By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)

Originally published June 23, 2009, 05:45 p.m. EST. Updated June 23, 2009, 05:45 p.m. EST

By Chad Wingert

Sports Editor

REESE — His 300th win and a district title perfectly complimented Dave Elliot’s induction into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame this past weekend.

Elliot was inducted with four other coaches after gathering over 300 wins at Reese in his 14 years of coaching at the varsity level.

“I’ve had quite the year,” Elliot said. “Winning my 300th game and a district title was great. We finished in a three-way tie for a conference title, but these kids played hard for me all year.”

Elliot was nominated for the Hall of Fame by Bad Axe head coach Wayne Turmell, who has been a board member of the MHSBCA for six years and a part of the organization for almost 20.

“Dave is just an all-around classy guy,” Turmell said. “He is one of the nicest coaches around who treats his kids well, and he has a solid program.”

Turmell and Elliot met when they were going through graduate classes at Central Michigan University and have been close ever since. However, the two coaches got their start on the football field before moving to the baseball diamond.

“He has always been so well-mannered,” Turmell said. “He is the kind of coach I would love to have coach my kids.”

Elliot was inducted during a ceremony that took place Monday, June 15 at Zuccaro’s Country House in Chesterfield Township along with Paul Diegel of Troy High School, Tom Dutowski of Flint Powers and Tim Bradley, former Lapeer West head coach.

Elliot was well aware of the night’s events, but what he was not ready for was the nerousness he experienced during his acceptance speach.

“I was very nervous,” Elliot said. “Not only did I have to speak in front of a ton of people I didn’t know, but my family was also there along with our Superentendent (Storm Lairson) and Principal (Ryle Kiser).”

Elliot, along with his family, was then invited down to Comerica Park in Detroit where they attended the 28th Annual MHSBCA East vs. West All-Star Baseball Classic.

“I was a coach at the game just a couple of years ago, but it was so cool to be standing on that field again,” Elliot said. “It was a very special night.”

Reaching 300 wins is a special feat for any coach, but there are more than just the memories of winning for Coach Elliot.

“My first game as a varsity coach really sticks out in my head,” Elliot said. “I learned quick that you cannot get away with some of things at the varsity level that you can at the JV level.”

Will Elliot call it quits anytime soon?

Either way, Elliot is very thankfull for the coaching career he has had thus far at Reese High School.

“This has been quite the ride,” Elliot said. “Entering the coaching Hall of Fame had never crossed my mind. This has just been great.”

Chad Wingert is the Sports Editor of the Advertiser and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com