Baseball: Taft beats Chatsworth for first time since 1998

When former Westlake Coach Chuck Berrington, left, took over as baseball coach at Woodland Hills Taft three years ago, people told him he'd never be able to build a winning program.

Well, Berrington's rebuilding project finally is taking shape after the Toreadors stunned City Section power Chatsworth, 2-1, Friday in a West Valley League game that ended in the ninth inning on Cody deSpain's two-out RBI single. It was Taft's first win over Chatsworth since 1998.

Junior left-hander Ryan Santhon, one of the most underrated pitchers in the City, struck out 10 in eight innings for Taft.

"I told them going in, 'Until we beat Chatsworth, we're nothing,'" Berrington said. "Afterward, I told them everybody has to look at us. We're for real."

Taft had four freshmen and two sophomores in its lineup. It was Chatsworth's first league loss since 2006.

-- Eric Sondheimer

-- Image by Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Taft Baseball Booster]

I couldnt believe the lack of sportmanship,character,and leadership that the Chatsworth High School Baseball team and coaches (Tom) displayed after being defeated by the up and coming Taft baseball team on Friday afternoon. The trash talking by Chatsworth during the game, as well as the helmet,clip board, and glove throwing display after the loss were disturbing to watch. Chatsworths sense of entitlement only goes to show you that city championshipship can go to your head. Chuck Berrington and his staff at Taft are truly doing things the right way. He is grooming fine young men to be good students, good citizens, and good ball players. PS.....Tom please send over your maintence team to repair the dugout your team trashed.

Sincerely,

Proud Taft Baseball Booster

[M. Immken]

I am the Athletic Director at Chatsworth High School and I was the last one to leave the visiting dugout at Taft High School following Friday's game. We at Chatsworth are very mindful of leaving facilities in the same condition that we find them. In other words, we are careful not to leave any equipment or trash behind. If the Booster Club actually stepped into the dugout following the game they would have seen that not one piece of trash was left on the floor and no damage was done to the dugout.

Our team was frustrated after losing a very tough game in extra innings, but their frustration did not prevent them from extending congratulations in the post-game handshake after the game and it certainly did not compel them to do any damage to the dugout that would require a "maintence [sic] team." Coach Berrington has done a remarkable job with the Taft team and with the facilities. I have not seen Taft's field or its team look that good since the early 90s. Santhon pitched a very good game, so please don't take that away from him by spreading erroneous and negative information.

[High School Baseball Watcher]

It is nice to see someone actually call out Chatsworth on their post game behavior. Although they have been the class of the valley, they have never lost very well. Interesting to me that the AD glazes over their behavior and goes to the dugout issues, especially when a handshake after a game is required by the City.

Nice job Taft......

[A taft player]

The Chatsworth team did not show any disrespect when they shook our hands. I think its very hard for the parents on the outside to see that but everything was fine. All the players said good game, nice pitching all that. It was a good game played by all.

[ryansanthon]

The Chatsworth team was not disrespectful when they went through the line. They shook our hands, said good game, good pitching. Parents can't always see from the outside. It was a good game played by all.

[Dustin Glodney]

Wow what a great game, Ryan Santhon was amazing. He is one great pitcher. Way to go Taft.

[Andrew Dungan]

The West Valley League is a tough league and it's great if a school like Taft can build a strong program. Maybe one day the district will start enforcing policies that don't allow recruiting, legal or illegal, to the degree that one team tends to dominate. Without taking away the talent of past Chatsworth players, many of them came from out of the Chatsworth area in order to play on a team with a winning tradition. Recruiting is a gray area that keeps things from being black and white. Maybe this year Chatsworth will have to play with the kids who live in the school area.

[Martin Cooperstone]

I am a grandparent of one of the players on the Chatsworth Baseball team, I have observed the coaches and players for the past 3 years and have never seen them show any other coach or player on another team any disrespect, win or lose. So do not put comments on this site that can not be substantiated. The coaches demand that the players show the same respect to other peoples property just the same as it was their own. So do not take it out on the players for your sour grapes.

[A baseball player]

No sour grapes, we WON!!! One of our own players agreed with you and this back and forth should end.