HISTORY OF PITTSBURG HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

1977

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 11-5

5A-3A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 4 – Blue Valley 3

Ward 13 - Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Phil Alex, Eric Amoneno, Mike Howard and Terry Swartz

The Pittsburg High School Purple Dragons played their first high school baseball game on March 31, 1977 at JayCee Ballpark. Terry Swartz was the winning pitcher as Pittsburg beat Miami, OK, 7-4.

1978

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 6-11

5A-3A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 4 – Turner 1

SM South 4 - Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Kent Brumbaugh, Steve Dickey, David Earnes, Jim Herman, Rusty Kiipman, Mickey Scoles, Rick Webb and Ron Wierderman

1979

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 9-10

6A-5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 7 – Winfield 0

Ark City 2 - Pittsburg 0

Seniors: Craig Cicero, Bill Phalen, Ted Robinson, Jerry Swartz and John VanZant

1980

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 14-7

6A-5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Coffeyville 4 – Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Jeff Elliott, Todd Sandness, Bill Shute, Steve VanZant and Gareth Waltrip

1981

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 8-13

6A-5A Regional: 2^nd Place Ark City 6 - Pittsburg 5

Seniors: John Cicero, Mike DickDickey, Mike Griggs, Greg Hardister, Jim Iori, Paul Marquez, Claude Reno, Wes Robinson, Scott Titmus and Kelly Vaughn

1982

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 10-10

6A-5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Winfield 18 - Pittsburg 11

Seniors: Jeff Kabance, Jeff Kavanaugh, Kip Nield, Kraig Oertle, John Holmes and Ernie Vaughn

1983

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 16 -8

6A-5A Regional: Chamapions Pittsburg 4 – Coffeyville 0

Pittsburg 10 – SM West 2

6A-5A State: 4^th Place Wichita NW 5 - Pittsburg 0

Newton 10 – Pittsburg 3

Seniors: Steve Belfield, Don Blessant, Steve Estes, J. D. Fisher, Dan Lundberg and Jeff Weston

1983 Marked the first State Tournament Appearance for the Purple Dragons, placing 4^th

in the 6A-5A State Tournament.

1984

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 13-5

6A-5A Regional: 2^nd Place Ark City 2 – Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Todd Biggs, Phil Holsinger, Jeff Kabance, Kraig Oertle, Robert Russian, Roger Vaughn and Aaron Waltrip

1985

Head Coach: Dennis Watson

Record: 9-8

6A-5A Regional: Chamapions Pittsburg 15 – Derby 8

Pittsburg 6 – Ark City 5

6A-5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Wichita South 3 - Pittsburg 2

Seniors: Steve Simoncic and Pat Cedeno

Dennis Watson resigned as Purple Dragon baseball coach after the 1985 season. His

nine year record was 98-77 (.560 winning percentage) with two 6A-5A Regional

Championships and a 4^th place State finish in 1983.

1986

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 13-9

6A-5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 11 – Derby 1

Ark City 5 – Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Eric Baumann, Joe Beitzinger, Chris Chenowith, Jamie Giles, Craig Marshall, Scott Seibert and John Butler.

Longtime assistant coach, Mike Wilbert, became the head coach of the Purple Dragon Baseball team in 1986. He lead the Dragons to a 13-9 record and 2^nd place in the Regional Tournament in his first year as head coach.

1987

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 17-4

6A-5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 8 – Winfield 0

Ark City 5 – Pittsburg 4 (8 Innings)

Seniors: Eric Bitner, Tim Casper, Tim Keller and Scott Pullan

The 1987 Purple Dragon’s record of 17-4 was the best overall record (.809 winning percentage) and most wins in a season (17).

1988

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 17-4 Overall, 6-0 SEK League

SEK League: Champions

6A-5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 11 – Independence 0

Pittsubrg 4 – Parsons 2

6A-5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Lawrence 6 – Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Chris Carter, Kevin Cofer, Rob Cicero, Mike Hensley, Lance Hutchins, Matt McLane, Steve Meeks and Brian Pinamonti.

The 1988 Purple Dragons posted a 17-4 overall record, identical to the 1987 team. The Purple Dragons were, also, undefeated in the first-ever SEK League and thus were crowned as the first SEK League Champions.

1989

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 14-7 Overall, 8-2 SEK League

SEK League: Co-Champions

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 10 – Miege 0

5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Hays 4 – Pittsburg 2

Seniors: Brian Beitzinger, Todd Casper, Barry Coleman, Mike Gronau, Dave Harrison, Brett Misse and Tracy Noel.

1990

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 14-3 Overall, 7-1 SEK League

SEK League: Co-Champions

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 8 – Miege 2

Pittsburg 4 – Blue Valley 1

5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Newton 3 – Pittsburg 1

Seniors: Josh Gardner, Brian Hutchins, Craig Jameson, Eric Miller, Brad Stanley and Buddy Rasnic.

The Dragons were ranked 1^st in 5A on May 8,1990, with a record of 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the SEK League.

1991

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 10-10 Overall, 7-7 SEK League

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Ft Scott 8 – Pittsburg 2

Seniors: J. D. Beitzinger, Curt Frazier, Brian Pasteur and Kent Shorten.

1992

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 10-11 Overall, 8-6 SEK League

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Independence 5 – Pittsburg 2

Seniors: Jerry Brooksher, Brad Franchione, Jason Coots, Craig Ward, Chris Ratzlaff and Jeremy Saparito.

