AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL CURTIS IS SHORT BUT NOT IN ABILITY.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Randy Curtis has done everything this summer except figure out how to grow a few inches taller.

The first baseman recently graduated from Calabasas High as the Coyotes' all-time hits leader and with a career .438 bating average. His 5-10 height, however, made it easy for colleges to overlook him.

It is hard to ignore what Curtis is doing for the Calabasas American Legion team this summer. He enters Sunday's regular-season finale batting .630 with 34 RBI and only one strikeout, boosting his pursuit of a college scholarship.

Curtis batted .444 as a senior but had hoped to do more. Particularly surprising was the left-handed hitter's lack of home runs. After homering in the Coyotes' first game, he did not have any the rest of the season; he has four so far in Legion.

``I guess it was just a mental thing,'' Curtis said. ``I was thinking about it too much during high school and trying to do too much.

``I'm just a lot more relaxed now. All the pressure's off. There was more pressure on me during high school to try to get (a scholarship). I'm still thinking about it, but I'm just going out there to have fun.''

Curtis said he has heard from several schools in recent weeks and is expected to pick one soon.

``For someone that's all team, all baseball, all the time, that's Randy,'' Calabasas Legion coach Andy Cohen said. ``He wants to win so badly. He's one of of those true leaders by example.

``It's just too bad he's not 6-2 instead of 5-10. If he was 6-2 and looked like what people expect a first baseman to look like, everyone would want him. Coaches just don't look at him because he's short. If any coach sees him play, he'll want him.''

--Different way to win: For the past three years, Royal of Simi Valley knew it could count on Brian Lipman's home runs to keep the Highlanders in games. However, Royal's record-setting home run hitter and other power threats Casey O'Quinn and Buzz Byer graduated this spring.

That left Royal spending the summer learning to succeed behind pitching and fielding, which were the downfalls of a Highlanders team that barely claimed third place in the Marmonte League this year. The former weaknesses have turned to strengths for the Simi-Royal (14-3) American Legion team, which is in first place in the District 16 American League.

``It's a different kind of team,'' Legion coach Ron Ross said. ``We don't have a lot of power hitters, but we have a lot of base-hit hitters.''

Dan Fischer, Brian White and Matt Hayes are anchoring the pitching staff. Fischer, a 6-foot-4 incoming senior right-hander, was ineligible most of the high school season and Hayes was on JV.

``They have a bit more experience,'' Ross said. ``That helps. They started getting some confidence and settling in the end of the season and it's carried over to the summer.''

Mike Cirricone is doing well filling the vacancy at second base, and the outfield is adjusting to the graduation of All-Southern Section left fielder O'Quinn.

``The defense is really improving,'' Ross said.

--Solving half the problem: Quartz Hill-Paraclete had three representatives in the District 20 all-star game and four players batting .390 or better, including senior Mike Johnson, who enters today's finale with a .522 average and five home runs, but wins have been just as hard to come by as they were during a disappointing high school season.

Defense in inconsistent, but the pitching has been encouraging enough to make Legion coach Tom Lynch believe Paraclete should be competitive by next season. Adam Lynch and Nick Hayes are among the pitchers showing promise.

``The defense is the biggest thing,'' Tom Lynch said. ``The pitching's not that bad; it's a lot of unearned runs. They pile up quickly.''

--All-stars: The District 16 all-star games are scheduled for Sunday at Camarillo High.

Four Agoura players, who helped their team win seven of nine after a 3-11 start, combine with five Moorpark representatives to lead the National League East against a West team featuring five Simi Valley players. The 2:30 p.m. National League (18 and under) game is proceeded by a 10:30 a.m. American League (17 and under) game.

--Playoffs: District 20 playoffs begin Wednesday with Van Nuys Show Ball, Valley Chatsworth, Calabasas and Quartz Hill among the top National League contenders to advance to the following week's Area 6 tournament at UCLA. West Hills Chaminade, Lancaster North, Palmdale and Canyon are among the district's top American League threats.

District 16 playoffs are July 19-23.

--A chance to be seen: The Milwaukee Brewers are holding a tryout at 11 a.m. today at Pierce College. Players ages 15-23 are welcome and should furnish their own equipment.

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Photo: (ran in Conejo and Simi edition only) The Simi-Royal Legion team is depending more on pitching this summer, and one of the stalwarts has been Brian White.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News