Frank Carey Breaks State High School Baseball Win Record

North Reading High School baseball coach Frank Carey added another accolade to his long distinguished career. He’s now officially the best.

Carey’s Hornets swept two games from Newburyport on Thursday, giving Carey 726 career victories – all with North Reading. Carey is now the winningest baseball coach in Massachusetts history, passing Leominster coach Emile Johnson.

“I’m very proud,” Carey told The Boston Globe. “It’s a credit to all the kids. I’ve had kids that have been dedicated, committed to the program. They are all a part of it. I’ve had some great young men.”

The Hornets, who are 10-3 this year, beat Newburyport 9-2 on Thursday in the continuation of a game from earlier this year and 3-2 behind a complete game by Scott Allen. Allen got the win in both games.

The team gave Carey a water bath in the dugout in celebration.

“We have played some good baseball here at North Reading and our kids take it really serious,” Carey told the Boston Herald. “When I started, I didn't even think about something like this. I didn't even think I'd be hired here after my second year teaching here, let alone coach for 49 years.”

Carey is aiming for anther state title. Carey’s Hornets won a state title in 2012. The team was one of the top-ranked in the state last year before bowing out in the tournament to Newburyport.

Carey said he wanted to coach this year to send off the remaining players from the 2012 team, but he is not sure whether this will be his final year.

“The seniors on this team were with me on the state title team in 2012,” Carey told the Globe. “I wanted to see them through. Having these kids was a motivating factor [to keep coaching] this year.”