When Dundee-Crown and Jacobs square off Saturday night at Trout Park in Elgin, it will be more than just a meeting between a pair of District 300 rivals.
The showdown will also offer an opportunity to honor D-C coach Fred Bencriscutto as he takes the field for what will likely be the final regular-season game of his illustrious career.
Bencriscutto plans on retiring after the 2008 school year following more than 30 years as a teacher and 18 years as the Chargers' field boss. In that time he's gained a reputation as one of the most respected baseball coaches in the state.
Bencriscutto's accomplishments include a 307-285 record, two trips to the state quarterfinals, two sectional championships, four regional championships and six Fox Valley Conference titles. He's also an inductee of the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Dundee-Crown Athletics Hall of Fame.
The past few weeks have provided plenty of nostalgia for Bencriscutto as he's led D-C against longtime FVC opponents for the final time. The last trip through the conference also instilled in Bencriscutto a sense of pride with just how far the level of play in the FVC has come during his tenure.
"I think the league has become a great baseball league, and that's evidenced by the number of college players we produce every year and the number of teams that advance Downstate," Bencriscutto said. "I'm very proud of that. I've had a chance to see that develop and see this conference really come a long way.
"I'll be excited to follow it when I'm done because there are a lot of good young coaches and a lot of programs that are really strong. But I'm sure I'll miss it too."
Bencriscutto has been at the forefront of the FVC's success, sending more than 40 players onto college baseball careers. The high points in his career came in 2001 and 2007 when he led the Chargers to 28 wins and to the Class AA state quarterfinals.
For close to a decade Hank Faulkner has served as Bencriscutto's assistant, and the two have combined their similar personalities to help build a program that's known as well for its class as it is for its level of success.
"Years ago we said if we could ever get together as a coaching staff we could do some real good things with this team," Faulkner said. "More so than the coaching, I've gained a brother and a best friend.
"It's funny because our wives say that we're exactly alike, we've got the same thought process and the same sense of humor. That probably comes from spending so much time together."
With D-C set to begin Class 4A regional play next Thursday, Saturday night's game will serve as a formal going-away party as former players and coaches from around the area will have a chance to pay their respects to Bencriscutto.
However, if Bencriscutto's current players have it their way, they won't have to say goodbye to their coach for a couple more weeks.
"It's sad to see a great coach walk away from the game and it's going to be hard to shake his hand for the last time," senior Ryan Horcher said. "But it does give us some incentive because if coach is going out, we don't want him going out on a bad note."
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