Tewksbury High Softball Coach 'Doc' DiRocco Tallies 300th Win

softball might not have been the first to boast about his latest accomplishment, but ask anyone who was among the crowd that packed the stands around Memorial Field last Wednesday night as DiRocco tallied his 300^thcareer win, and they wouldn’t hesitate to share the news.

“Just kind of putting into perspective what 300 wins really is for a coach, it’s pretty impressive,” said TMHS softball alum Kelly Boyle, who came to watch her former coach reach the milestone. “It was cool to see.”

Win number 300 came as Tewksbury topped Andover 14-1, and qualified for the state tournament in doing so.

But neither wins nor state tournament appearances are new to DiRocco and the Tewksbury High softball program. DiRocco has been coaching the Redmen squad for 23 years now, accumulating an overall record of 300-171, and has led the team to a total of 10 Merrimack Valley Conference championships including nine consecutively at one point.

A little over 10 years back, the team was moved into Division 1 of the MVC after winning four straight titles in Division 2. Now playing large school teams such as Andover, Central Catholic and Chelmsford twice throughout their season, DiRocco and the Redmen didn’t let a tougher schedule stop them from winning another five straight titles in Division 1.  

This year also marked the team’s 15^th year in a row qualifying for states under DiRocco’s coaching, but he humbly attributed the successes to the team-oriented atmosphere he promotes within the program.

“We’ve always preached 'no I in team,'” he said. “Even though there’s no I in team, you will accomplish some individual awards, and I feel the same way with myself. There’s no I in coaching, that’s just kind of the way I approach it. When we got to 300 the other day, I said to the kids, ‘It’s not all about me, it’s about what we have established for

Looking back, DiRocco recalled some outstanding moments of his career with the Redmen as specifically as he would a game he coached this morning.  

He noted the team’s multiple appearances in the north sectional finals
of the state tournament, especially the first time they took a shot at the
title back in 2000. He reminisced about making it that far in the tournament against the team’s non-league nemesis, Concord-Carlisle. They barely lost on an error in the final innings of the game, despite having five freshmen on that year’s squad including standout shortstop Boyle, who had a broken wrist and was unable to play.

The team’s first time qualifying for the state tournament under DiRocco
back in 1998 also stuck out in the coach’s mind. They had just barely qualified, finishing the regular season 10-10, but went on to beat Chelsea by 20 runs in the first round.

After advancing they were forced to play the team ranked number one in
state, Danvers, where they pulled out a 2-1 victory in 10 innings and as
DiRocco described, left everyone stunned.

But in addition to those highlighting moments, DiRocco takes pride in
the team’s five straight Division 1 championships from 2004-2008 and having never finished below third place in the MVC. He also looked back on defeating Brockton at home in a non-league game, a team that came from one of the biggest high schools in Massachusetts.

DiRocco has also established great relationships with his players
through his positive attitude and by always putting the kids first.

“Our kids come first before softball. It’s always the kids,” he said.

But his likability and the respect his past and present players have for
him as a coach was certainly apparent last Wednesday through the outpouring of support he got after reaching number 300.

“I’ve been blessed, after the 300th win, I never [really] mentioned it,
but that night we had some of the greatest players that we’ve ever had here Kelly Boyle and Christi Marsh, showed up off of some championship teams,” DiRocco said.

Boyle recalled her time playing for DiRocco throughout her high school
career before heading to Division 1 Siena College on a softball scholarship.
Most memorable was her freshman season when the team was nearly undefeated.

“It was great playing for him,” she said. “I played for him all four
years of high school and walking in as a freshman you don’t really understand, we went [something] like 22-1. As the season gets going it really starts to click, the seniors were getting into it, but the whole time [Doc] would just keep his cool through everything. It’s easy to get emotional or to kind of get fired up and lost in the moment with that but he stayed level headed and kept everyone kind of grounded so we didn’t get too big on the whole thing.”

Current senior and laughed as
they shared stories about what’s it been like to play for DiRocco.

“He’s funny,” said Liggiero. “He makes up nicknames, I have a new
nickname every day.”

“He jokes around as much as we do,” added Texeria.

All-Conference left-fielder Ally Greene, who graduated last spring and
is now playing softball for UMass Lowell shared similar stories.

“‘Doc’ knew how to have fun,” she said. “He could be like your coach and
your friend. When you needed someone to be there for you he was there but when you messed up he was hard on you, so that was always good.”

Katie Doherty, also a senior captain on this year’s squad noted DiRocco’s
care for the team both on and off the field.

“He cares so much about us,” she said. “Every day at school he asks us how everything is going, not just with softball but with our grades to make sure that we’re doing well, and about our families and stuff. Coming in here we feel welcome and he makes you feel important.”

That type of atmosphere is exactly what DiRocco has always aimed to create. He noted a close bond within the team during and outside of softball.

“It’s team and that’s basically what we preach,” he said. “No one’s
treated any different or special.  We’ve never been perfect, but
this year these kids are unbelievable. It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or
a freshman.”

Just as his players described DiRocco always being there for them, they
all returned the favor, both past and present, as they celebrated his
accomplishment last Wednesday night.

“We were there for him, we made posters, we took pictures, we gave him
the ball. It was just awesome to see everyone come together like that, all the alumni coming back for him. It was just nice for him to know people are remembering him and come back for him,” said Texeira.

“I was excited, everybody in the stands was excited, even Andover, they
were clapping for him, they were excited,” added Liggiero.

DiRocco described last Wednesday’s game as the best of all worlds. After
earning a spot in the state tournament, the next prize on the Redmen’s mind is clinching the Division 1 title yet again in the MVC. A Dracut win over Central Catholic would be a help to Tewksbury in achieving that, as would a win over Central when the Redmen take on the Raiders themselves next Saturday.  

But regardless of what happens, DiRocco said this season will be one to
remember for everyone.

“I think they’re going to have really great memories,” he said. “That’s
what I tell them, it’s really good memories [and life lessons] that you want
[to take with you].”

His former players sure have done so, and now look back on what DiRocco
has accomplished with pride, especially when it came to last Wednesday’s win.

“It’s a great accomplishment for him,” said Boyle of DiRocco’s 300^th.
“He deserves it. He’s put in the time and put in the effort, that’s for
sure.  Through it all he’s been nothing but a positive coach for everybody and I think anyone could attest to that.”