Coaches Say Their Presence at Practice Was Coincidental

Two City Section baseball coaches whose teams were ruled to have held illegal practices and were forced to forfeit games insist that they merely were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Chatsworth and Kennedy highs each forfeited games Wednesday after it was learned that coaches from the schools were present Sunday during player workouts.

By order of the City Section, Chatsworth forfeited to Cleveland and Kennedy to Taft.

Chatsworth assistant Steve Thompson admitted that he was present at the team workout, but he insisted that his actions were spontaneous. Thompson, a student-teacher, said he had dropped by campus to do some paperwork and walked to the baseball diamond to greet the players.

Thompson estimated that he was near the baseball diamond for “15-20 minutes.” Thompson, a walk-on who is in his third season at Chatsworth, was seen giving instruction to players--a violation. Players are allowed to practice on Sundays but not with coaches in attendance.

Chatsworth players also were using the school batting cage, which normally is kept locked. Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn said he did not know how the players opened the cage but said that youth leagues also use the cage and that several people have access to it.

Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado maintained that he was at the school diamond throwing batting practice to his 12-year-old son when a group of Kennedy players showed up. Alvarado continued to throw to several of his players.

Meusborn and Alvarado met with school officials Wednesday and said that no further disciplinary action was taken.