BASEBALL BEAT: AGOURA REJECTS NEGATIVE IMAGE : CHARGERS CAN HIT - AND PITCH.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Michael Falco and Brian Jacobsen hear thetalk from around the Marmonte League: Agoura is deep in hitting but weak in pitching.

Jacobsen's response: ``That's what we'd like them to think. We're happy they think that. We'll surprise some people.''

The Chargers are 3-1-1 heading into today's Marmonte opener with Moorpark. Falco and Jacobsen have saved each of the three victories, and Jacobsen is expected to start today.

``We don't have that dominating pitcher like (Thousand Oaks') Chris Cordeiro,'' Falco said. ``But when we're on, we're on.''

Falco and Jacobsen point to left-hander Brian Ashford, who won seven games last year and has two so far this year, as proof there's talent in the starting ranks.

Agoura coach Bruce Beck thinks the lack of respect comes from a lack of tradition. The Chargers have had one winning season since 1990 - last year's 15-10-1.

Beck believes another reason for Agoura's pitching-weak image is that Falco and Jacobsen are returning All-Southern Section position players when not on the hill. Falco's an outfielder who batted .450 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI last year while Jacobsen, who plays first base, hit .488 with nine homers and 38 RBI as a junior.

``If they were full-time pitchers, we would not be talking about Chris Cordeiro and (Newbury Park's) Randy Ayers,'' Beck said.

In theory only: Camarillo was 28-10 in its last 38 Marmonte games. The Scorpions opened play in the new Pacific View League with a 10-6 loss to Hueneme on Tuesday.

It's not the start coach Scott Cline imagined. He thought the Marmonte, one of the toughest leagues around,would prepare his team for anything the Pacific View has to offer.

``You would think so,'' he said. ``But I guess we thought we could just show up with the C on our chest and win. We don't go out knowing we're going to win. We have to fight.''

Small power: So much is made of how Westlake reached the Southern Section Division II final last year because the mighty Marmonte prepared it, but tiny Grace Brethren (enrollment: 145) won a the Southern Section Division VI title last year and returns just about everyone.

The Lancers (2-1) are led offensively by senior center fielder Greg Reynolds, a transfer from Colorado who is 7 for 10 with four doubles, and Shawn McClain, who is 6 for 9 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

And yet coach Arron Marcarelli can't get the Marmonte teams to play him. He called Simi Valley and Royal looking for games, only to be declined.

``I can understand. They have nothing to gain,'' Marcarelli said. ``If they win, they're supposed to, and if they lose, it looks bad losing to such a small school.''

TODAY

Marmonte League

Thousand Oaks at Simi Valley, 3 p.m.

Moorpark at Agoura, 3 p.m.

Royal at Newbury Park, 3 p.m.

Pacific View

Oxnard at Rio Mesa, 3 p.m.

Nonleague

North County Christian at Cornerstone Christian, 2:30 p.m.

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BOX: TODAY (See text)