Baseball program, Podbelski reach 300th win in 10-year varsity history

May 4, 2007

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College baseball program and head coach Eric Podbelski, the program's lone skipper during its 10-year varsity history, reached their 300th win during Friday afternoon's 11-1 non-conference victory at the University of Southern Maine. Believed to be one of the quickest to hit the milestone in NCAA Division III history, the Lyons entered this spring with 270 wins.

Podbelski, who is a native of nearby Plymouth, joined two other Wheaton coaches who reached major win plateaus during the academic year, as softball's Gina Loudenburg posted her 500th victory on April 14 and men's soccer's Matt Cushing hit number 200 during the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament on November 5.

Recently voted NEWMAC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in the league's nine-year history, Podbelski led his junior varsity team to a 12-4 record in 1997 before guiding the Lyons to a 23-12 mark and an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament appearance during the program's initial varsity spring in 1998. His Wheaton teams have compiled a 300-120-4 (.712) record under his direction, participating in six NCAA Tournaments, including advancing to the national title game last May. The Lyons earned an automatic bid to their seventh NCAA Tournament last weekend.

Listed as the 17th-winningest team of the 2000s by percentage, Wheaton advanced to the NCAA Tournament New England Regional championship games in 2002, 2005 and 2006 during Podbelski's tenure. The Lyons have also captured all nine NEWMAC regular season crowns and eight of the nine conference tournament championships. Wheaton won the tournament title for the third consecutive spring and has posted an astounding 118-21 all-time record during the conference's regular season and tournament play, including a 92-16 standing against regular season competition.

Through nine seasons, Podbelski has accumulated the 13th-highest winning percentage among active Division III baseball coaches. Following this season, Podbelski will qualify for the all-time categories for wins and percentage, as a minimum of 10 seasons is required.

The Brandeis University graduate has earned the region's top coaching honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA). Podbelski picked up the ABCA award in 2006 and garnered NEIBA laurels in 2001, 2002 and 2006, earning him a coaching position at the NEIBA All-Star game at Boston's Fenway Park.

Wheaton All-Time Coaching Wins List

Name	Sport	Years (Seasons)	Record
Gina Loudenburg	Softball	1990-current (18)	505-188-3
Eric Podbelski	Baseball	1998-current (10)	300-120-4
Lynn Miller	W. Tennis	1980-current (27)	270-195-2
Gina Loudenburg	W. Volleyball	1990-2000 (11)	244-153
Del Malloy	W. Basketball	1984-1997 (13)	207-129
Matt Cushing	M. Soccer	1994-current (13)	200-52-22

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