BASEBALL BEAT: SCORPIONS STING WITH QUICKNESS : CAMARILLO TRADES POWER FOR SPEED.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

Running away with the Pacific View League title is taking on a new meaning for the Camarillo baseball team. The Scorpions are using their speed to make up for a lack of power, which traditionally carries the team.

Center fielder Justin Collins and shortstop Mark Hensley spark the top of the lineup. Both are batting over .500 and scored a combined 37 runs through nine games. Collins leads the team with 13 stolen bases. Outfielder Kevin Brown has 10 stolen bases and an average above .400 while batting in the ninth spot. The trio's speed also led to 15 bunt singles.

``If they were on the track team, they'd be the three fastest guys,'' Scorpions coach Scott Cline said.

``Those guys are really helping. It kind of lets the big guys take their time getting going.''

The Scorpions (7-2, 3-1) are in first place and undefeated since losing their Pacific View League debut to Hueneme.

``We kind of got a rude awakening,'' Cline said. ``As you look back, it was probably a good thing; we were a little bit overconfident. We saw that teams in this league are competitive, too. After that loss, we've done well.''

Camarillo and Rio Mesa - the team that was supposed to provide the Scorpions' toughest competition - play a make-up game Monday as part of a schedule that has Camarillo playing eight games in 10 days. Camarillo won the first meeting between the two 12-0 last week.

Homer happy: Royal appears to have a monopoly on home run hitters in Simi Valley. The Marmonte League-leading Highlanders had 16 home runs through 12 games. Across town at Simi Valley High, the Pioneers had homered in just one game. Junior Brandon Palomarez hit both of the team's home runs in last week's victory over Agoura.

Royal's Scott Rice hit his fourth shot of the season Monday against San Bernardino. Brian Lipman regained the team lead when he hit his fifth and sixth home runs Tuesday.

The Highlanders produced 39 home runs in last season's 26 games.

The power's back on: Westlake's hitting slump didn't last long. The Warriors cooled off during their first week of Marmonte League play when they had a combined seven hits and lost their only game to date (9-5 to Royal). Westlake (8-1-1, 3-1) responded with 29 hits and 24 runs in its two league wins this week.

Jeff Dragicevich had a pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning of Wednesday's 11-2 win against Moorpark that also included home runs from Jesse Kozlowski, Garett Michaels and Alan Osborne.

Kevin Howard ignited the Warriors offense with a 4-for-4 performance Saturday against Calabasas, including a two-run homer. The rest of the Warriors were a combined 3 for 25 in the 8-0 nonleague win. Howard entered the week leading the Warriors with a .571 average, 14 RBI, four home runs and 11 stolen bases.

Turning it around: Calabasas' Brian Millman had 12 hits last season. He moved up to the leadoff spot this year and entered the week as the Coyotes' top hitter with a .441 average, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. His two hits in Tuesday's 5-3 win against Malibu gave him 17 for the season.

Back to winning: Newbury Park earned its first win in five games by beating Santa Paula 11-1 in a nonleague contest Tuesday.

``It felt really good,'' senior outfielder Ryan Shipton said. ``I was starting to get worried there.''

Anthony Foli and Jared Buckley had three hits each, giving the Panthers hope that their hitting can survive the absence of Joey Hamer and Ryan Ayers. Both are out with injuries.

Tournament time: Spring break means tournaments, and local teams are represented in several.

Royal played in the Pomona tournament this week. The Highlanders suffered their second loss of the season in Wednesday's semifinal. Palmdale's Matt Harrington struck out 15 in the 3-1 game.