Winkin goes after 500th baseball win at UMaine

Coach John Winkin notched his 800th career win in the University of Maine’s 15-1 win over Boston University on Sunday.

Winkin zeroes in on another milestone Wednesday as he guns for his 500th win at Maine when the Black Bears visit Boston College for a 3 p.m. game.

Winkin, in his 17th season at Maine, has compiled a 499-268-2 record since taking over from Jack Butterfield in 1975.

He had posted a 301-236-5 mark in 20 years at Colby College in Waterville prior to coming to Maine, and Sunday, he became the first New England coach to reach 800 wins (800-504-7).

Winkin said he considers the 500-win mark at Maine a “pretty nice achievement considering the amount of time I’ve been here.”

“The thing that has helped is the increase in the schedule,” said Winkin. “Maine was 15-5 the year before I came.”

With the exception of 1978, when the Bears went 20-9, Winkin’s Maine teams have played from 34-64 games per season. His Maine teams have won 30 or more games on eight occasions and have won 29 twice.

The worst mark turned in by a Winkin team at Maine came in 1987 (24-23).

The best records turned in by Winkin teams at Maine occurred last year (42-20) and in 1982 (35-13). Six of his teams have gone to the College World Series.

“The achievements that mean the most are the trips to the College World Series,” said Winkin.

Winkin would love nothing better than to return to Omaha for the first time since 1986 and he will use the non-league game against Boston College and Friday’s non-league game at Dartmouth to experiment with his lineup in the hopes of improving its punch.

Freshman outfielder-designated hitter Glen Stupienski, a switch hitter, will get a good look after going 4-for-6 with 4 runs batted in on Sunday.

“He’s got a quick bat and good power from both sides,” said Winkin. “He’s got the kind of potential to help us in the middle of the order.”

Stupienski is hitting .353 with 7 RBIs in 34 at-bats.

Winkin may also give some left field duty to Paul Kelliher, who shares the catching with Shawn Tobin.