IT’S A STEAL! : Seasonal Hits Include Baseball, Wheel Deals and Feeding the Birds for a Pittance

Every once in a while, OC Live! turns its focus to things to do on a budget in Orange County. Taking a spring theme, this edition of Cheap Thrills looks at college baseball, beachside skating and biking, duck feeding and one indoor pursuit: budget moviegoing (see separate story, this page).

TITAN BASEBALL

Summer may be when professional baseball really heats up, but spring is when the ritual begins for devotees of the sport. These days, thousands of fans make an annual pilgrimage to Arizona to watch their favorite pro teams work out the kinks in spring training.

The Angels’ opening day at Anaheim Stadium is still a month away, but this season the anticipation is more than bearable. Having traded away or lost to free agency most of the fans’ favorite players in recent seasons, and predicted to finish last in the division by many of the experts, the Angels are in the midst of what they optimistically call a youth movement. That’s the baseball equivalent of downsizing, for you economics majors.

Angels baseball can still be inexpensive--we’ve featured the general admission seats in a previous Cheap Thrills roundup. But if after the long, wet winter you’re pining for the smell of new-mown grass and the pop of ball hitting glove, lower your expectations if you’re heading for the cheap seats. What you’ll be smelling is more likely stale beer and nachos, and what you’ll hear is probably the frustrated rant of the fan in the next seat.

There is a place where you can see baseball in its more natural state, in a brand-new stadium of only 1,750 seats, all of which are within tobacco-spitting distance of the field. And what’s more, the home team tends to win .

The Titans of Cal State Fullerton have been one of the top Division I college teams in the country through much of coach Augie Garrido’s 25-year reign. They were NCAA champions in 1979 and 1984, and so far this year they are ranked eighth nationally. As of Monday, they were 15-7 overall, and undefeated in six games of conference play.

College baseball begins and ends its season earlier than professional baseball does. The Titans are about halfway through their season, but because they played so many of their early games on the road, there are plenty of home games left. Fifteen, to be exact, including games against UCLA and such Big West division rivals as University of Nevada-Las Vegas, New Mexico State and San Jose State.

According to team spokesman Tim Murphy, the team is averaging 599 fans per home game so far this season, having twice exceeded the 1,000-fan mark. Two conference series are expected to draw big numbers (Pacific this weekend and Long Beach State on April 16 to 18) but Murphy said it is highly unlikely that a game will sell out. Most people who attend the games are from the surrounding community, rather than students, he added.

The collegiate game differs a bit from the pro. The sound of a hit is a clank rather than a crack , as college teams use aluminum bats. On the evidence of a recent 12-4 victory over Cal State Northridge, the college game is also livelier, with more hits and, on this occasion at least, more errors.

Seeing the game at close range makes a great difference too. Cal State Fullerton’s new stadium was inaugurated on April 18, 1992, when alumnus Kevin Costner threw out the first pitch for a double header against Loyola Marymount. Some improvements are still being made--watch the beer intake if you have anything against outhouses. Right now, the score is kept manually with hanging number placards, but a new electronic scoreboard will be going in April 13.

Full concessions are offered, as are Titan paraphernalia. Hot dogs and pizza (with very thick crust) are $2.50, sodas are $2 and beer is $3. Reserved seat game admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and youths under age 18. Parking is $1.50 (sometimes there will be someone to collect the fee, sometimes you’ll need to buy a permit from a machine).

Some players to watch: designated hitter Adam Millan is batting .410 with 12 doubles and 23 RBIs; third baseman Jeff Ferguson is batting .356 with one home run (a grand slam) and 17 RBIs; center fielder Dante Powell is hitting .354 with six home runs and 23 RBIs. Among the pitchers, Dan Ricabal is 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA; Mike Parisi is 4-0 with a 5.29 ERA.

* What: Cal State Fullerton baseball.

* When: Upcoming dates include a three-game stand against Pacific, Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. Remaining home dates: against UNLV, April 8-10; against Loyola Marymount, April 13; against Long Beach State, April 16-18; against USC, April 20; against Grand Canyon and/or Chapman University, April 23-25; against San Jose State, May 7-9; against UCLA, May 11. Weekday games generally begin at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday games at 1 p.m.

* Where: Cal State Fullerton Titan Field.

* Whereabouts: From the Orange (57) Freeway, exit at Yorba Linda Boulevard and go west. Turn left into the university at Associated Road and go right into the parking lot. Pay the parking attendant or buy a permit from the machine.

* Wherewithal: $3 for students and youths, $5 for adults.

