Hallenbeck, Jennings Get Milestone Wins on Same Day
courtesy Garrett College
McHENRY, Md. – Two longtime friends and coaching rivals were able to celebrate milestone victories on the same field – and on the same day.
Eric Hallenbeck posted his 500th triumph as Garrett College's head baseball coach on April 11th with a 5-2 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader with visiting Hagerstown Community College. It was Scott Jennings' turn in the nightcap, leading the Hawks to a 6-4 victory over GC that gave Jennings his 800th win as Hagerstown's head coach.
It was fitting that Hallenbeck and Jennings – who both graduated from North Hagerstown High, and have waged some epic NJCAA Region 20 battles over the past two decades – claimed milestone victories during the same doubleheader.
"We talked a little bit about it after the doubleheader," said Jennings. "The combination of 1300 wins – for that to happen on the same day at the same field – what are the odds of that?"
"It's always nice having two guys from Hagerstown battle it out," Hallenbeck remarked.
The pair have competed on a variety of levels, going back to Pony League and American Legion baseball.
"Eric and my parents lived in the same neighborhood," recalled Jennings. "When I got married, I bought a house across the street from my parents."
Both said one of the best things about their milestone victories was that they served to reconnect coaches and former players.
"After the games on Saturday, I looked at my phone and had over 110 text messages from former players congratulating me," Hallenbeck said. "That made me think back to all of the players who've played for me, the experiences, the wins, the players that you influenced, and the ones I'm coaching now."
"I got a lot of texts from former players about the 800th," said Jennings. "You hear about their families and what they're doing in life. We have the opportunity to start them on their future paths. The coolest part is that you make friends for life."
Jennings – who is in the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame as well as the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame – has led Hagerstown to two NJCAA Division II Region 20 titles. The Hawks have also claimed one Eastern District championship, and been to eight region title games under Jennings. The Hawks' best season under Jennings resulted in a third-place finish at the 2008 World Series.
Hallenbeck said the Lakers' most memorable win over his career was an incredible playoff comeback against Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville in 2015.
"We were down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, two out, nobody on, and we'd had one hit all game long," recalled Hallenbeck. "We ended up tying the game and then winning it in walk-off fashion in the 10th."
Even more personally memorable for Hallenbeck was the first game of the 2022 season when his son, Zach, began his Laker playing career.
"He came up to bat and we both looked at each other thinking, 'This is what we've been waiting for,' " said Hallenbeck.
Both coaches noted Region 20 has a wealth of veteran coaches who create an extraordinarily competitive region. Cecil head coach Charlie O'Brien (30th year), Chesapeake College head coach Frank Szymanski (27th), Jennings (26th), Frederick Community College head coach Rodney Bennett (24th) and Hallenbeck (22nd) have combined for over 3,500 victories at their present institutions.
"Experience, continuity . . . I think it says something for baseball in our region when guys stick it out that long," said Jennings.
"It stabilizes the region and creates a lot of friendly competition," said Hallenbeck. "We want to beat each other – but when we're not playing, we're rooting for each other. It's great to have that camaraderie."
Jennings said there are a couple of keys to coaching longevity in college baseball.
"Number one, you have to love it," said Jennings. "I love the competitiveness of the games."
While happy to celebrate his latest milestone, Jennings said that isn't the most important thing.
"The wins and losses . . . no one remembers any numbers," said Jennings. "It's the relationships you make along the way."
Hallenbeck agreed.
"It [the coaching record] isn't why we do this," said Hallenbeck. "Scott and I are along the same lines. We continue to do this because we love to coach and develop young men."