HOOSICK FALLS — In a season that began with dry results for the Hoosick Falls baseball team, the Panthers could not wait to get coach Mike Lilac Jr. all wet Thursday afternoon. Once the 21st out was recorded against visiting Waterford, Hoosick Falls had collected its 12th victory of the season with a 14-4 Wasaren League win over the Fordians – a decision that provided Lilac Jr. his 400th career win.
Thursday’s victory is not the first time Lilac Jr. experienced seeing a team he coached win for the 400th time under his tutelage. On Feb. 10, 2022, Hoosick Falls defeated Berlin/New Lebanon 69-24 to help Lilac Jr. join his father Mike Lilac Sr. in the 400-win boys’ basketball club.
“It is a good place to end up,” Lilac Jr. said. “I came here as a 22-year-old green horn and didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know what was going to happen. Thirty-three years later, I am still here. It is a good place. Good people. A good place to raise a family, good kids and a good hard-working blue-collar town to be in. I can’t complain.”
The milestone puts Lilac Jr. in rarified air in the annals of Section II coaching history as he joins legendary Warrensburg coach George Khoury in being mentors who surpassed the 400-win plateau in both basketball and baseball. Khoury led the Burghers to 518 basketball wins, 449 baseball victories and 143 triumphs on the football field.
The Panthers (12-8 overall, 9-7 league) also defeated Waterford (6-12, 5-11) 22-2 Tuesday when senior star Jake Sparks hit for the cycle, finishing with three home runs and 14 RBIs, and also striking out 15 in a complete-game pitching performance.
Thursday, it was Sparks’ younger brothers Andrew and Ryan that proved to be two of the offensive stars during the historic victory. Andrew Sparks, a junior, delivered a pair of triples and drove in three runs. Eighth grader Ryan Sparks joined sophomore…
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