Hurons win number 600 for Madsen

Long before any of them were born, their coach was busy coaching winning baseball teams. For 26 years, with Howard Madsen at the helm, the Huron baseball team has put up stellar numbers with only one losing season in that span. Saturday the coach reached a milestone.

The 2007 RCHS baseball team won one, actually two, for their coach Saturday as they won their own tournament and in the process, notched win number 600 for Coach Madsen. Along with the trophy for winning the Rogers City Tournament, the coach received a special poster, signed by all the players, commemorating number 600, and a shower of ice cubes at home plate. Asked what the win meant to him, Madsen said jokingly that it mean he was around a long time.

In addition he said, ?It means I had a lot of really good kids playing for me, I have been very fortunate.?

After defeating Oscoda 12-4 in the opening game, behind the pitching of Nick K

owalski, the Hurons faced Sault Ste. Marie in the championship game. The Blue Devils defeated Posen in round one. Rogers City got all the runs it would need to win number 600 for the coach in the first inning, scoring four times on three hits. Senior centerfielder Tyler Schuiteman doubled, senior catcher Greg Peacock singled, and junior left fielder Scott Kowalewsky doubled to key the rally. They added a run in the third and another one in the fourth. On the defensive side, senior lefty Isaac Freel had the Blue Devil bats under control, limiting the visitors to five hits and two runs while ringing up nine strikeouts.

Last Thursday, a cold rain forced the game with Petoskey to be halted at the end of five innings with the score tied 5-5. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled. Rogers City (6-1-2) plays in Cheboygan Tuesday.