Simeon’s Franklin claims historical win

Updated: May 9, 2011 8:10PM

Simeon coach Leroy Franklin joined an elite fraternity of high school baseball coaches reaching the 700 victory milestone with a 9-0 victory over Morgan Park Monday at Chatam Park.

Franklin who has been coaching at Simeon for 29 years is one of only 10 coaches to reach the 700 mark to go along with only 221 losses.

Freshman left-hander Darius Day gave up only two hits while striking out 15 said it was a day he will never forget.

“I feel honored to have been given the ball, being a freshman. I thought it would have gone to a senior. I just wanted to throw strikes.”

Corey Ray and Antoine Brown both went 2-3 with an RBI while Quentin Richardson added another for the Wolverines.

Catcher Blake Hickman said the team tried to down-play the game, but they all knew what it was. “We all wanted to get it for Coach Frank, knowing what he means to the entire school and Chicago baseball.”

Franklin was given the Gatorade shower by the team and presented with a plaque from the school by assistant principal Ramona Fannings and was choked up after the game with many of his former players showing up.

“It’s been a long career and I’m proud of all that we have accomplished. There are so many people to thank,” said Franklin.

“So many of us owe him so much,” said assistant Robert Fletcher, who played on the 1990 city championship team and took fourth in the state “He sent us to school, put us in the position to play in the big leagues, and gave us all a sense of direction.”

Simeon is currently 19-2 with an 11-1 record in the Jackie Robinson South conference while Morgan Park falls to 15-8, 8-4.

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