Date: Monday, April 1, 2002

BASEBALL TEAM WINS 300TH GAME UNDER COACH JOHN CASEY

MEDFORD -- With a 7-2 victory over Bates College on Saturday (Mar. 30), the Tufts University baseball team presented Head Coach John Casey with the 300th victory of his career. A 1980 graduate of Tufts, Casey is in his 19th season as baseball's leader and has an overall record of 300-215-3 for a fine .582 winning percentage.

The Jumbos scored five runs in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and go on to the 7-2 win in the first game of a double-header versus Bates. Junior Dave Martin (Arlington, MA/Arlington) went the distance for the win, allowing just four hits while striking out eight. The Jumbos went on to a sweep with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings in game two. They sit at 8-3-1 overall and 2-0 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division.

Casey, who pitched for the Jumbos from 1978-80, was hired as head coach of the team in 1984. His first win came that year against Suffolk University, 18-8. The Jumbos won the 100th game of his tenure on April 20, 1991 against Trinity, 7-4, in the first game of a double-header. He reached 200 wins in a 21-4 blowout over Colby-Sawyer on April 14, 1997. Casey was ranked 46th on the all-time NCAA Division III wins list entering the season with 293. Forty-four coaches in the history of Division III baseball had reached 300 wins prior to this spring.

The Tufts baseball team won four ECAC New England championships under Casey (1989, 1994, 1996, 1997). NESCAC teams are no longer eligible for the ECACs due to league policy. The 1995 Jumbos played in the NCAA Tournament, and last year's team reached the inaugural NESCAC championship game. All-American pitcher Jeff Taglienti, who pitched for Casey from 1994-97, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and now pitches in the Cincinnati Reds system.

A native of nearby Jamaica Plain, Casey lives in Milford with his wife, Diane, and four sons. He is a member of New England's Division III Selection and All-Star committees, and is secretary-treasurer of the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association. He was recently promoted to Assistant Athletic Director at his alma mater in addition to his coaching duties.

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