Batting Away Boredom Practice cages and baseball camps put a dent in time children have on their hands.

Here’s an all-ages, all-American cure for that case of long-holiday-weekend wigglies your kids will probably experience some time between today and Sunday. Get them out of the house and into a batting cage, whacking away at 20 balls for a buck or two. Or, if the wigglies persist, send the kids to a holiday baseball camp.

Sure, they have expended plenty of holiday energy trying out their Christmas or Hanukkah presents. But whether or not there were new baseball mitts or Louisville Sluggers in those decimated packages, they’ll still have juice left for America’s favorite pastime.

This weekend there will be a wide choice of baseball facilities and programs operating--some are even open today--at hours varying from 9 a.m. to midnight.

Prices are calculated on “pitches,” around 20 for $1. For an hourlong session in a batting cage, the cost can be about $25, with a half-hour for $15.

Baseball City in Agoura Hills will be the site of a “Hit and Field” camp Sunday through Tuesday. It’s one of a trio of camps being offered by the Valley West Coast Baseball School, a Westlake-based firm.

Designed for boys and girls, ages 5 to 12, it runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and will be directed by Bryan Maloney, a former Kansas City Royals’ baseball scout with local roots (he was head coach at Agoura High School). The skills being taught will include pitching, catching, fielding, base running and, of course, hitting.

Classes are small--eight students to each instructor--and include videotape evaluations. Tuition for the three days is $120. Kids must bring their own bat, glove, cleats and lunch. And baseball attire should be worn. “Look like a ballplayer,” says Maloney.

In Toluca Lake, another Valley West Coast Baseball School session, this one directed by Glen Raaschwho played with Seattle, the Cubs and the Mariners, starts Monday. The site will be the Toluca Pony Baseball field at Weddington Park North. The hours, age, tuition, equipment and other requirements are the same as those for the Agoura Hills camp. In Northridge, Ron Dale will direct the West Coast Baseball School camp at the city Little League facility.

BE THERE

Baseball batting ranges operating Friday-Sunday:

* Agoura Hills--Baseball City, 28752 Roadside Drive; (818) 991-7252.

* Burbank--Bat Cage, 220 N. Victory Blvd.; (818) 842-6455.

* Glendale--Batting Cage, 622 E. Colorado Blvd.; (818) 243-2363.

* Granada Hills--World Series Batting Range, 11155 Woodley Ave.; (818) 366-4059.

* North Hills--Grand Slam Batting Cage, 8345 Hayvenhurst Place; (818) 894-4740.

* North Hollywood--Castle Park, 12400 Vanowen St.; (818) 763-4000. (Also open today, noon-midnight).

* Saugus--Tournament Batting Cages, 26477 Golden Valley Road; (805) 298-0642.

* Sherman Oaks--Castle Batting Park, 4989 Sepulveda Blvd.; (818) 905-1321. (Also open today, noon-midnight).

* Sun Valley--Sunland Batting Cages, 8652 Sunland Blvd.; (818) 768-0309.

* Van Nuys--Bat-A-Way, 14485 Raymer St.; (818) 786-1600.

Holiday Baseball Camp: For information on all-day sessions for kids 5-12 in Agoura Hills from Sunday-Tuesday, call (818) 865-9227; in Northridge from Monday-Wednesday, call (818) 831-0716; in Toluca Lake from Monday-Wednesday, call (818) 842-1412.