Haddam-Killingworth will attempt to do at least two things Monday afternoon in Old Saybrook: Play good baseball and win the game against the Rams.
If the Cougars accomplish that, coach Mark Brookes will have career win No. 700.
And then the attention paid to yet another Brookes milestone win – much to his liking — will go away.
Last Wednesday, Brookes coached in the 1,000th game of his career, a win over Westbrook. On Friday, H-K beat Portland 7-1, his 699th win.
Brookes, who takes a 699-301 record into the Shoreline Conference game, founded H-K’s program in 1976. In 1977, their first varsity season, the Cougars were 8-10. In the 44 years since, not one losing season.
A rundown of Brookes’ teams through the years:
1977: 8-10 (no senior class)
1978: 15-6
1979: 13-8
1980: 14-9
1981: 19-5, Shoreline Champions, Class S runner-up
1982: 22-4 Shoreline champions, Class S runner-up
1983: 15-6
1984: 16-6
1985: 18-6, Shoreline Champions
1986:- 21-4, Class S runner-up
1987: 18-6, Shoreline Champions
1988: 17-6, Shoreline Champions
1989: 14-7
1990: 12-10
1991: 11-11
1992: 12-10
1993: 14-8
1994: 12-9
1995: 19-5, Shoreline Champions
1996: 18-5, Shoreline Champions
1997: 16-6
1998: 15-8
1999: 15-9
2000: 10-10
2001: 12-9
2002:15-8, Shoreline Champions
2003: 18-6
2004: 21-5
2005: 17-6
2006: 18-7, Shoreline Champions
2007: 19-5
2008: 16-7
2009: 15-8
2010: 24-2, Shoreline Champions
2011: 13-6
2012: 18-8. Class M runner- up
2013: 15-6
2014: 19-8, Class M runner-up
2015: 10-10
2016: 19-6
2017: 19-7
2018: 18-4
2019: 18-7
2020: No season
2021: 8-2 to date
If there was ever a class act in coaching , it was and is Mark Brookes!
Congratulations Coach!