Spring Break
Column: Schmitz approaching milestone
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
Eastern head baseball coach Jim Schmitz could win his 400th career Eastern game this weekend against Murray State.
Schmitz, the winningest coach in Eastern's history (399-374 in 15 years), won No. 399 when the Panthers beat Chicago State on Wednesday.
When Schmitz reached his 500th career win against Tennessee Tech in 2007, he tried to downplay it.
"I love college baseball," Schmitz told The Daily Eastern News, who was the head coach at Wilmington College, a Division III school in Ohio, from 1984-86, and at Cincinnati from 1987-90. "You learn about young men and what they can do. There have been a lot of fun wins along the way and a lot of losses."
Schmitz is 563-535 in 22 years of coaching.
He knows how to win with a little and a lot.
He has been the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year three times and has led the Panthers to OVC Tournament Championships and a spot in the NCAA Regionals twice.
The Panthers (19-5, 5-0 OVC) are off a to a good start in the league, and can help Schmitz add more wins to his total.
And the Panthers only need to win one game against the Thoroughbreds this weekend. The Panthers won two of three last season.
And with Eastern's hot bats, getting one win looks possible.
The 'Breds (18-9) are on a two-game losing steak including a 9-1 loss in 10 innings to Southern Illinois Carbondale in Murray, Ky.
The Panthers have a chance to get the win for Schmitz this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.
Fans should get a chance to show Schmitz their appreciation at home.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
Schmitz, the winningest coach in Eastern's history (399-374 in 15 years), won No. 399 when the Panthers beat Chicago State on Wednesday.
When Schmitz reached his 500th career win against Tennessee Tech in 2007, he tried to downplay it.
"I love college baseball," Schmitz told The Daily Eastern News, who was the head coach at Wilmington College, a Division III school in Ohio, from 1984-86, and at Cincinnati from 1987-90. "You learn about young men and what they can do. There have been a lot of fun wins along the way and a lot of losses."
Schmitz is 563-535 in 22 years of coaching.
He knows how to win with a little and a lot.
He has been the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year three times and has led the Panthers to OVC Tournament Championships and a spot in the NCAA Regionals twice.
The Panthers (19-5, 5-0 OVC) are off a to a good start in the league, and can help Schmitz add more wins to his total.
And the Panthers only need to win one game against the Thoroughbreds this weekend. The Panthers won two of three last season.
And with Eastern's hot bats, getting one win looks possible.
The 'Breds (18-9) are on a two-game losing steak including a 9-1 loss in 10 innings to Southern Illinois Carbondale in Murray, Ky.
The Panthers have a chance to get the win for Schmitz this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.
Fans should get a chance to show Schmitz their appreciation at home.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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