Toronto’s Perkins gets win No. 400
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TORONTO -- Every win is nice, however, a milestone victory is really special.
The Toronto baseball team and head coach Brian Perkins had one of those special victories against Oak Glen.
The Red Knights plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning and did not look back en route to shutting out the Golden Bears, 8-0, Wednesday night at the Knight Baseball Complex.
The win was Toronto's seventh of the season, and it was career win No. 400 for Perkins.
"The kids played really well," Perkins said. "We have very good approaches at the plate. Filby pitched a heck of a game, and played good defense behind him."
The boys from the Gem City won their first five games of the season before losing for the first time Saturday. Toronto bounced back from the loss to Triway to defeat United Monday at home before defeating the Oak Glen.
"We had one bad inning against Triway in the Prep Baseball Complex," Perkins said. "We got better that day. Playing really good competition makes you better. We always take that approach. We have been able to win our last couple of games."
The inclement weather has impacted many games so far this season. The Red Knights and Golden Bears were originally scheduled to play up at Oak Glen, however, the game got moved down to Toronto this afternoon.
"I'm just happy when we can get outside and play," Perkins said.
Aiden Fliby picked up the win on the mound for Toronto (7-1). Filby struck out six and walked four in his six innings of work. Cole Barcus pitched the seventh. Barcus struck out three and walked one.
The boys from Hancock County used two pitchers in the game.
Josh Maher started and took the loss for the Golden Bears. Maher pitched four innings. He did not record a strikeout while walking two. Bryce Cooper pitched the final two innings. Cooper did not record a strikeout and walked three.
After scoring three runs in the first, the hosts scored three more in the fourth before tacking on two more in the fifth.
Offensively, Toronto outhit Oak Glen, 7-2.
Filby led the way offensively for the Red and White with a single, two doubles and two RBI. Also, Blake Close collected a single and an RBI, Dom Bouscher, Russ Dickinson and Nolan Dickinson all tallied a base hit and Barcus contributed an RBI.
Cam Carter doubled for the Golden Bears, while Maher recorded a single.
"I think they did," Perkins said asked if his players knew about the milestone before the game. "After the game, Blake Close – the first baseman – flipped me the ball. It meant a lot to me coming from one our seniors. It is nice that they were able to share in it. It was a special evening."
Following the game, Perkins was able to reflect on his career up to this point.
"After the game, I sat down and I thought about it," Perkins said. "It means a lot. Looking back and reflecting on my career, I have been fortunate to have coached a lot of great players, and I have been blessed to work with a lot of great coaches throughout my career. It is very special. It has allowed me to take a trip down memory lane which was fun."
Perkins has spent the last 31 years coaching at Toronto.
Perkins is a 1989 graduate of East Liverpool, and he went on to play four years of baseball at West Liberty.
"I was a part of the 1990 team that made it to the College World Series," Perkins said. "West Liberty has only made it twice. It was pretty cool to do be able to do that."
Perkins began his career at Toronto as an assistant coach before taking over the program from Matt Morrison. Perkins has been the head coach of the Red Knights since 2005.
"It was my first job," Perkins said about coaching at Toronto. "It was my first job right out of college, and I have never left."
When he was younger, Perkins dreamed of being a teacher and a coach, and he has been living his dream for the past 31 years.
"I have always had a passion for athletics," Perkins said. "I always wanted to have an impact on kids. Even going back to high school, I knew I wanted to coach and to be a teacher. I am fortunate to be able to live my dream. So far, it has been a great time."
Some things have changed in the past 31 years, while some others have not.
"The game is the same," Perkins said. "The kids are the same. I am fortunate to have been able to spend my career at Toronto. They understand me. The kids know what to expect. I have been fortunate to have been able to coach a lot of great kids. It has been a great experience being a part of the Toronto community and schools."
Perkins learned a lot about the game from Morrison.
"Matt and I played together at West Liberty, and we started at Toronto at the same time," Perkins said. "I have learned a lot about baseball from Matt Morrison. He still one of my best friend's to this day. Matt Morrison has had a huge impact on my career."
Toronto holds a special place in Perkins' heart.
"If I had to sum it up, I would say it is because of the great support of the school administration and the community," Perkins said about what makes baseball at Toronto so special. "The community embraces baseball. They love the sport. If you come to a game, we always have a pretty good crowd. The main thing is the support we got from the school and the community."
For his career, Perkins is now 400-109.
"I want to thank my wife Jamie, my son Zach and my daughter Camryn," Perkins said. "They share me with Toronto. They understand everything I have to do. I couldn't do what I do without them. They are very important."
Perkins has been surrounded by a lot of great players and coaches throughout his career, and those players and coaches have been instrumental in all of his success on the diamond.
"I have been fortunate to have been coached by and to have worked with a lot of great coaches," Perkins said. "Their support and their loyalty means a lot to me. I have been with a lot of great coaches through the years. I have been fortunate to have their support and their loyalty. My success is because of them."
Weather permitting, Toronto is scheduled to play Boardman at 5 p.m. today at home.
Oak Glen is slated to play county rival Weir at 5 p.m. Friday on the road.
Toronto 8, Oak Glen 0
Oak Glen 000 000 0 – 0 2 3
Toronto 300 320 X – 8 7 1
OAK GLEN (2-8): Maher LP (4IP, 6R, 6H, 0K, 2BB), Cooper (2IP, 2R, 1H, 0K, 3BB) and Chappell. Maher S; Carter D
TORONTO (7-1): Filby WP (6IP, 0R, 2H, 6K, 4BB), Barcus (1IP, 0R, 0H, 3K, 1BB) and McGrath. Filby S, 2D, 2RBI; Do. Bouscher S; R. Dickinson S; Close S, RBI; N. Dickinson S; Barcus RBI