Redwood head coach Mike Firenzi (right) is congratulated by Redwood softball assistant coach Tony Harvey (left) after his 500th win in charge of the baseball team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Pitcher Rex Solle (7) of Redwood pitches in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Gavin Soper (10) of Redwood slides in safely for a triple in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Lazlo Clemens (2) of San Rafael throws to first base for an out in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Third baseman Lucas Ghio (30) of Redwood throws to first base for an out in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Floyd Greene (44) of San Rafael signals to the umpire he held onto the ball to tag out Sam Gersch (13) of Redwood at second base in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood head coach Mike Firenzi is congratulated by San Rafael coach Aaron Kolotkin (back to camera) after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood coach Mike Firenzi shakes hands with catcher Rory Coughlan (6) of Redwood after his 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
The Redwood baseball team presents head coach Mike Firenzi (far right) a case of Red Bull energy drinks after the coach won his 500th game in charge after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood coach Mike Firenzi (far right) talks with his team after his 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Redwood coaches Joel Russo, Tim Grayson, Mike Firenzi, and Jim Rey pose with an award presented to Firenzi after his 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Rory Minty (21) of Redwood tosses a ball to Rex Solle (7) of Redwood to get an out on AJ Thorpe (27) of San Rafael in a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Jessica Peisch presents Redwood head coach Mike Firenzi an award for his 500th win after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood coach Mike Firenzi holds an award after his 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood coach Mike Firenzi (center) is congratulated in a ceremony after his team won its 500th win with Firenzi in charge after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
A cake is decorated to honor Redwood coach Mike Firenzi's 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Charles Veley (far left) congratulates Redwood coach Mike Firenzi (center) after his 500th win in charge of the team after a MCAL baseball game between Redwood and San Rafael at Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif. on March 24, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood High baseball head coach Mike Firenzi was at the center of Friday’s celebration, but he would rather give the credit to all the players who helped him earn his 500th career victory.
“These guys today got me the 500th win, but it was all the guys who came before who built the foundation, who won a lot of games,” Firenzi said after Friday’s 7-0 win over San Rafael at Moody Field. “I never did it. I never threw or hit the ball. They did it all.”
Firenzi earned his milestone win in the presence of legendary Giants baseball coach Al Endriss, 95, who helped him celebrate. Redwood athletics director Jessica Peisch presented Firenzi with an award to commemorate the occasion, and team parents had banners printed up and brought food to add to the fun.
“Five hundred wins means a lot in that I’ve survived a long time in the coaching ranks,” Firenzi said. “This is the fourth decade I’ve been coaching with Redwood, and it’s still special.”
Over the decades, Firenzi has watched many of his players hone their craft, with more than 80 going on to play in college and nine who where drafted into the major leagues.
One of this season’s developing stars is pitcher Rex Solle, who recorded 15 strikeouts with no walks and one hit batsman in a complete-game two hitter. He threw just under 90 pitches.
“The only thing that was going to take Rex out of the game was the pitch count,” Firenzi said. “Late in the game, he said he felt strong, so I was going to let him go the distance.”
Getting the win for Firenzi meant a lot for Solle, who struck out the first three batters he faced.
“(Firenzi) has been coaching me for a long time. I wanted to thank him for all he’s done for me,” the junior ace said. “I’m glad he had the confidence in me, and that I could get it done for him and the team.”
Firenzi recalled, “Rex strarted as a third baseman his freshman year, but we didn’t let him pitch much. This year, he earned the right to be a starter. He’s gotten better every year.”
Solle faced just 25 batters. The only two hits he allowed came against Bulldogs sophomore Gio Brovelli, with a double in the third and a single in the sixth — neither with a runner on base.
“I used to have trouble managing the strike zone, but I’ve been working on that and getting more aggressive,” Solle said. “I’m hoping this is a sign of what’s to come. We have a great team this season. We have some tough games coming up, but things are looking good.”
Solle’s pitching was amazing, but he also got the job done with his bat. He was 2 for 4, including an RBI double in the first inning that gave Redwood a 1-0 lead.
Redwood’s Theo Trono was an effective hitter and aggressive base runner as he was 2 for 3 and scored twice. After he singled to get on base in the third, Trono stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rory Minty for a 2-0 lead.
The Giants never let up on the basepaths, with a total of 10 stolen bases in the game.
The heart of the Giants order, Danil Wells, Gavin Soper and Lucas Ghio, put the pressure on San Rafael reliever Sebastian Chip in the fourth inning. Wells hit a leadoff single, followed by a smartly laid-down bunt by Soper. Ghio’s long fly ball to center scored Wells, and Soper later scored on a grounder by Jack Moseley for a 4-0 lead.
The Giants added two more runs in the fifth inning, with an RBI single from Wells and a long-hit ball from Soper to left field that fell just under the fielder’s glove to score Wells. Soper ended up on third base on the play.
Soper was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, while Wells was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI.
The Giants added one more run in the sixth inning, and the Redwood baseball family began to prepare for the celebration to come.
“Baseball is a humbling sport,” Firenzi said. “You can learn a lot about life from it. Even after all these decades, it’s still the same game at its heart.”
Firenzi started his coaching career at Redwood in 1987 with the frosh/soph squad, with Endriss leading the varsity program.
“To be a part of Redwood athletics at a time when all these coaches — these coaches who now have their names on all these fields and facilities — means a lot to me,” Firenzi said.