Carl Albert baseball coach gets 900th coaching win

March 18, 2012

WAY TO GO, MARK — Carl Albert Baseball Coach Mark Pollard, right, comes to meet his team in the infield, where his players and Assistant Coach Ryan Bowen hand him a banner congratulating him on his 900th coaching victory Saturday afternoon at Ival Goodman Field. The Vikings used a six-run sixth inning to rally for a 7-3 win in the opener of a doubleheader with Southwestern (Iowa) College. PDN Staff Photo by David Seeley

Saturday afternoon at Ival Goodman Field was about as beautiful as it could ever be, which allowed the sun to shine down on one of the college baseball coaching legends on what proved to be a big day for him.
Carl Albert Baseball Coach Mark Pollard got his 900th coaching victory in the first game of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader as his Vikings rallied to earn a 7-3 come-from-behind win over the Southwestern (Iowa) College Spartans.
“I really didn't start thinking about it until I got to wins No. 6, 7 and 8 (this season, counting down until win No. 900),” Pollard said. “It's really just a number. A lot of this just the fact that I've been here a long time, so I owe the administration that. (former CASC President) Dr. (Joe) White and (current school president) Dr. (Brandon) Webb have let me be here for 32 years, and not a lot of coaches stay that long in one place. It's a big number, but we have a good team. We didn't play very good (in Saturday's opener), but the comeback wins are good.
“Of course, I have some losses, too. But it's the kids, and some of the ones I've coached before were here. There's some I remember more than other. It's been a long ride, but I've enjoyed every minute of it.”