Lee Center, NY – For the first five innings of tonight’s District V American Legion Baseball game at Lee American Legion, it looked like Whitestown Post Head Coach Paul Engelhart and the numerous friends and family in attendance were going to have to wait to celebrate the longtime coach’s 400th career win.
Lee Post held a 2-0 advantage over Whitestown, when, in the top half of the sixth inning, David Camerota drew a leadoff walk, stole 2nd base and later came around to score to make it 2-1. After pinch hitter Jimmy Bushey reached on an infield error, Ryan Humphrey stepped in and laced a 2 RBI double through the left side of the infield, scoring pinch runner Steven Schmidt and Matt Yozzo to put Whitestown on top 3-2.
Starting pitcher Jack Acquaviva took over from the there, shutting down Lee over the final two frames, completing a 10 strikeout performance and improving Whitestown’s season record to (18-4) overall and (14-4) in District V play. Lee Post fell to (5-13).
Coach Engelhart was joined by several members of his family after notching win #400
Tonight’s win was the 400th career American Legion Baseball win for Post 1113’s Head Coach, Paul Engelhart, who was greeted after the game by his wife, Doreen and several members of his family and all four grandchildren. Commemorative tee shirts were also presented to the coaches and players through the generosity of the team parents.
Engelhart’s career began in 1999 and he has averaged more than 22 wins per season ever since. Under Engelhart, Whitestown Post has won 8 Division titles, 2 Oneida County and 3 District V Championships. His 2011 team was New York State Champion and finished 2nd in the Northeast that season.
For Coach “Bigs” (aka “Big Mac” a nickname he was given by his players in his first season for his striking resemblance to former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGuire) it really isn’t about the wins, as much as it is about his players. “The players I’ve had the pleasure of coaching really are what’s most important to me” Engelhart told Mid-York Sports immediately after Friday’s win, adding “128 kids have come through this program and 46 of them have played college baseball and I am really proud of each and every one of them”.
Whitestown’s Jack Aquaviva struck out 10 in his complete game win on the hill. (Photo By- Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Engelhart has seen two of his players drafted professionally, most recently Mike Bunal by the Colorado Rockies and before him, Craig Kerner by the Montreal Expos in 2003.
As for how much longer Engelhart plans on steering the Whitestown Post 1113 ball club, the answer to that question was pretty simple. “Well, I’ve got 13 more years until he (pointing at Grandson, Blake, who was feverishly running around the bases at Lee Post field during this interview) is ready to play for me, so at least until he’s done playing I plan on coaching here, I love coaching this team as much as I did when I started 18 years ago, so I’m not going anywhere”.
Congratulations Coach Engelhart on this tremendous coaching milestone and thanks to Coach Lewek, Coach LaManque and Coach Flynn for the invitation to tonight’s big event. Best of luck in the upcoming District V playoffs, where Whitestown will open with Morris-Edwards Post on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Fort Plain.
