LAKEPORT — Gary Pickle isn”t a numbers guy, even if he”s compiled plenty of them during a softball coaching career spanning 17 seasons at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.
When the Cardinals take to the field today in St. Helena to play the Saints, they have the opportunity to achieve two things. Most importantly, a victory in the final league game of the season would give Clear Lake a share of the North Central League I South championship. The Cardinals enter play 6-1 and can equal the 7-1 record posted by St. Vincent of Petaluma.
A win today against the Saints — first pitch is 4 p.m. — also would give Pickle his 300th career victory and his eighth league title since taking over the Clear Lake softball program in 1993.
On the verge of completing his 17th season, Pickle has directed the Cardinals to 16 winning records (counting this year) and 14 playoff appearances going into this season. His career record (see graphic below) is 299-87-3.
What”s that all mean to Pickle?
“I had no idea, I”m not a stats guy,” Pickle told the Record-Bee on Wednesday when asked about being one win shy of 300. “Winning the league title is more important to me.”
“It”s nice,” Pickle said of the impending milestone victory. “It means I”ve had a lot of good coaches and a lot of good players. You can”t win without good players.”
Pickle reached 100 career wins in 1999 and 200 wins in 2004.
