It's 900 victories and climbing for Beckman's Jenk

DYERSVILLE - If Iowa was like every other state and held its prep baseball season in the spring, there would be one less coach with 900 victories.

"I wouldn't have done it this long," Tom Jenk Jr. said Wednesday afternoon. "They call them the boys of summer for a reason. There's just this unique camaraderie you get with the kids (in the summer). I've coached all the other sports during my time, but there's nothing like baseball."

And nothing like his career. Jenk, 58, won his 900th game Tuesday night in the opener of a Wamac Conference home double-header with Mount Vernon.

He's 900-432 in 37 seasons at the school, leading the Blazers to 12 state tournament appearances and championships in 1986 and 2000. He is the sixth Iowa coach to hit the 900-win mark.

Lansing Kee's Gene Schultz is tops in the nation with 1,666 victories. Four of the top six coaches on the state's victory list are still active: Schultz, Jenk, Decorah's Dennis Olejniczak and Dubuque Wahlert's Jerry Roling.

"Really, it felt the same as all the other wins," Jenk said. "Because whether it's number one or number 900, the goal is the same. That's what you're out there to do - win the game."

Which Beckman has been able to do far more times than not under Jenk. He credited his assistant coaches over the years, which includes his 81-year-old father, Tom Jenk Sr., who still calls all the pitches for games.

His wife, Pam, also gets tons of credit for his success.

"It takes a special wife to be a baseball coach's wife," Jenk said. "I'm like a second-shift worker during the summer. I leave at 2 in the afternoon for the ballpark and get home at midnight."

That's a routine he plans to continue for the forseeable future. Jenk said as long as he can perform the physical tasks of his job (coaching third base, hitting fungoes, etc.), he'll continue to coach.

Well, and as long as Iowa keeps playing baseball in the summer.

"I love my job," Jenk said. "It never feels like work. I love being around the kids.

"As long as I enjoy it, and it doesn't interfere with my family life, I'll keep doing it."

Beckman is 22-14 this season going into its Thursday double-header with Clear Creek-Amana. It begins the Class 2A tournament Saturday night, hosting rival Cascade.

AROUND THE HORN

-- Hard to imagine anyone having a better season than Monticello's Ben Stutt. The senior entered Wednesday second in the state with a .619 batting average and 16 home runs.

West Branch's Logan Murry leads with 17 dingers. Stutt also leads the state with 65 RBIs and a 1.300 slugging percentage, striking out just three times in 87 at-bats.

Maquoketa Valley's Kyle Whitman leads the state with 44 stolen bases in 44 tries.

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