OXNARD WILL WEIGH MINOR LEAGUE DEAL : PALM SPRINGS SUNS MAY BRIGHTEN OXNARD STADIUM.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

Oxnard is in the game to bring minor-league baseball back to Ventura County, though the first pitch might not be thrown until spring 1998.

The Ventura County Community College District on Tuesday approved a plan that calls for a Western Baseball League franchise to improve and use the Oxnard College baseball field for practice and 45 home games from April through August.

The Oxnard City Council has scheduled a special meeting for today to consider the agreement with the college district. Council approval is expected because the council approved an initial agreement that was changed to deal with issues of concern to the college district, including noise, lighting, parking and security, said Gary Gillig, the city attorney involved in the talks.

``Getting a site to play seems to be the hardest part. We're delighted with the college district's support,'' Gillig said.

Owners of the Palm Springs Suns have been talking with Oxnard leaders since late August in an effort to move the team from the desert, where the team lost money as the heat sapped attendance during its two years in existence.

Although the Suns hope to play ball beginning in April, the league president said the schedule is set and the Chico Heat has been added in place of the Suns.

``They were unable to get to us in a timely manner. Our schedule is set,'' said Bruce Engel. ``They still have a franchise. It's just inactive.''

Don Di Carlo, whose family owns the Suns, said he still plans to make a pitch to the league owners during a meeting Friday. If the effort fails, there is the 1998 season.

``We're going to do everything we can,'' Di Carlo said. ``Now we have the site, so no matter what, we will play in 1998.''

The Suns could be added with another team to create a 10-team league. Engel said several cities have developed proposals with potential owners to join the league.

The Western Baseball League is an upstart system of eight teams without Major League Baseball affiliation. It is the newest of nine independent leagues, with competition often compared to Double AA minor leagues.

The proposed move by the Suns is the latest in a mounting effort by cities to bring back minor league baseball. The last minor league team to play in the county was the Ventura Gulls, who left Ventura after one season in 1987 and moved to San Bernardino.

Ventura has a commitment from the California League - one of the oldest and most competitive Single A minor leagues - to move a franchise to the city. Voters first must approve a plan next spring to build a stadium with public money on donated land.

Camarillo could provide an alternative for the California League, depending on the success of a landowner and investors attempting to purchase a team.

Oxnard leaders have said the proposed three-year agreement with the Suns would be a good test of whether minor league baseball can succeed in the county.

The Suns proposed improvements include seating for 2,500 and lighting for night games, concession stands, and paved parking for some 350 vehicles. The team plans to take out a loan of as much as $250,000 to pay for the improvements.