Tony Ferrainolo has no recollection of his first coaching victory as the head baseball coach at Memorial High School some 24 years ago, but he definitely will always remember the win that gave him the 500th of his brilliant coaching career.
"I think I’ll remember this one," Ferrainolo said of the dramatic 2-0 Memorial win over Bayonne last Thursday that enabled the veteran coach to become only the seventh coach in New Jersey high school baseball history to reach the milestone. "Because of the drama with the kid hitting the home run to win it. It’s something I’ll always remember."
The kid Ferrainolo was alluding to was first baseman Jason Garcia, who snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run homer. The homer set off a wild celebration, complete with the traditional water dousing for the coach, who became the first Hudson County coach ever to reach 500 victories.
The victory forced Ferrainolo to reflect on his career, which has featured several championships – the most notable being 1988, when his Tigers won the HCIAA, the NJSIAA Group IV and the mythical national championships.
"I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great kids over the years," Ferrainolo said. "Kids that just continue to win. It’s never on my mind to win a certain amount of games and was never in my mind when I started coaching a long time ago. I never thought ahead. I just loved coaching."
Although Ferrainolo knew he was approaching the milestone, he didn’t know for sure if his players knew.
"It was never even mentioned to them," Ferrainolo said.
But the players all knew. Assistant coach Jack Nagurka, who played for Ferrainolo in the ’70s, was instrumental in informing the players.
"The day before the game, Jack was telling them," Ferrainolo said. "I was trying to tell them about the importance of the game, that it was Bayonne, that we were still trying to get the top seed in the county playoffs. But they knew.
"And it turned into a championship-type game, a really well-played game," Ferrainolo said. "Every inning was tense, every pitch. We had to go out and earn it."
The 54-year-old Ferrainolo was asked if he understood the historical significance of the milestone, with so few coaches in the state having eclipsed 500 wins. The legendary Gordon LeMatty, who collected 641 wins during his career at Union High School, holds the state record.
"It’s a lot of games, a lot of years of hard work," Ferrainolo said. "It’s also very nice, in terms of rewards. I’ve thought about it. You don’t realize how impressive it is until you get there. When I think about it, you say, ‘Wow.’ When you think of all the people who have coached the game and I’m only one of seven? It is really a remarkable thing. Like I’ve said before, you really don’t believe it’s possible until you get there.
"At a time like this, there are so many memories," Ferrainolo said. "So many names and players that I think of. I’ve been able to reflect back and realize how many great teams and times I’ve had. But it’s easier to think about the tough losses than it is the wins. Some losses stick in your mind more. I don’t know why."
Ferrainolo recalled a time that he spent with Ramsey head coach Jack Ponchak, who has 600-plus victories, but will retire at the end of the season. He also remembered locking horns against LeMatty and Elizabeth head coach Ray Korn, also members of the 500-win club.
"To be considered in a class with those great coaches is amazing to me," Ferrainolo said.
Ferrainolo realized that there is a sense of luck involved in being able to stick around long enough to reach a prestigious plateau, especially in a politically intense town like West New York. A few years ago, Ferrainolo was relieved of his head football coaching duties, but it would have been difficult to ask one of the state’s all-time winningest baseball coaches to depart as well.
"I guess I didn’t let the outside forces to get to me," Ferrainolo said. "What can I do about it? I just keep working. I’ve always been a workaholic. And I enjoy it so much. I can’t let up."
Ferrainolo gives a lot of credit to his success to his loving family, to his wife, Rosemarie, and his three daughters, Kerry, Michele and Kim. Kerry and Michele have followed in their father’s footsteps, as educators. Kim is an accountant.
"My wife putting up with me all these years has really been the backbone of the family," Ferrainolo said. "Without my family, I wouldn’t have been able to do this, especially in terms of understanding. I go home and complain after losses and they listen. I think over the last three to five years, I’ve changed. I don’t let the losses carry over when I get home. I’ve been really fortunate to know what it means to have a great family."
He also doesn’t experience losing much these days. The Tigers are now 18-3, as the HCIAA and NJSIAA playoffs approach. Memorial has to be considered a solid favorite to win both championships, now that star pitcher Danny Cainas has been declared healthy and ready to pitch.
And even if the Tigers can win both titles this year, they still can’t compare to that magical 1988 season – the finest moment in Tony Ferrainolo’s career, until last Thursday, when he took a leap into the history books.
"I’ve had a lot of great teams, but in terms of accomplishment, the 1988 team has to be the best," Ferrainolo said. "Every team is always compared to that ’88 team and really, how could you not try to compare? But I can think of so many others that can compare to that team."
Maybe that last statement sums up the reason why Tony Ferrainolo now stands as the No. 7 winningest coach in the history of high school baseball in New Jersey, with 502 career victories. He’s had great players.
"I’ve always said it’s been about the kids," Ferrainolo said.
Well-put. And well deserved, that place in state baseball history.