By PAUL GOTHAM
One reached a milestone in what is to be his final season in the dugout. Another climbed the top of the New York State High School mountain, and still another added to his already successful career.
In a less than 72-hour span Justin Beach (Brockport State), Dennie Miles (Genesee Valley-Belfast) and Joe Reina (University of Rochester) each made history.
Beach won his 400th game as skipper of the Golden Eagles. Miles moved into the top spot among NYSPHSAA high school coaches, and Reina notched career win No. 500.
“That’s pretty cool,” said Miles, a member of both the Section V Baseball and NYS Baseball Halls of Fame. “I’ve known both of those guys for quite a long time and admire both of them. That’s great that we were able to do it in a short period of time.”
Miles and his Genesee Valley-Belfast (GV-B) squad defeated Eldred of Section IX on Monday in a game that was played at Macombs Dam Park – the site of the old Yankee Stadium. With that, the former Wellsville and Avoca-Prattsburgh head coach passed Fort Plain’s Craig Phillips on the all-time list with career victory No. 807.
“I’m very honored by it,” Miles said. “There’s an old saying ‘if you can change somebody’s life in a positive manner when you leave this earth, then you’ve had a successful life.’ Imagine having had the opportunity to affect thousands of people’s lives. To me, that’s a privilege, and that’s something I’ve never taken lightly. To help kids develop lifetime memories is special.”
GV-B defeated Jasper-Troupsburg on Saturday as Miles matched the state record. GV-B improved to 5-0 on the young season with Monday’s victory.
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The possibility of attaining the state mark came soon after Miles passed the late Ed Nietopski (Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Kearney) as Section V’s all-time leader during the 2018 season.
“The more people kept asking me about the (state) record and what I thought about it, that’s what drew my attention to it. It was people contacting me and telling me how far I had to go.”
With Brockport State’s sweep of SUNY Poly, Saturday in Empire 8 action, the Golden Eagles secured win No. 400 for Beach.
“I look at it as something where I have been fortunate enough to be around some good teams and be a part of a program that values winning and values getting kids better,” said Beach who announced earlier this year that he will step away from coaching to take a position in administration with the college’s athletic department. “I’m just grateful that I got a chance to do it and grateful that I’ve had the chance to be on the field for 18-plus years.”
Beach played for Brockport before becoming an assistant coach prior to the 2004 season. He took the helm in 2008.
“I guess I just hung around it long enough and had some really good mentors along the way,” Beach said referring to former Hilton head coach and Section V Baseball Hall of Fame member, Ory Mee. “I’ve been really lucky and fortunate to be around it.”
Brockport is off to its best start under Beach with a 22-2 mark including 11-0 in its inaugural season in the Empire 8.
“We’ve been playing really well,” Beach said. “The Empire 8 is a different league. We’re new to them. So far, so good. Our guys have responded well. Early in the year, we played some pretty good teams down south.
“We’ve never been at this position at this time of year, but as I always say it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling and keep getting better each day.”
Brockport hosts a doubleheader with Houghton University on Thursday. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled for Game 1 at the Clark V. Whited Complex.
Reina logged career win No. 500 with U of R’s win over Union in Game 1 of a Liberty League doubleheader last Friday.
“It’s a lot of cold days,” Reina joked. “I can tell you that.”
In his 24th season, Reina’s Yellowjackets have logged winning records in each of their last six complete campaigns and won 20 or more games eight times since 2014 including 31 wins in 2022. Rochester won the Liberty League title in 2019 and 2021 and clinched spots in the NCAA Division III regionals. The Yellowjackets also advanced to regionals in 2022.
“It’s pretty awesome,” he said of the accomplishment. “I never thought I would get to this point. It’s special and obviously, a lot of memories. It’s pretty cool, pretty cool.
“You think back on all the really good assistant coaches you had and all the administrators you worked for. It’s a lot more people that put it together than just a head coach.”
Whether playing or coaching, Beach, Miles and Reina have all been part of the fabric of the Rochester baseball community.
Miles attended Friendship High School in Allegany County where he not only played baseball but set a New York State record when he scored eight goals in a soccer game. Like Beach, he had his collegiate career at Brockport and frequently returns for alumni games. Reina graduated from Gates Chili and went on to play at Monroe Community College under legendary coach Dave Chamberlain. He earned NJCAA Region III Player of the Year and Second Team All-American while wearing the Black and Gold of the Tribunes. He was part of the 2013 MCC Athletics’ Hall of Fame class.
“Justin and I have been close for a while,” Reina said. “Dennie, I’ve known for 25, 26 years.
“Justin has done an unbelievable job at Brockport, and Dennie all you need to know is the guy keeps doing it. He keeps winning. Those guys are some of the best ever. I’m not quite sure I’m at that level. It’s cool to be part of a story that includes those two.”
University of Rochester (12-10) travels for a doubleheader at Ithaca College on Thursday.
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