Tustin baseball coach Charles Chatman, with his players in the background, addresses fans after Wednesday night’s game, his final as the Tillers coach. (Photos Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
Long-time Tustin High School baseball coach Charles Chatman closed the books on one chapter of his career Wednesday night and 24 hours later he was scheduled to begin another as the head baseball coach at a high school in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Chatman said he will able to be a full-time counselor and head baseball coach for Mount Vernon Community High School. In fact, Chatman was scheduled to coach the team Thursday night since the season, which goes through the summer, is under way.
“Weather-permitting, we’ll be playing tomorrow night at 7 o’clock,” Chatman said.
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Chatman who coached at Tustin for nine years, had his final game as Tillers coach Wednesday night. Kennedy held on to win the Empire League game 8-7. After the game Guy Lemmon and Dick Owens of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation praised Chatman’s contributions to Tustin and Orange County baseball.
They pointed out how he was a big supporter of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation and the annual events. The foundation presented Chatman with a framed collage of pictures along with a large shovel, which Owens said will come in handy clearing the snow in Iowa.
Kennedy players and Coach Tom Monahan joined the Tustin players on the field for the ceremony at the Orange County Great Park Stadium.
“I felt blessed, Southern California baseball has been so good to me,” Chatman said after the ceremony. “It has provided me with the opportunity to grow and mature and to become an active participant in the community. I’m just ovewhelmed. It was everything you expect, it would have been nice to win but it was fitting, it was a good baseball game.”
Chatman planned to take a flight early Thursday morning to Iowa where he will live with his family.
“It’s a new chapter, I feel like I’ve done this one justice and I feel like I’ve been invested and all in,” Chatman said. “It’s run it’s course and now it’s time for a new chapter.”
Long-time friend Myron Miller, former football coach at Tustin High, said he was proud to see Chatman’s development over the years.
“He’s a great father and he understands what coaching is all about. California is losing a great man and I know he’s going to have great success,” said Miller, one of the speakers.
“Myron has always been a mentor to me, he’s my dad and I love him,” Chatman said after the event.,
Coaching colleages Mike Cosgrove and Randy Wilson also spoke.
“He’s so humble, I hope he knows the impact he’s made,” Wilson said.
Tustin assistant coach Ben Owens, who also played for Chatman, pointed out how Chatman wanted his players to excel in all aspects.
“Our student athletes will tell you he wanted the best out of them, not just on the baseball field but in the classroom,” Owens said. “For me, I couldn’t be happier to be around him …. I’m hoping that one day I can follow in the footsteps of him and keep this great tradition alive.”
Tustin seniors Daniel Ladd, Joe Alfelor and Charles son, Charles “Tre” Chatman III, Coach Chatman’s son, talked about the support and leadership the coach provided.
“He has been there for me my entire life,” Trey Chatman said. “I honestly wouldn’t be the man I am today without him. I get to see another side of him. I get to see the laughing, joking, fun loving that he doesn’t display most of the time on the baseball field because he has a job to do. But when I see him, I see dad, I don’t see coach any of the time. I’m very happy to get my dad back after playing for him for four years and it was awesome to be at school with him every day and to grow closer to him. Thank you dad.”
Coach Chatman, in his closing remarks, congratulated the Kennedy team.
“I just want to thank everybody who showed up for me and these young ball players. You spend a lifetime trying to do the right things and trying to do what’s best for those people that you’re blessed to be able to come in contact with and I feel that God has blessed me with the ability to be around young people, both in the program and outside the program.
“I look around and see a lot of familiar faces and I’m just humbled by the opportunity and just overwhelmed with the support and I’m just overly grateful and appreciative. Boys, tough season, but you know I love you. To all the former TIllers and current TIllers, and guys who played in So Cal youth baseball, you guys know I love you as well. It’s been a fantastic run and I’m excited for the next opportunity.”
Tustin finished 11-15 overall and 3-7 in the Empire League. No replacement has been announced yet for Chatman.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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