Niemeyer reaches 2,000, then adds 1 more

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School team congregates for a photo with head softball coach Larry Niemeyer after the team beat Mid-Prairie during the 2010 Jack North Softball Classic at Hoover High School in Des Moines on Friday, June 18, 2010. Jefferson won, 2-0, giving Niemeyer his 2,000th victory. Also coaching the J-Hawks is his son, Nick Niemeyer (back left) and his daughter, Natalie Niemeyer (not pictured). (Julie Koehn/SourceMedia Group News)

DES MOINES -- Though his record indicates otherwise, Larry Niemeyer says he has won zero games in his softball coaching career.

"Coaches don't win games, and I know people get tired of hearing me say that," he said. "I don't throw the ball for them. I don't hit the ball for them. I don't bunt the ball for them."

Hannah Petersen disagrees.

"Players are the ones that are making plays, but we're showing what coaches teach us," she said.

If that's the case, Niemeyer has taught a lot.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson defeated Mid-Prairie, 2-0, at the Jack North Tournament Friday afternoon at Hoover High School, giving Niemeyer -- the nation's all-time winningest coach -- his 2,000th career victory.

After a 90-minute rain delay, Jefferson blanked Highland, 10-0.

Niemeyer, 72, is 2,001-411 in 50 seasons at Adel and Jefferson.

"That's crazy," said Alex Jacobson, who drove in both Jefferson runs. "That's a lot of softball. A lot of softball."

Niemeyer doesn't recall his first win.

"I have a picture of that team somewhere, but I don't remember who we beat," he said.

Jefferson secured the historic win when shortstop Morgan Allee caught a fly ball in the bottom of the seventh inning. Moments later, she handed Niemeyer the game ball.

Niemeyer shook hands with his son Nick (an assistant coach), got a pat on the back from his daughter Natalie (another assistant coach), then paused for a quick picture with his team. He received a kiss from his wife Gwen as he assembled a lineup for the J-Hawks' next game, against Highland.

"I'm just glad this is over," he said. "There has been so much said about this, I'm sure it has affected the kids and been a distraction."

"We've all been anticipating it," Jacobson said. "We were kind of hoping it would happen at a home game."

A series of rainouts delayed the milestone by about a week, then a thunderstorm Friday morning set it back a few more hours.

Jefferson (14-3) was scheduled to play Ottumwa at 11:30 a.m., but the Bulldogs headed home and Mid-Prairie became Niemeyer's 2,000th victim.

"It's an honor to play for him," said Petersen, who struck out seven in a three-hit shutout. "He's a legend."