Frizzell Captures 700th Win As Warriors Cruise Past MassBay

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. --- NJCAA Hall of Fame head coach Tom Frizzell earned his 700^th career victory at Massasoit as the Warriors defeated MassBay CC, 19-0 on Thursday afternoon at Bowditch Field.

Frizzell, in his 26^th season guiding the Massasoit baseball program, now owns an overall record of 700-340 following the milestone victory, improving the 2016 version of the Warriors to 10-12.

Under his watch, the veteran skipper has won better than 67 percent of his games, claiming eight Region XXI Titles, five New England District Championships, five trips to the NJCAA World Series, including an NJCAA Division II National Championship in 1993.

In addition, Frizzell has coached 118 All-New England selections, 29 NJCAA All-Americans and was awarded the NJCAA District Coach of the Year award on five occasions.

"When you start coaching you can't even begin to think about the first 100," Frizzell said. "Those came in an absolute blur but I think as you to start to move in terms of wins and losses, you become more concerned with how your team does and how prepared they are. But the reality of the situation is, in the back of your mind, and I don't think there is a coach alive that doesn't have their win-loss total on there.

"Obviously I've been blesses over the years to have so many good players come through the program. As I've said so many times, great players make great coaches. People might say he is a good coach, but I've had really good players and I've had the opportunity to prepare them."

The 700^th win for Frizzell was in hand early for the Warriors as the visitors scored once in the first and then piled on 10 runs over the next two innings to hold a commanding 11-0 lead after three. Massasoit would score at least one run in all six innings of play.

Kevin Huscher (Middleboro) finished a home run shy of cycle as part of a perfect 3-for-3 day with three runs scored and three RBI. Tyler Morini (Plymouth) added two hits and three RBI as the Warriors finished with 15 hits as a club.

Scott Anderson (Hanover) earned the win on the mound, who received more than enough run support. The sophomore right-hander faced one over the minimum in six innings of work. Anderson finished with a career-high nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits and a walk. He retired the final eight batters he faced to secure win No. 700 for Frizzell.

The victory saw 18 of 19 Massasoit players get in the lineup as usual pitchers Mike Nader (Hollywood, Fla.) and Jake Stearns (Plymouth) even cracked base hits for Frizzell in win number 700.

"Today, (the team) did not play down to the level of the competition and what made me happiest is that I got 18 out of 19 players in the game," Frizzell said. "It makes me happy that the members of the team that got me to this point were all able to contribute and that makes it a very special 700."

A model of consistency, the Warriors have posted an above .500 record in 24 of 25 seasons under Frizzell and have qualified for the Region XXI Tournament in every season during his tenure.

"You can't even begin to conceptualize what it means to win 700 games, but what is also means is that I've coaches over 1,000 games. That's where the numbers get difficult to comprehend. As my career has gone on, coaching for 26 years, none of these kids were alive when I started coaching. When you hit a number like 700 that is a very, very special number. More importantly to me is that Massasoit over the course of time has practically won 70 percent of their games they've played in. To me that is the big statistic; it's not the number 700. It's the fact that ever 10 games we've been in the hunt for seven of them."

Frizzell also pointed out, after being doused with a bottle of celebratory champagne, that he wished he could have his players for four years, but is thankful to be able to coach so many excellent kids over his 26 years at Massasoit.

"Wins and losses are great and that's why you do it, but the day I don't care about wins and losses is the day I quit. But the reality of the situation is you care more about the players as individuals and as you get to know them. I've said this 10 times in different interviews over my life, that my only regret is that Massasoit is not a four year school. So that I can bring in a kid as a 17-18 year old freshman and watch them come out as 21-22 year old senior. I just get them for two years and then I send them off, but luckily I get to stay in touch with them. That's my biggest regret is to only have these kids for two years and some of them are such great, great kids and it would be a real pleasure to have them for four," Frizzell said.

The Warriors host Quinsigamond CC on Saturday in a doubleheader set to start at Noon.