Chatsworth in usual place: the City final

Someday, long after Tom Meusborn is no longer coaching baseball at Chatsworth High, people will begin to realize how extraordinary his accomplishments were as coach.

There’s his 520-100-3 coaching record in 20 seasons, 16 West Valley League championships and seven City Section titles. And on Wednesday, with an 8-5 semifinal victory over Woodland Hills El Camino Real, the Chancellors earned a trip to Dodger Stadium to play in the Division I final for the seventh consecutive season.

“It’s always a thrill to get to Dodger Stadium, whether it’s your first, second or third time,” he said.

The second-seeded Chancellors (29-4) will face top-seeded Reseda Cleveland (26-7) in Saturday’s 2 p.m. final. Cleveland defeated Granada Hills, 5-0, in the other semifinal.

The best news for Cleveland is that it doesn’t have to play the Chancellors on their home field. Perhaps the most impressive achievement of the Chancellors under Meusborn is that they have become close to unbeatable at home, winning 22 consecutive home playoff games since 2001.

“Our guys enjoy playing at home,” Meusborn said.

The Chancellors’ strategy is simple. Their pitchers are supposed to throw strikes while relying on a flawless defense. That’s what happened Wednesday. Andrew Klausmeier (6-0) struck out 10, walked one and gave up seven hits and his defense made zero errors. The Chancellors have made 31 errors in 33 games.

“It’s concentration and mental toughness,” Klausmeier said. “We go after it inning by inning, pitch by pitch.”

Chatsworth put together four-run innings in the third and fourth to leave the Conquistadores (23-10) with few options. The Chancellors received clutch hitting from Andy Weissberg, who twice delivered two-run singles. Klausmeier had a two-run single and Kasey Toven and Derek Neely had run-scoring singles.

In Saturday’s final, Chatsworth and Cleveland will be meeting for a fourth time this season. Chatsworth has won two of the three games so far.

“It’s going to be fun,” Klausmeier said. “It’s going to be a boxing match. We’re going to give what we got, they’re going to give what they got.”

Said Cleveland Coach Greg Venger: “We’re going to battle it out. No. 1 versus No. 2. That’s the way it should be.”

John Wilson (11-1), who threw three shutout innings for Cleveland against Granada Hills, will oppose Chatsworth ace Mike Renner (9-2) in what could be Meusborn’s final game for the Chancellors.

Meusborn has made no secret of his interest in coaching at the college level and he said afterward, “I’m really looking for another challenge.”

Correspondent Sean Ceglinsky contributed to this report.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com