1993

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 7-13 Overall, 6-8 SEK League

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Coffeyville 3 – Pittsburg 0

Seniors: Matt Bourn, Zach McDaniel, Scott Sheets and Jon White.

1994

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 14-8 Overall, 11-3 SEK League

SEK League: Co-Champions

5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 6 – Ft Scott 0

Independence 7 – Pittsburg 3

Seniors: R. J. Forth, Marc Mishmash, Mike Russell and Jason Wilderman.

1995

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 17-6 Overall, 12-2 SEK League

SEK League: Co-Champions

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 12 – Coffeyville 2

Pittsburg 8 – Independence 4

5A State Tied for 3^rd Pittsburg 6 – Maize 1

Great Bend 12 – Pittsburg 2

3^rd Place Game cancelled, rain.

Seniors: Curt Divel, Kevin Hunt, Will Miller, Mike Salmons, Johnny Vietti, Kris Loy, Trent Wallace and Pat Walker.

The 1995 Dragon’s 17-win season tied a team record for the most wins in single season durning the 19-year history of PHS Baseball. The third place finish in the state tournament was the highest finish in the 19-year history of the PHS Baseball program.

1996

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 7-8-1 Overall, 5-6-1 SEK League

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Independence 5 – Pittsburg 1

Senior: Thomas Casper

1997

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 14-8 Overall, 11-3 SEK League

SEK League 2^nd Place

5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 7 – Coffeyville 1

Independence 5 – Pittsburg 3 (8 innings)

Seniors: Eric Bernhardt, Tim Clow, Sean Pistole, Chris Ward, Kenny Womble and Ryan Rhuems.

1998

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 7-14 Overall, 5-9 SEK League

5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 7 – Independence 4

Ft Scott 9 – Pittsburg 0

Seniors: Chris Polsak, Mark Broyles, Josh Lawson Matt Hellwig, Jeff Keller, Rowdy Susnik and Jeff Untereker.

1999

Head Coach: Mike Wilbert

Record: 11-10 Overall, 8-4 SEK League

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 10 – Independence 0

Pittsburg 5 – Ft Scott 1

5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Salina South 11 – Pittsburg 9

(10 innings)

Seniors: Nathan Swartz, Brett Dunbar, Adam Meier, Seth Tomassi, Jared Turnbull and Larry Williams.

Mike Wilbert resigned as Purple Dragon baseball coach after the 1999 season. Coach Wilbert had been associated with Purple Dragon Baseball since its inception – nine years a assistant cosch and 14 years as head coach. His 14 record was 172-115-1 for a .600 winning percentage.

2000

Head Coach: Chuck Haake

Record: 13-8 Overall, 11-3 SEK League

SEK League: 2^nd Place

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Independence 3 – Pittsburg 0

Seniors: Matt Peak, John Hall and Greg White.

Chuck Haake resigned as Purple Dragon Baseball coach after the 2000 season. His team was 13-8 in his only year as baseball coach.

2001

Head Coach: Gary Grimaldi

Record: 12-9 Overall, 11-3 SEK League

SEK League: 2^nd Place

5A Regional: Lost in 1^st Round Winfield 8 – Pittsburg 7

Seniors: Todd Allai, John Gorman, Travis Holloway, Tyler Rhuems, Matt Troth and Kyle Van Beceleare.

2002

Head Coach: Gary Grimaldi

Record: 15-7 Overall, 12-2 SEK League

SEK League: 2^nd Place

5A Regional: 2^nd Place Pittsburg 9 – Winfield 8

Ark City 13 – Pittsburg 9

Seniors: Zach Remmich, Jameson Richardson, Andy Smith and Zach Manns.

2003

Head Coach: Gary Grimaldi

Record: 16-6 Overall, 11-3 SEK League

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 13 – Augusta 8

Pittsburg 12 – Paola 2

5A State: Lost in 1^st Round Goddard 6 – Pittsburg 2

(8 innings)

Seniors: Garrett Frosythe, Jordan Garner, Kyle Fowler, Cliff Wheeler and Zach Willis.

PHS was ranked 5^th in the final 5A State Baseball Rankings in 2003.

2004

Head Coach: Gary Grimaldi

Record: 19-6 Overall, 13-1 SEK League

SEK League: Champions 13-1

5A Regional: Champions Pittsburg 15 – Paola 5

Pittsburg 6 – Blue Valley 5

5A State: Third Place Pittsburg 2 – Topeka Shawnee Heights 1

(10 innings)

Great Bend 13 – Pittsburg 0

Pittsburg 9 – Wichita Bishop Carroll 0

Seniors: Jarrad Mitchell, Kyle Robison, Jonathan Ross, Jamie Spencer.

PHS was ranked 3rd in the final 5A State Baseball Rankings in 2004

This was PHS’s best season in school history. It marked the first time the Dragon’s

had 19 wins, and they were 3^rd outright at the state tournament. They had 3 Dragon’s

named to the Class 5A All-State Team and 6 Dragon’s named to the All-SEK Team.

HEAD COACHING RECORDS:

Coach Won Lost Tie Percentage

Dennis Watson 98 77 .560

Mike Wilbert 172 115 1 .600

Chuck Haake 13 8 .618

Gary Grimaldi 62 28 .689

Totals 345 228 1 .602