BASEBALL BEAT: AGOURA WILL TRAVEL TO NEVADA HOPING FOR A TURNAROUND : RAIN DAMPENS CALABASAS' SPIRITS.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

For the Agoura High baseball team, hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas means confidence and victories.

For a doubleheader Saturday and two more games Monday, the Chargers travel to Las Vegas, where they hope to turn their fortunes around. Losses and injuries have been frequent for Agoura since Marmonte League play started.

``We've found ways to lose games,'' senior Brian Jacobsen said. ``The ball's not bouncing our way right now.

``I think Vegas is going to be a big turnaround for us. It's a new state and a new start. We're 0-0 in Nevada.''

The Chargers usually play in the Durango tournament in Las Vegas during spring break but weren't able to participate this year since Agoura doesn't have its break until next week. Coach Bruce Beck was able to work out a trip by setting up games against Las Vegas teams that usually play in the tournament.

``At least we have something to look forward to,'' Beck said.

Agoura, which entered the season believing it was a serious contender for the Marmonte title, is 3-7-1 and winless in league. Injuries likely will keep starters David Johnson and Paul Farinacci out for the remainder of the season. Third baseman Adam Hersh missed a few games with a broken nose but is expected back in the lineup this weekend.

``I told the kids I'm not giving up,'' Beck said. ``We're playing for pride and respect.

``Winning and losing are both contagious and right now we're caught in that losing influenza.''

Rain delay: Just when Calabasas looked to be headed in the right direction, its season was put on hold. The Coyotes improved to 5-6 and 2-1 in league when they beat Malibu on March 30. They were then faced with a series of rainouts.

``I don't think it's gonna matter too much,'' senior Brian Millman said of having more than a week off. ``We've been playing good baseball. Though we haven't played games, we've had good practices.''

He even thinks the Coyotes are improved enough to contend for the Frontier League title.

``I can see it in the guys,' he said. ``Defensively we haven't been making errors and we've been hitting well. I've seen everybody in the Frontier League and I like our team.''

Weather permitting, Calabasas hosts first-place Nordhoff today. Nordhoff handed the Coyotes their only league loss two weeks ago. The game was decided on the final pitch. Ace Tony Sulser tries to beat Nordhoff this time.

What's the score? Fans at Thousand Oaks shouldn't have trouble keeping track of the score anymore. It took almost a year, but the Lancers have a new scoreboard that displays inning-by-inning scoring.

The board arrived last May, but getting the required permits to install the 36-foot-long board prevented it from being put up until last week. The Lancers get to use it for the first time Wednesday when they host Westlake.

``This is going to be the topper to the field,'' coach Bill Sizemore said. ``We've been making improvements for the last four years.''

Let us play: Royal also has a long stretch without games, but it isn't due to weather. The Highlanders played in the Pomona tournament - at which they placed third - during their week off from school last week but were unable to schedule any games for this week. The Marmonte League is off while many of its members are on spring break and playing in tournaments.

``We're trying,'' coach Dan Maye said at the beginning of the week. ``We just can't find anyone. We've been looking for a long time.''

Royal's next game is Wednesday at Moorpark. Maye planned to keep his team in form with intrasquad games and punishments for slacking off during practice.

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PHOTO Jeff Gould and his Agoura teammates will play in Las Vegas.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News