The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team had a record-setting weekend at home, as Joseph Burke set a new career benchmark for home runs while head coach Todd Lillpop picked up his 400th win.
In a four-game set against Tiffin University that was originally scheduled on the road, the Panthers earned three wins at home after weather and field conditions forced a change of venue. Wesleyan swept the doubleheader Saturday and split two games on Sunday.
The first record fell when Burke hit a two-run blast in the second game Saturday. It was the 34th career homer for the junior first baseman, besting the previous record of 33 that was set in 1986.
“It was special,” he said. “I’ve worked my butt off all year every year and it paid off. It feels good.”
Burke said when he first enrolled, it never crossed his mind to set that record for the Panthers. After cranking out 23 in his sophomore campaign, the record was in sight.
“I’ve gotten a lot better since high school,” Burke said. “The coaches here have worked with me ever since I got on campus, and they’ve helped me figure out my swing.”
Wesleyan went on to win the game 6-3, lifting Lillpop to win No. 400. While he was happy to reach that number, the coach credited the program for much of the success.
“I’ve got so many great coaches and players,” he said. “They are the ones that deserve just as much of this as I do. It’s all about them. The players are the ones who win the games. The coaches have been phenomenal. I couldn’t do any of this without them.”
Lillpop also said his focus as a coach goes well beyond stuffing the win column.
“It means more to me about them having successful lives after baseball than getting to 400 wins,” he said.
The Panthers now enter their final week of the regular season with five home games on the schedule, starting when they host Southern Indiana in a non-conference meeting Tuesday.
“We’re starting to play pretty well,” Lillpop said. “Hopefully we can continue to do it. It’s a grind throughout the year. We’re starting to play the style and brand of baseball the way we want at the right time.”
Wesleyan will then host Malone for a pair of games each on Thursday and Friday, with all four contests weighing heavy for both teams. Malone currently leads the conference standings, but they are only two games ahead of third-place Wesleyan.
“I just want us to continue to play hard and let the chips fall where the may,” Lillpop said. “If we can do that, I can’t ask for anything more as a coach.”
