Batting Away Boredom

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 them to a holiday baseball camp or perhaps even a series of individual baseball lessons.

Sure, they have expended plenty of nervous energy trying out their Christmas or Hanukkah games and toys. But whether or not there were new baseball mitts or Louisville Sluggers in those decimated packages, the kids will have plenty of juice left to indulge in America’s favorite pastime. After an hour or so of exertion, or half a day for serious cases, they should be ready for a good night’s rest.

Ventura County families have a wide choice of baseball facilities and programs available this weekend--Friday, Saturday and Sunday--from as early as 9 a.m. to as late as 8 p.m. Prices are calculated based on “pitches”--around 20 for $1. Or, for an hourlong session, swinging away in the batting cage costs about $25, or 15 for a half-hour.

Other opportunities available at the county’s batting ranges include individual lessons at hourly fees and full-day baseball camp programs.

At Who’s on First, an Oxnard range that will be in operation from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jeffrey Tackett, a professional catcher who has played with Baltimore, Detroit and Houston, gives private lessons by appointment.

“I had been going to the range anyway” for practice, said Tackett, “and the season the major league went on strike in 1994 I decided to start giving lessons there--to give something back to the community.” During his pro career, he and his wife Wendy maintained a home in Camarillo, where they still live and are rearing four children.

The lessons, for kids ages 8 and up, can take place on any schedule mutually arranged between Tackett and the student--during school holidays, weekends or evenings. “We videotape--to study how they hit and catch and run bases, and slow it down for close analysis,” he explained. Lesson fees are $45 per hourlong lesson, three lessons for $105.

East county families with kids 5-12 who are seriously involved in baseball might want to check out “Hit and Field Camp” being conducted Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with student-to-instructor ratios of 8 to 1. The location is Baseball City in Agoura Hills. Tuition is $120 for the three days. Videotape analysis is included. Campers must bring their own glove, bat, cleats and lunch.

Simi Valley Batting Cages will be operating Friday from noon to 8 p.m. And in Camarillo, the Louisville Slugger Baseball Academy’s cages will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Because the weather is so unpredictable these days, it’s a good idea to call ahead for precise information about operating hours or to find out about group rates and other special features.

BE THERE

Baseball batting ranges operating this holiday weekend:

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

* Camarillo--Louisville Slugger Baseball Academy, 487 S. Dawson Drive; (805) 987-7994.

* Oxnard--Who’s on First, 961 N. Rice Ave.; (805) 485-4001.

* Simi Valley--Simi Valley Batting Cages, 2019 Donville Ave.; (805) 527-8998.

Holiday baseball camp: Call (805) 496-CAMP for information on all-day camp sessions for kids 5-12 operating Sunday-Tuesday in Agoura Hills. To arrange holiday-season baseball lessons with Jeffrey Tackett, call (805) 485-4001.