BASEBALL SEASON OPENS FOR LOCAL KIDS : FESTIVITIES DRAW HUNDREDS.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Some do it for fun. Others do it for fame.

They may have different reasons. But for the hundreds of youngsters who celebrated opening day of Santa Susana Baseball, they shared one thing in common - the love for the game.

``I just wanna play baseball,'' said Taylor Moreland, 5. This is Taylor's first year playing for the Diamond Backs. ``It's just fun.''

Marlins player Jason Morrell, 14, had his own motive.

``To pick up girls,'' said the Valley View Junior High student.

More than 500 youngsters on nearly 50 teams swarmed to Houghton Park on Saturday to participate in opening day ceremonies on the Bronco Field. Simi Valley youngsters make up the majority of the league, with some children from Camarillo, Moorpark and Chatsworth.

Proudly wearing their team colors, the 5- to 14-year-olds kicked off the morning with a march around the Bronco Field. They later decorated the baseball fences with colorful balloons and ribbons. Games began in the early afternoon.

Norm Modglin, president of Santa Susana Baseball, said the league isn't just about playing ball.

``It's about providing a place for kids to stay busy and have fun,'' Modglin said. ``If we can teach them to play baseball at the same time, that's a plus.''

Out of a handful of leagues in Simi Valley, Santa Susana is the largest and most competitive, said Cheryl Land, spokeswoman for the league.

``Some of the finest players came from here,'' said Land, pointing to baseball greats like pitcher Scott Rodinsky of the Dodgers and catcher Tim Laker of the Montreal Expos.

Former Dodger Joe Moeller, Saturday's guest speaker, also got his start in the Santa Susana league.

``This is exactly where I started, right here,'' said Moeller. ``It helped me fulfill my dream to play for the Dodgers.''

Thirteen-year-old Mike Nykoluk of the Cardinals started playing seven years ago with aspirations to become a professional someday. He also hopes to follow in the footsteps of his big brother, Kevin, who played in the Cardinal World Series.

``I gotta fill pretty big shoes, I guess,'' Mike said.

Eight-year-old Cubs player Eric Drew vividly remembers the day he decided to pursue baseball two years ago.

``When I was, like, really little, I was watching baseball on TV and I asked my dad if I could play baseball,'' Eric recalls. ``He said yes.''

Though many players on the Santa Susana teams share an obvious love for the game, sometimes league play is too competitive, said team mom Linda McFee.

``I think some coaches put too much pressure on them - some are very competitive, and some are too strict,'' McFee said. Still, she doesn't allow her feelings stand in the way of her son, Jimmy.

``He's here to have a good time,'' McFee said. ``So I let him do it.''

Team coach Bob Benson said that boys starting out at age 5 are too young.

``That's way too early - they get too much out of it and burn out,'' he said. ``Kids that young should learn the game from older kids first.''

League President Modglin says the game isn't about competition, pressure or who wins or loses.

``The team concept is what's important,'' said Modglin. ``They learn to work together as a team, and not just an individual. That's what builds their self-confidence and esteem.''

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Photo

Photo: (color) Michael Romero, 6, gets ready to hit in a seasoner opener at Santa Susana's baseball field Saturday. The facility has nearly 50 teams of youngsters from 5 to 14 years old.

Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News