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 Schiffner Still Stuck On 334 Wins
Chatham Coach Remains On Cusp Of Breaking All-Time Wins Mark

2 August 2007


 


Eric Adler

CHATHAM — Will the third time be a charm?

     John Schiffner hopes so.

     For two straight nights the Chatham A’s coach has tried to break the record for most wins in Cape Cod Baseball League history, and for two straight nights, the legendary manager has been derailed by another Chatham legend: the fog.


Chatham A’s players entertain themselves with a game of catch during Tuesday’s fog delay. The game between the A’s and the Wareham Gateman was postponed. ERIC ADLER PHOTO.

     Schiffner, tied with former Y-D and Wareham Field Manager Don Reed for 334 wins, will get his shot at the record when the A’s host the Bourne Braves today (Thursday) at 7 p.m. That game is a remake of Monday’s match, which was postponed after heavy fog rendered the game unplayable after less than three full innings. 

     The infamous fog reared its ugly head at Veterans Field again on Tuesday night, a half hour before the scheduled first pitch between the A’s and Wareham Gatemen.

     So dense was Tuesday’s fog that it became hard at times, even for those with 20/20 vision, to view the bright lights on the electronic scoreboard in left centerfield. 

     For Schiffner, who notched win number 334 on Friday (prior to last weekend’s Cape League All-Star game break), the tension is mounting. 

     “It’s starting to get annoying, it’s starting to get frustrating and it’s starting to get me testy,” said Schiffner, whose A’s (21-13-3, 45 points) hold a slim advantage over Brewster (19-16-3, 41 points) in the race for the one and only wildcard spot. “It’s not about my win. My only concern is to play so that these guys continue to keep their edge, because I think they’re capable of making the playoffs. With us being idle, this is an opportunity for Brewster to gain two more points on us, and we can’t do a thing about it.”

     Wareham General Manager John Wylde eased some of Schiffner’s stress with a comedic anecdote about the adventures that sometimes happen to those who are trying to etch their name into the history books. 

     “John told me it took Don Reed a long time to get his record breaking win and that they were following him around for three days with a cake. When he finally won the game, they cut the cake and it broke in half,” said Schiffner, laughing.

     Schiffner, who as a player and a coach has given many years to the Cape League, was well aware that beating the very team Reed coached to get the record would’ve been significant. But alas, it was not in the cards. 

     “It would be a strange changing of the guard if I did beat the record of Don Reed today, and there’s something in that that would’ve been kind of cool,” said Schiffner. “That’s not to slap Wareham or Don Reed in the face, because I think even old Donny would say ‘that’s pretty good.’ But there’s no question somebody did not want me to get it today. But no one’s ever gone 0-44, so if I don’t get it this year, I think I can get it next year. My win will come.” 

     Editor’s Note: Tuesday’s game will be made up on Monday at 11 a.m. Both teams agreed on that time to accommodate Wareham pitching coach Ryan Beggs, who is getting married at 7 p.m. in Wareham that day. Wareham coach Cooper Farris is Beggs’ best man. 
 


 


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