Moments after Bucky Burgau picked up career win No. 600 last Saturday, the Concordia baseball coach had already shifted his focus forward.
The milestone victory came at Augsburg in the first of two games.
"I remember we called him over and he had his nose in the book making the lineup for the next game," Concordia senior Jake Krause said. "He kind of looked at us like, 'Are you guys kidding me? I'm making a lineup right now. What do you need?' "
The players huddled around Burgau, gave their coach a round of applause and presented him with a baseball that was signed by the team.
"And I said, 'I appreciate that, but to be honest with you guys, the only one I care about now is No. 601,'" Burgau said. "Five minutes after that game that is exactly how I felt."
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The Cobbers got No. 601 that day against Augsburg, winning Game 2 to sweep the doubleheader.
"It was pretty cool to see," Krause said. "He just made that big milestone. He really just cares about his team and he really cares about the season. It's cool to be a player of a coach that you know cares more about his team than his own little records."
The Cobbers (14-9) are in first place in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this spring with a 5-1 conference mark. In his 32nd season, Burgau has 602-472-6 career record. His 366 MIAC victories are the most in conference history. Concordia plays a MIAC doubleheader at 11 a.m. today at Macalester.
After earning No. 600, Burgau said he received congratulations from a number of MIAC and area baseball coaches and around 50 of his former players.
"That has made me feel good more than anything," Burgau said.
Burgau feels the success of his program over the long haul is based on being focused on the present.
When Burgau was a player, he vividly recalls the advice he received from one of his coaches.
"You're only as good as you are today," Burgau said. "And I really believe that."
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Burgau thinks this year's Cobbers can be pretty good, featuring a solid group of 10 seniors.
"We pitch it pretty good and we've got some depth on the mound and we've really caught the ball good in the field and that has been the secret to our success so far," Burgau said. "We've really got a good senior group of guys."
Krause said the 60-year-old Burgau's passion for the game is still evident to his players.
"Nobody loves the game of baseball more than Bucky," Krause said. "He soaks in every second. He's fired up from the first pitch of the season to the last pitch of the season.
"He's a pretty 100 percent baseball guy."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.
