Baseball: Tom Meusborn is back at Chatsworth and a changed coach

Get ready for a more relaxed, more understanding Coach Tom Meusborn when he officially makes his return to the baseball field as coach for Chatsworth High on Saturday after a one-year absence in which he was coaching at Cal State Northridge.

“He learned quite a bit at Northridge,” longtime assistant Fred Pudrith said. “The way he speaks to the kids gets them to think more. There’s a little more responsibility on the players.”

Northridge Coach Greg Moore made quite an impression on Meusborn, who took over the Chatsworth program in 1990 and won eight City Section championships before leaving to test himself at the college level for one season.

“We still have the normal drills we’ve done,’’ Pudrith said, “but the approach is enjoyable. It was before, but he’s got a few new things he’s brought back from Northridge.”

In 2013, Meusborn was noticeably very frustrated after games. At Northridge in 2014, he learned to deal with that.

“I think I did get a little too frustrated with our players,” Meusborn said. “It sure didn’t help. It was partly my fault. The more frustrated I got, the harder they tried. Being able to step back and being around Coach Moore and the staff, it will help me look at things differently.”

Chatsworth is considered the City title favorite because of its strong pitching staff, led by sophomore Tommy Palomera and junior Josh Garcia. The Chancellors are supposed to play at Burbank on Saturday weather permitting.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer