Chatsworth Coach Swings Trip to Dodgertown

Like the other eight teams visiting Florida for the Colonial Baseball Classic, Chatsworth had some free time for sightseeing Sunday.

Other teams were going to Disney World, but Bob Lofrano’s hero has always been Sandy Koufax, not Mickey Mouse. So the Chancellors and their coach, having already traveled 3,000 miles, decided an additional 100 to Dodgertown in Vero Beach was not unreasonable.

It turned out to be time well-spent.

Not only did the players watch the Dodgers-Expos game, but they got to say “Hi, Mom,” at the same time.

“I went into the press box and said, ‘Hey, this is a natural--an L. A. City team comes 3,000 miles to see the Dodgers,’ ” Lofrano said. “I didn’t get to talk to Vinny, but somebody said, ‘OK, we’ll get you on.’ ”

Although Lofrano and the Chancellors never met Dodger announcer Vince Scully, they were welcomed by the public-address announcer.

The Chatsworth coach swung another surprise when he asked Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda to give the Chancellors “a typical Lasorda pep talk,” after the game.

“You know how that goes,” Lofrano said. “We didn’t get back till 8:30.”

Nonetheless, the players enjoyed it.

“He just told us to stay away from drugs and that kind of stuff,” first baseman Art Lowe said. “And he said, ‘I was a third-string high school pitcher but look where I am now.’ ”

Shortstop David Waco was inspired by the Dodger manager’s talk.

“You gotta admire the guy,” he said. “He’s over 50 and he still throws batting practice.”

Said Lowe, who disclosed that he is not a Dodger fan: “Yeah, but he was sucking air.”