Elk Lake players celebrate with coach Tony Blaisure after he achieved his 400th win with the Warriors on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS MORAHAN
BY MARTY MYERS
Times-Shamrock Writer
He credits his players for the accomplishment, but Elk Lake softball coach Tony Blaisure has had more than a small hand in it.
With Thursday’s 10-0, five-inning win over Western Wayne, Blaisure celebrated his 400th coaching victory, just three games into his 26th season at the Susquehanna County school.
“As I look at it, to win 400 games and only lose 100, that’s saying something special about all the kids I’ve had,” Blaisure said. “I’ve got to thank all the kids and players who have played for me, my assistant coaches, especially Mike Murphy for the last 15 years, and also my wife, Terry, for allowing me to coach this long.
“When you get good people to support you and be around you, it makes the job a lot easier.”
So does having a system that has sent dozens of players on to successful college softball careers.
Coach Tony Blaisure talks with players during Elk Lake’s 10-0 win over Western Wayne on Thursday where Blaisure hit the 400th coaching win milestone. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS MORAHAN
“They are all special teams in their distinct way,” Blaisure said. “Each year you have a variety of kids with different levels of talent.
“You try to blend them together as a unit as best you can. You hope they believe in what you are telling them, and fortunately for me for 26 years, my kids have believed in the system.”
In return, Blaisure has believed in them, a relationship that has sent Elk Lake to the district or state playoffs in each of the past 25 seasons.
“Fortunately,” Blaisure said, “my kids have given me an easy job to do.”
Be the first to comment on "Elk Lake’s Blaisure earns 400th win"