BASEBALL PREVIEW: HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR AGOURA : TALENTED CHARGERS AIMING FOR POSTSEASON.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

The Agoura High baseball team is trying to distance itself from the past in every way possible.

The Chargers have a renovated field, new uniforms and a new attitude. Being favored as a candidate for postseason play is also something new for Agoura, which hasn't made the playoffs since joining the Marmonte League in 1991.

``We're a whole new different program this year,'' said four-year varsity player Brian Jacobsen.

``We've got respect this year. That's kind of nice.''

Eight players are back from 1998's 15-10-1 team that produced the Chargers' first winning season since 1990 when Agoura was in the Frontier League.

``The intensity is there, the desire is there, the focus is there,'' Agoura coach Bruce Beck said. ``If they can do that, bring that to the ballpark for a few hours every day, we're not going to lose too many.

``Last year we won the games we should have won, but we didn't win the games we could have won. That's the difference this year, we'll be able to win the close games.

``We could have been mentally tougher last year. That's something we've worked on a lot. Physically, we match up with anybody.''

All-Southern Section seniors Michael Falco and Jacobsen provide the biggest threats. Jacobsen, a first baseman/pitcher, batted .488 with nine home runs and 38 RBI last season. Falco hit .405 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI. All-league shortstop David Johnson and two fellow seniors, catcher Nick Hillman and second baseman Jeff Gould, are also returning starters. All batted above .300 last year.

``Our hitting looks pretty good,'' Jacobsen said. ``It's about hitting, and we've got hitting. We've really been hitting the cover off the ball in practice.

``Our lineup's going to be loaded all the way through.''

The 42 home runs hit by last year's team set a school record. Beck believes this season's team can top that mark and help make up for a lack of speed. Former base-stealing threats Chris Poling and Matt Bernstein graduated.

The Chargers' biggest difference from a year ago is on the mound.

``We're going to be surprisingly good,'' Beck said. ``What we lack in not having a Chris Cordiero (of Thousand Oaks) - a really dominant guy - we make up for in quantity. We'll go at people with numbers. I won't be afraid to go at teams with seven pitchers a game.

``Last year I think pitching was our weakness. We won't have great pitching, but it definitely isn't a weakness.''

Senior left-hander Brian Ashford (7-3, 4.76 ERA) leads the eight-member staff.

After struggling with his mechanics last season, junior right-hander Tyler Stauffer regained his form and is competing with junior right-hander Mike Tisher for the second starter's spot. Jacobsen led the area in saves last year with five. He will share the closing role with Falco. Falco is the staff's hardest thrower, having been clocked above 90 mph, and is committed to increasing his role as a pitcher after being mainly a field player in recent years.

Opponents are taking notice of the Chargers' potential.

``Agoura probably has their best team in 10 years,'' Royal coach Dan Maye said.

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PHOTO Four-year varsity player Brian Jacobsen batted .488 for Agoura last season.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News