Lowell (San Francisco, Calif.) baseball coach John Donohue couldn't help getting a little emotional Friday.
After all, winning 600 games at anything takes a lot of living.
Donohue being interviewed after 2007 Section title.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
"I can say with all honestly that when I started this thing I never even fathomed 600 wins," he said by phone on Friday.
Donohue picked one spectacular destination to claim the milestone.
"Mahalo," he said after we congratulated him for his team's 8-4 victory over Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii) in the 17th Stanley Costales Jr. Memorial Tournament on the campus of University of Hawaii Hilo.
The victory came one day after Lowell opened the all-wooden bat tournament and the season with a 4-0 loss to Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii).
Friday's victory gave Donohue No. 600 (against 335 defeats) that according to the latest CalHiSports.com record book puts him No. 16 on the career California list.
Only three others above him - Cordova's (Rancho Cordova) Guy Anderson,Rancho Bernardo's (San Diego) Sam Blalock and Lakewood's Walter O'Neil - were still even coaching heading into last season.
The leader, El Segundo's John Stevenson, with 1,059, recently passed away just before starting this, what would have been his 42nd season.
Donohue met Stevenson at the San Diego Lions Tournament last spring.
"I told him I would never be able to catch him," Donohue said. "He couldn't be more gracious. A real class act."
The same, of course, could be said of Donohue, whose team raised most of the $16,000 needed to make the trip to Hawaii.
The Cardinals, who returned 10 seniors from last year’s 17-14 squad, used a four-hitter by Nate Gilchrist and a key three-run double by Nick Tam to take Friday’s victory.
Lowell celebrates 2007 title at AT&T Park.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
It was the team’s 235th win against just 18 defeat since 1995. Donohue has helped Lowell claim 11 San Francisco Section titles since he took over in 1983.
“We went 6-9-1 (in league) that first year and didn’t make the playoffs,” Donohue said. “We’ve got there (the playoffs) every year since.”
He wouldn’t have, he said, if not the support of a loyal staff, enthusiastic parents and of course, a dedicated group of players.
A couple of former players help assist now, Daryl Semian (class of 1987) and Emil DeAndreis (2004), the later who actually earned a scholarship to Hawaii Hilo.
“He’s shown the players all the best spots on the island,” Donohue said.
Donohue also credited longtime assist David Lopez, who stepped down after 25 years recently to watch his son Matt Lopez, a star player at St. Ignatius (San Francisco, Calif.), finish his high school career.
The first person Donohue called Friday was another assistant and strength and conditioning coach, Romeo Aurelio, who couldn’t make the trip.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without any of this without so much love and support,” Donohue said. “I couldn’t have got through two heart attacks and three knee surgeries either.”
Making the historic win all the more meaningful was that his brother Mike Donahue, an All-Leaguer for Salesian in 1979, and nephew Danny Donahue also made the trip.
“It was a great day and a great win to get No. 600,” John Donahue said. “But a better one will be No. 601.”
Lowell's 2007 dog pile at AT&T Park crystalizes Donohue's brillant 28-year career thus far.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
That actually came the following day, 2-1 over Maui for the consolation title.
"I think it's time to stop counting now," Donohue said.
Until he gets to 700.
