Chatman turns the page

Tony Altobelli

While one chapter of Charles Chatman’s life has officially come to

a close, another chapter is just beginning.

After 23 years of blood, sweat and tears, the former Costa Mesa High

football and baseball standout has finally ended his athletic career,

despite offers from professional baseball.

“There were a few independent minor league teams asking me if I wanted

to play, but I turned them down,” Chatman said. “It’s time for me to move

on with my life.”

Chatman’s athletic career took a long, bumpy road between Costa Mesa

and Irvine, where he played the last two baseball seasons for Concordia

University.

Chatman was a standout two-sport athlete as a prep. In football, he

rushed for 2,512 yards, still a Newport-Mesa District single-season

record, and scored 29 touchdowns as a senior in 1994. His 414-yard

performance against Aliso Niguel also remains a district record and he

was twice named All-CIF Southern Section.

As a baseball player, Chatman was an All-Pacific Coast League

performer, leading the Mustangs in a number of different offensive

categories.

From there, Chatman moved on to Golden West College, where he was a

two-time, All-Mission Conference running back.

After that, he accepted a scholarship from Kent State University and

was the second-leading rusher for the Golden Flashes as a junior.

However, Chatman did not return to Kent State for his senior season,

opting to return to California and attend Concordia.

With an extra year of eligibility from the NAIA, Chatman returned to

baseball and enjoyed two strong seasons with the Eagles.

As a junior, Chatman became the first player in Golden State Athletic

Conference history to lead the conference in home runs and stolen bases.

He finished 2000 with a .374 batting average, 15 home runs, 73 hits, 59

runs scored, 52 RBIs, 23 stolen bases.

As a senior, the numbers were harder to put up, as opposing pitchers

worked more carefully to him. He still hit .313 with eight home runs, 33

RBIs, 37 runs, 57 hits, seven doubles, three triples and a

conference-leading 28 stolen bases.

“To be honest, nobody pitched to me,” Chatman said with a laugh. “I

must have walked 40-48 times this year and I think we played only 49

games.”

Now with his playing career in the past and a degree in psychology and

sociology from Concordia under his belt, Chatman is looking to help the

next generation of athletes by passing on his knowledge of both football

and baseball.

“I’m back in school working on my teaching credential,” Chatman said.

“Eventually, I’d love to get my master’s degree and even my doctorate. I

know it’s a lot of hard work, but I’m ready for it.”

Does the 23-year-old Chatman have any preference when it comes to

choosing a sport to coach? “I like them both,” he said. “I think I have a

better knowledge of baseball, but I believe I can coach either one pretty

well.”