After a 3-13-2 start, the record had "Wait till next year"written all over it. But now that College of St. Francis has won 10of its last 12, coach Gordie Gillespie has revived his chance tobecome college baseball's winningest coach by season's end.
Gillespie is 19 victories away from passing Rod Dedeaux, who won1,332 games at Southern California from 1942-86.
Gillespie, who also coaches football, amassed his victories in24 years at Lewis University and 17 at St. Francis in Joliet.
"Ten days ago, we thought there was no chance," Gillespie said."But the kids are playing well so it's a possibility. It reallyisn't something I think about unless somebody mentions it to me."
Gillespie, who'll celebrate his 67th birthday Thursday, says hewants to coach two more seasons. Pursuit of the record isn't whatkeeps him going.
"The only thing that really matters is that Jesus Christ is notgoing to ask me how many games I won or lost," Gillespie said. "He'sgoing to ask me what kind of man I was. That means family man and anexample as a coach. I know I've lost my temper and said things Ididn't mean, but my biggest thing is that I touched somebody's lifeand made it better."
Gillespie says coaching is still fun. "I coach every game likeit's the seventh game of the World Series," he said.
St. Francis (13-15-2), an NAIA school, has 26 regular-seasongames remaining. Hoffman Estates graduate Paul Chovanec (4-0, 1.93,one save) is the Saints' top pitcher.
MADE TO BE BROKEN II: St. Francis plays host Monday to LewisUniversity, whose coach, Irish O'Reilly, is 18 victories shy ofreaching Gillespie's school record. O'Reilly has 607.
Lewis is bouncing back from a rough start, too. O'Reilly's clubis 13-13 after a 5-11 Florida trip. Center fielder Dennis Krob, aDivision II All-American last season and graduate of Benet Academy,leads the team with a .355 average, two home runs and 14 stolenbases. Mount Carmel graduate Josh Barron (3-1, 1.34 ERA) is Lewis'No. 1 pitcher.
CHICAGO CONNECTION: Creighton has seven Chicago area players,including preseason All-America pitcher Alan Benes, a Lake ForestHigh graduate and brother of San Diego Padres pitcher Andy Benes.Benes won his third consecutive game Saturday after an 0-2 start.Benes, who beat Southern Illinois 2-1, has 10 or more strikeouts ineach of his last four starts and has lowered his ERA to 2.45. Ajunior right-hander, Benes ranks second on Creighton's all-time listfor starts (36) and complete games (15) and is third in victorieswith a 25-8 record.
Sophomore second baseman Jon Dunlop, a Thornwood High graduate,was leading Creighton with four home runs before sustaining adislocated shoulder that will keep him out seven to 10 days. Dunlophas a streak of 124 errorless chances covering 29 games going back tolast season.
Other Bluejays with Chicago ties are pitchers Eric Maloney ofCarmel and Aaron Puffer of Glenbard East, outfielders Eric Dantzlerof Providence and Chris Piggott of Stevenson and catcher A.J.Walkanoff of Zion-Benton.
CONNECTIONS II: Northwestern has familiar names with outfielderMatt Huff, brother of White Sox outfielder Mike Huff; first basemanDale Torborg, son of Mets manager Jeff Torborg; infielder Geoff Will,son of writer George Will, and catcher Tom Sandt, whose father withthe same name is the Pirates' first base coach. Torborg will playagainst Cub manager Jim Lefebvre's son, Ryan, when NU hosts Minnesotain a pair of doubleheaders May 1-2.
CLASSY COMPANY: Junior shortstop Paul Petrulis recently hitthree doubles in a game, joining Rafael Palmiero, Will Clark andBobby Thigpen among those sharing the Mississippi State record.Petrulis, an Oak Park graduate, is batting .304 with two home runsand 11 RBI for Mississippi State (18-6), ranked No. 1 in the nationfor two weeks before dropping to fourth, sixth and seventh in thisweek's national polls. Petrulis, second team all-SoutheastConference as a sophomore, batted a team-high .338 last season.
No comments:
Post a Comment