* Where to call: (714) 773-2783.

RENTING WHEELS

Doug Lachman figures that when he opened Xanadu Skate Rentals in 1989, he rented out one pair of in-line skates for every 30 pairs of conventional or “quad� skates. That ratio has changed a little bit: Now, he figures he rents out one pair of quad skates for every 200 pairs of in-lines.

Lachman’s shop, near the Newport Pier, caught the first wave of enthusiasm for in-line skates, in which the wheels (usually four or five) are arranged in a straight line rather than in the two-by-two arrangement of quad skates. More maneuverable, faster and--contrary to many first impressions--safer than conventional skates, in-line skates dominate the paths and trails along Southern California’s beaches.

Rental shops such as Lachman’s give folks a chance to try out the skates before they shell out the money to buy a pair, which can run between $100 and $200 for a name brand such as industry pioneer Rollerblade or Bauer. Rental rates vary a little, from $5 to $6 for the first hour, usually with special rates for multiple hours or a full day ($12 to $21). Some shops will apply the rental fee toward purchase of new skates, if you decide to buy.

These shops tend to be clustered around pier areas with lots of oceanfront skating areas: We talked to shopkeepers near the Huntington, Newport and Balboa piers.

Mastering in-line requires some different techniques than riding conventional skates, and some first-timers are intimidated, according to Gary Liss of Inline Rollerworks, a Costa Mesa shop which has rental outlets near the Newport and Balboa piers. Liss will give renters a short lesson in riding technique, and as with many shops he offers safety padding free with the rental.

The first thing to remember is to keep the knees bent, as in skiing. The brake is on the back of one skate, rather than in the front, which takes a bit of practice. But the main advantage of the in-line skates for beginners is that they roll much more easily over bumps and cracks than quad skates do.

Lachman said he has had no serious customer injuries, other than a “skinned knee here and there.�

Of course, most skaters don’t look graceful their first time out, but in-line skating may be the latest quintessential Southern California skill. It’s what your relatives back East think we do all day anyway, so might as well give it a shot. Spring is a good time to try, before the crowds and heat of summer arrive.

Many rental shops also issue bicycles, mostly balloon-tire beach cruisers. Paradise Beach Co. near the Huntington Beach Pier also offers mountain bikes, while Balboa Bikes n’ Beach Stuff offers tandems and replicas of vintage ‘50s cruisers. Oceanfront Wheel Works at the foot of the Balboa Pier offers a variety of wheeled conveyances: beach cruisers, tandems, three-wheeled bikes for two and, coming soon, mountain bikes.

Bike rental fees range from $4 to $10 an hour, $12 to $30 a day. Tandems and three-wheeled bikes are at the high end of the range.

Renting is a way of life along the beaches. Other items offered for rental at various locations: Boogie Boards, fins, beach chairs, umbrellas, fishing gear, volleyball equipment and hockey sticks.

A selection of bike and skate rental places, with current hours (most will be open longer in summer):

HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER

* Paradise Beach Co., 317 Pacific Coast Highway (below Maxwell’s restaurant). Open weekdays, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (714) 960-7076.

NEWPORT PIER

* Xanadu Skate Rentals, 106 22nd St. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, until 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (714) 675-3026.

* Inline Rollerworks, 107 22nd St. Open Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily beginning in two weeks. (714) 675-6772.

BALBOA PIER

* Balboa Bikes n’ Beach Stuff, 601 E. Balboa Blvd. Open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (714) 723-1516.

* Oceanfront Wheel Works, 105 Main St. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (714) 723-6510.

* Inline Rollerworks, 607 E. Balboa Blvd. Open Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily beginning in two weeks. (714) 673-1365.

MIGHTY DUCK FOOD

Ducks have been at the center of a lot of bad press lately, as Southern California sports fans have cried fowl at the decision by Disney to name the new Anaheim hockey franchise the Mighty Ducks, after a mediocre kids’ movie of the same title. As if that indignity were not enough, there’s the connected move to rename the Ducks’ home--which during construction has been called the Anaheim Arena--the Pond.

That’s about as much publicity as ducks have gotten around here since some Irvine residents decided a few years back to get permits to shoot some troublesome visitors: coots (duck relations) that were nibbling on the expensive landscaping, apparently a violation of homeowner association rules.

Mostly, though, ducks waddle clear of controversy, preferring instead to find a nice little pond somewhere and munch in peace. In semiarid Orange County, most of those ponds are man-made park decorations, giving rise to a time-honored pastime that could be considered the very definition of a lazy Sunday: feeding the ducks.

