L.A. WATTS SUMMER GAMES / JASON H. REID : Chatsworth Gets Back Up After Title Game Downer

Not one to dwell on the past, Chatsworth High baseball Coach Tom Meusborn kept his charges moving.

And with little rest at that.

However, nothing less would have been expected.

Meusborn and the Chancellors were up and going again nine days after an emotional defeat in the City Section 4-A Division championship game to El Camino Real, 7-6, June 3 at Dodger Stadium.

Losing to their West Valley League rival was especially galling because the Chancellors held a 5-0 lead in the first inning. What’s more, they also had the tying run on base in the top of the seventh.

Nonetheless, shortly after losing the “big game,” the Chancellors were right back in “the Games.”

“We always enjoy going to (the Watts Summer Games),” Meusborn said. “It’s a big part of what we do. We always play in it no matter what happens during the season because it helps us.”

Chatsworth is part of the games’ 32-team baseball tournament that began June 12 at 14 sites throughout the Southland.

The long layoff has not appeared to hurt the Chancellors too much. Chatsworth defeated Riverside Poly, 2-1, Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals, and will play Glendora today at noon at Veterans Memorial Park in Commerce. A victory would put the Chancellors in the semifinals there at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of the Colton-Kennedy quarterfinal at 9 a.m.

The final is at Compton College at noon on Sunday. The Chancellors won the 1991 title.

Despite the gut-wrenching title loss, Meusborn--who coached Chatsworth to the 1990 City championship--never considered altering the Chancellors’ summer plans. Matter of fact, he said, this is the best thing for his team.

“We can just go out and have fun, there is no pressure on us to win it,” Meusborn said. “We can relax while also keeping our minds on baseball.”

Meusborn also hoped this year’s games might help ease the sting of the title loss--even if ever so slightly.

“You can’t compare it to playing for the title in Dodger Stadium, but any time you win, it’s good,” he said.

While the Chancellors’ offense has not been spectacular so far, they have received strong pitching and are playing tough defense. As with many teams in the games, Chatsworth is missing several players because of American Legion baseball. Meusborn is encouraged by his team’s play.

“We’ve had outstanding pitching from Tony Montiel and Jim DeBiase,” Meusborn said. “I’m not worried about the hitting. That will come around when we really need it.”

With a roster full of talented sophomores and juniors this past season, Chatsworth, some observers surmised, was a season away from challenging for the title.

Meusborn, however, knew his talent-rich group was ready. He expects more of the same next season.

“We’ll be ready when it starts for real,” he said.

*

Harry Welch has a problem.

But it is one he welcomes. Truth is, the Canyon football coach is downright tickled about the situation.

Welch suddenly finds himself with some depth at quarterback. Returning starter Sean Connelly and Brian Shubin, a transfer student from Thousand Oaks, impressed the hard-to-please taskmaster in the 48-team, seven-on-seven passing tournament at Compton College on Saturday and Sunday. The Cowboys were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Hawthorne, 25-19.

Connelly, 17, a left-hander, was Canyon’s starting signal-caller as a junior last season. He threw for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns and had 10 interceptions while helping the Cowboys to a 7-4 record.

Shubin, 15, a right-hander, will be a junior. The two alternated leading the Cowboys’ offense during four games.

Connelly is listed as the starter entering summer workouts but Welch said that might change. Shubin is making a strong push at the No. 1 job.

“Connelly is much better both physically and mentally,” Welch said. “The velocity on Connelly’s ball has really improved and he still has the touch.”

Welch was equally effusive in his praise of Shubin.

“Brian is going to be sensational,” he said.

At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Connelly is bigger and stronger than Shubin (5-11, 170). But Shubin has better footwork in the pocket than Connelly and may be a little more athletic.

“Connelly has responded terrifically to Brian’s push,” Welch said. “He has improved dramatically in the last six weeks.

“Sean deserves a lot of credit for that but some of the credit must also go to Brian.”

*

The beat continues at Hart.

Although the names and faces change, the Indians’ vaunted passing attack continues to roll in high gear--even during the off-season.

Led by impressive new quarterback Mike Kocicka, a transfer from Crescenta Valley, Hart has raced to the semifinals of the passing tournament. Hart will play Muir at Compton College on Sunday at 10 a.m. A victory would put the Indians in the final there at 2 p.m. against either Dominguez or Hawthorne.

The 6-4, 208-pound Kocicka has looked sharp while learning the Indians’ complex run-and-shoot offense. Hart coaches had planned to split quarterback duties in the games between the big right-hander and Soren Halladay, who is more comfortable at receiver and defensive back.

However, that plan was scrapped when Kocicka completed one tight spiral after another in the early going.

“Whether in a passing league or the regular season, you build confidence through success,” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said. “It’s early but this helps.”

*

Area teams have not had too much fun in the 128-team boys’ basketball tournament.

North Hollywood, seeded first in the field, was upset, 65-59, in the third round by Washington on Sunday at Fairfax. No area teams remain entering today’s fourth round.

The girls have fared better.

Crescenta Valley and Channel Islands will play today for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the 80-team field.

Crescenta Valley will battle Rancho Alamitos at noon at Morningside High. Channel Islands will play City 4-A champion Crenshaw at 11 a.m. at Jordan High.

*

Swingman Jason Hartman was spectacular during Thousand Oaks’ brief run in the boys’ basketball tournament.

The 6-6 Lancer averaged 21.3 points and 12.6 rebounds in three games. Thousand Oaks was eliminated in the third round by Dorsey, 59-47.

In the Lancers’ first-round game against Hamilton, Hartman had 23 points and 21 rebounds. Playing for a gifted, balanced team last season, Hartman averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds. The Lancers finished 26-2.

He was an All-Southern Section Division I selection and a member of The Times’ All-Ventura County team.

“Jason really looked good,” Lancer Coach Ed Chevalier said. “He had a solid tournament.”

Chevalier said the tournament gave him a better understanding of next season’s group.

“We’re carrying a lot of kids right now and this helps me see who can compete,” he said.

“The more I can see them in game action against the other kids, the more it helps me make decisions.”

Chevalier said the tournament was managed well.

“This was by far our best experience,” he said. “We played good teams, the officiating was good and the sites were in good shape.

“We haven’t brought too many teams in the past, but now that I see it can be done well, we’re going to come back.”