Milestone win for Bluejay skipper Long

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Right fielder Janier Puente is congratulated by head coach Mike Long and assistant Mick Long (21) after throwing out a runner at second base.

CARROLL — Perry baseball head coach Mike Long is fifth among active coaches on Iowa ‘s all-time win list. On Wednesday he reached another career landmark by guiding the Bluejays — the only team he has ever coached — to victory number 700.

The record will show Perry was a 14-3 winner over Carroll in five innings of RRC action. It will also reveal Long needed  just 11 seasons to move from win 500 to triumph 700. He led Perry to second – place finishes at the 1987, ’91 and ’98 state tournaments while also advancing to the state tourney in 2002 and 2004.

Senior Alex Long, grandson of the head coach, tossed all five frames, yielding three runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three. He escaped a first inning jam by fielding a ground ball, firing to second for one out with the throw to first completing the double play.

Javier Puente had a double, two triples and five RBIs to power Perry’s offense. Kade VanKirk had a single, a double, two walks, two runs scored and four driven in, with Brandon Kenyon hitting a single, a double and a triple while scoring three times to highlight a 15-hit attack.

Perry visits Boone tonight before hosting Knoxville Friday.

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