffs in the second round.

"It's pretty crazy for it to be the same exact for both of us," Simi Valley baseball player Drew Sandler said. "I think it could be meant to be."

Although talent and chemistry are the main components of the softball team's 30-0 record, the Pioneers leave nothing to chance.

They are an extremely superstitious bunch, going as far as having backup superstitions in place should a principal one go awry.

Never-ending superstitions

From stretching routines to handshakes to pre-game songs — "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Build Me Up Buttercup" are favorites — all the superstitious bases are covered.

"It is like everything we do pretty much," said Reeger, who dresses in left-to-right order from her contact lenses to her cleats. "If we try to make a list of all of the superstitions, it would go on forever. It really wouldn't end."

The Pioneers, ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 7 nationally by USA Today, created a motto before the season. "This team beats with one heart" is printed on their practice shirts and is a daily reminder of how their perfection has been attained.

"We are a collaboration of different people who all have their roles and all bring something to the team," third baseman Rebecca Grant said. "Whether they start or not, everyone on this team brings everything they have all the time. We are 18 girls with the biggest heart for the game."

Marching to a similar beat

The cardiac factor was Jonathan Meyer's immediate response when asked what makes the baseball team tick.

"Heart. Definitely heart," Meyer said. "Because a lot of teams would have just given up in our (6-5, 11-inning semifinal victory over Mater Dei), but our team just kept going and kept pushing and staying strong."

Simi Valley captured its first CIF baseball title at Dodger Stadium in 2004, and many of the current players were middle-schoolers watching from the stands.

Four years later, head coach Matt La Belle sees similar qualities from them on the field.

"They are very competitive and very winning-oriented, just like the 2004 team," said La Belle, who is also the school's athletic director. "And when I say that, I mean team winning. Other years, guys went 3 for 4 and got two doubles, but we didn't win and they are happy. These guys, if we don't win, it doesn't matter. They are not happy."

Support is widespread

It's been hard to find a long face on Simi Valley's campus lately, and the emotional boost shows what sports can do for morale.

"Success breeds success, and whether it's in the classroom or on the field, you have a sense of pride and a sense of family," Simi Valley Principal Steve Pietrolungo said. "It encompasses everybody, and everybody feels like they are part of the team and has a sense of belonging."

The galvanizing effect is evident to Sandler when he walks through the halls at school or enters a local store.

"Everybody is coming up saying we are going to your game.' and they can't wait to see us at Dodger Stadium. Everybody on the team has the same thing happening to them," he said. "It's pretty exciting to feel that support from everyone."

Even a local transient approached left fielder Brianna Stephan after the softball team's semifinal victory at Santa Susana Community Park on Tuesday.

"He sits in the trees by left field, and said he's watched every home game this season and has been working nights and collecting bottles to try and get to our game in Irvine," Stephan said. "I don't know how he can get there, but it would be cool if he could come watch."