A milestone in Leominster

LEOMINSTER -- Leominster baseball coach Emile Johnson knows records are meant to be broken, but only one person can be the first to a particular milestone.

Senior Zach Gauvin's opposite-field single in the bottom of the eighth inning plated classmate Andrew Quatrale with the winning run as Leominster defeated visiting Worcester Doherty, 6-5, in extra innings yesterday at Doyle Field.

With the win, Johnson -- already the state's winningest coach -- added to his reputation by becoming the first skipper in state history to win 600 games.

The soon-to-be 69-year-old Johnson (his birthday is Tuesday) might soon have company, as North Reading's Frank Carey entered the season with 584 wins, and Chicopee Comprehensive's Dan Dulchinos boasts 592.

''Some young whippersnapper will come along and top us all," said Johnson, a Leominster native who is in his 37th year as head coach.

''It's a nice mark, but marks are meant to be broken. I'll stick around as long as I enjoy the game and the kids are responding. When it's not fun for me to come to the field, and when I'm not getting my point across, that's when it's time to walk away. But right now, I'm enjoying the game."

Johnson won more than 500 games and three state championships (in 1986, 1988, and 1996) before retiring from baseball and teaching after the 1999 season. He returned to the diamond in 2003 and quickly picked up where he left off.

Sprinkle in the 429 victories he accumulated as boys' soccer coach before retiring from that post last year and Johnson has more than 1,000 wins (and that doesn't include his victories as girls' basketball coach).

''You look at him and you think winning," said Gauvin. ''Six hundred wins, that's a lot of wins. He symbolizes winning and he never stops thinking of ways for us to win."

Johnson emphasized opposite-field hitting yesterday. Assistant coach Rich Barnaby joked that Johnson has been preaching that for four decades.

''Even now, he's the most alert guy on the field," said Barnaby, a member of Johnson's 1996 state title team.

Johnson said the milestone gave him another chance to reflect on his career. Not surprisingly with the fiery Johnson, there's one loss that sticks in his craw.

''My first team [in 1969] went undefeated until the district final, where we lost, 2-1, to Shrewsbury," said Johnson. ''There was a guy who was out by 3 feet at first base with two outs, but the umpire called him safe and they got two runs. I remember it like it was yesterday!"

Fortunately, the wins ease the memories of losses. And this Easter, Johnson will remember his 600th as if it were yesterday.