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Maize wins 400th as Peters Township coach

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Joe Maize reached a coaching milestone Wednesday.

With an 11-4 victory over Steel Valley, the 62-year-old Maize got his 400th career victory as the Indians baseball coach.

“It’s pretty special,” said Maize, who is in his 34th season as head coach. “It’s been a lot of fun. It took a lot of baseball games.”

Maize entered the season with 398 wins and Peters Township made it 399 with a 6-2 win over Chartiers Valley Monday.

Peters Township trailed Steel Valley 4-3 after one inning but the Indians would score the next eight runs for the 400th win.

“Brian Geyer, our athletic director, brought a big sign to the game,” Maize said. “They made this T-shirt that said “400” on it.”

The win over Steel Valley put Maize’s career record at 400-225.

Matthew Levy helped the cause with a three-run, inside-the-park home run and Kyle Comini had a two-run double. Winning pitcher Jackson McCloskey, Garrett Miller and Joe Ehland each hit a triple.

Maize’s teams have produced eight section championships, two WPIAL championships (2007, 08) and two PIAA finalists (2004, 05).

“What stands out? The kids stand out. We’ve had great groups of kids in this program,” Maize said. “And I’ve had a great group of coaches.”

Maize is a 1973 graduate of Waynesburg High School and 1977 graduate of Slippery Rock University. His first coaching job at Peters Township was as girls basketball coach for the 1977-78 season. That was followed by six years as softball coach and 34 in the baseball program.

So, could 500 wins be in his future?

“I’ll have to ask my wife,” he said with a laugh. “If I’m still having fun, you never know.”

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