Barrington's Peterson picks up win No. 500

Twenty-three years ago, then a junior at Prospect High School, Perry Peterson asked his physical education teacher if he could be his assistant for the freshman softball team.

A curious Bruce Bazsali's first question to Peterson was if his girlfriend was a freshman softball player.

Peterson, who was a member of the school's varsity basketball team, went on to explain that that was hardly the case.

"I told him 'no, no, no,' " Peterson said. "I told him my sister (Pam) had played on a lot of travel softball teams, and hence, I knew a little something about the game.

"I just told him the truth. I said I didn't play baseball in the spring but wanted to be a part of his team since I had worked with some of the players and their travel coaches on my sister's team."

Bazsali liked the answer and the rest is history.

That freshman team, with Peterson serving as the first base coach and Bazsali third, went 17-0 in 1986.

The next year, Bazsali was promoted as the varsity softball coach and Peterson served as a volunteer assistant coaching first base.

He did the did that for the next three years, flying or driving home from Indiana University where he graduated in 1991.

The Knights won the Mid-Suburban South every one of those years.

When Bazsali left in 1990 to become the head football coach at Elk Grove High School, Peterson served as a volunteer assistant for Prospect's new softball coach Dave Jacobson.

In 1992, the late St. Viator athletic director Bob Artman hired Peterson three weeks before the season to be his varsity softball coach.

Peterson, just 22 years old, guided the Lions to 16 wins (their most in school history at the time) and to their only regional final appearance.

Barrington athletic Bob Carpenter was quite impressed.

He hired Peterson as his varsity coach the very next year to replace Hall of Famer Pam Devins, who had built a strong Fillies program.

Peterson hardly ruined its reputation.

In fact, with Wednesday's 6-2 victory over Zion-Benton for the Fillies fourth championship in five year of its Spring Fling tourney, Peterson became only the 15th coach in high school softball state history to compile 500 wins.

The all-time leader is Randy Wolken of St. Joseph Ogden, who's won 721 games (194 losses) since 1980. Elk Grove's Ken Grams (645 wins in 28 seasons) is the only other MSL coach with 500 or more wins.

Peterson, a physical education teacher at Barrington Middle School-Station Campus, joined the 500 club in his 18th season and his record stands at 500-121.

Carpenter made the hour drive from Flossmoor to see the man he hired for the job reach the milestone.

Barrington associate principal Paul Gillette and athletic director Mike Obsuszt ordered black T-shirts that had a big red "500" emblazoned on the front to recognize the accomplishment.

"I just had so much confidence in him," Carpenter said. "He has as much enthusiasm now as he did 17 years ago. And that's what you look for in a coach.

"Obviously there, has been a lot of talent and support from assistants, fans and parents, but Perry is an infectious guy. I don't know of one game where he has ever been out-coached."

Even in his milestone triumph Wednesday, Peterson had a call reversed at first base when he asked the umpires to check the rule book.

"All the credit goes to him," said senior center fielder Lindsey Dulla. "He is the greatest coach. He puts all the work into this for us, He works 24-7."

"Coach P is so organized," said all-area pitcher Kim Cygan, who tossed a 6-hitter Wednesday to improve to 3-0. "He has every practice planned down to the minute. Every practice, he pushes us to be our best and he won't let us settle for anything less."

Under Peterson, the Fillies have won an unprecedented nine Mid-Suburban League titles and he has guided them to six of the school's seven state finals trips, the most of any MSL team.

They were second in the Class 4A tournament a year ago.

"Because coach is so competitive and because this is his favorite time of the year, it makes us equally competitive and makes this our favorite part of the year," said senior left fielder Kelsey Kuhn. "I don't think people even realize how much he puts into it."

Over the years, Peterson had only two other base coaches other than longtime current first base coach Jon Sander. The others are Babbi Barreiro and Joe Sanchez, who were both on hand Wednesday.

The Sander and Freese families have certainly had their share in the success.

The Sanders (Dennis, Sarah, Jon, Becky and Emma) have been a part of 484 wins.

Brian Freese and Randi Freese are springtime assistants in the program and their father Mike works in the summer with the program.

"I have been blessed over the years to work with really talented, hardworking athletes who come from a quality family setting," Peterson said. "And that makes all the difference in the world when you ask for the commitment that we're looking for."

Sophomore Colleen Shandley (3-for-4) helped spark the offense by reaching safely via the bunt three times. Classmate Kiersten Tinkoff had an RBI double and Dulla an RBI single. Cygan (triple) and freshman Kelsey Kazmier (double) also had extra base hits.

"Life is much different today than when I was first getting into this," Peterson said. "Today, life revolves around my wife (Jennifer), my eight-year old daughter (Kendall) and our family commitments."

But Peterson will forever be committed to Barrington softball.