For many children, especially in suburbia, feeding a duck or goose qualifies as the first close encounter with wildlife. Of course, the term wild is used rather loosely: Some of the birds, particularly mallards in migration, are wild, but many are domesticated fowl, former Easter gifts that have been dumped by families who weren’t ready for long-term commitment to a duck.

Popcorn (unsalted, non-buttered) and stale bread are two favorite foods passed out by duck feeders. Sylvia Gallagher, of the Sea and Sage Audubon Society, suggested cracked corn as an alternative; a ranger at Yorba Regional Park encouraged visitors to buy duck feed at a local feed store.

The subject of duck feeding is a sore one among some park managers and wildlife biologists, who discourage the practice. Gallagher said one concern is that duck feeding leads to an overpopulation of ducks in one location, making the birds more susceptible to avian diseases that thrive in crowded conditions.

But, added Gallagher, “it’s such a pleasure for people to feed wildlife.� Especially among children, she said, the practice “fosters a caring attitude about birds� that can last a lifetime.

Gallagher suggests checking park rules before feeding the ducks. Tim Miller, manager of operations for the county regional parks, said the county park system has no written policy on feeding ducks but added that some parks may discourage the practice. A call to Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley revealed that the park rangers are against duck feeding; Yorba Regional Park officials, on the other hand, have no qualms about it.

Note that feeding the wildlife is definitely not allowed in refuges, such as Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Probably every city in the county has a park with a pond of some kind, and all of these attract waterfowl to varying degrees. An informal survey of The Times Orange County newsroom asking for duck-feeding locations drew about two dozen responses, with 15 parks named. Here are three good ones, but there may be something just as ducky closer to home:

YORBA REGIONAL PARK

Anaheim

Information: (714) 970-1460.

Whereabouts: From the Riverside (91) Freeway, exit at Imperial Highway and go north to La Palma Avenue. Turn right and after about a mile, turn right into the park.

EISENHOWER PARK

Orange

Information: (714) 744-7272.

Whereabouts: From the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, exit at Lincoln Avenue and go west. Turn right on Oceanview and right again on Main Street; park at the end of the street.

WILLIAM R. MASON

REGIONAL PARK

Irvine

Information: (714) 833-1933.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take the Culver Drive exit south and turn right on University Drive. The park and pond will be on the left.

OTHER PADDLERS

Ducks and geese aren’t the only ones paddling the local lakes and waterways. Humans can emulate the web-footed critters at several spots where pedal-powered paddle boats are rented.

Some spots, alas, are open only to residents of the communities that own the lakes, such as Woodbridge in Irvine. Two-person paddle boats are rented to residents at $10 for four hours, which can be stretched out over several visits.

Two spots are open to the public: Newport Dunes Resort on Newport Bay and Irvine Regional Park.

At Newport Dunes, pedalers can explore both the Back Bay, where the birds are, and the marina, where the boats are.

There are two kinds of pedal craft available here. One is a conventional pedal-powered paddle boat, which holds four people (two pedaling and steering in front, two passengers in back). Another is the Sea Cycle, in which the pedals operate a propeller. These are quite a bit faster than the paddlers but hold only two people.

Paddling the boats may look leisurely, but it is strenuous work--many people are exhausted after half an hour.

At Irvine Regional Park, the territory you can cover is quite a bit smaller than Newport Bay. But while the pond is only a few acres, the setting is terrific. Irvine Park has an old-fashioned feel that can only be enhanced by a paddle around the lake.

Until summer begins, the paddle boat concessions at both Newport Dunes and Irvine Park are open only on weekends.

NEWPORT DUNES RESORT

Where: 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last rental at 4:30 p.m.

Whereabouts: From Pacific Coast Highway, turn north on Jamboree Road and turn left on Back Bay Drive. The entrance to the resort is on the left.

Wherewithal: The regular paddle boats are $12 an hour; the Sea Cycles are $15 an hour. In addition, Newport Dunes has a $5 per carload entry fee.

Where to call: For rentals information, call (800) 585-0747. For information on the resort, call (714) 729-3863.

IRVINE REGIONAL PARK

Where: 21501 Chapman Ave., Orange.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Whereabouts: From the Newport (55) Freeway, exit at Chapman Avenue and head east to Santiago Canyon Road. Turn left, then immediately right at the park entrance.

Wherewithal: Two-person crafts rent for $7 per half hour. Park entry is $2 per car.

Where to call: (714) 633-8074 for park information; (714) 997-3968 for rental information.