Moehrs wins 2,000th game

Longtime Waterloo Buds/Millers manager Vern Moehrs with his wife Lucille following Vern’s milestone 2,000th victory on Sunday at SPPS Field in Waterloo. 

There have been many doubleheader sweeps over the past 59 years for baseball manager Vern Moehrs and his Waterloo team in the Mon-Clair League, but Sunday’s victories gave him a milestone achievement not many others can enjoy.

The Waterloo Millers downed the St. Louis Latinos, 7-0 and 7-1, at SPPS Field, giving Moehrs his 2,000th and 2,001st career victories.

Moehrs, 84, has been at the helm of the Waterloo Buds/Millers since 1961, compiling an overall record of 2,001-523. His teams have won 42 division titles, 23 playoff championships, 14 Valmeyer Midsummer Classic titles and four gold medals in the Prairie State Games.

He is a 1952 graduate of Waterloo High School.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Moehrs said of his long and storied coaching career. “It’s been a family affair, really. Just a lot of loving the game.”

This past fall, Moehrs was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award during the Mon-Clair League awards banquet.

The Millers are 10-2 on the young season, including an 8-2 mark in the Mon-Clair League. That is good for a first place tie with the Belleville Rockies in the Monroe Division. 

Waterloo has won eight straight games. 

“With a little luck, I think we can do pretty well this season,” Moehrs said.

On Saturday, Waterloo won 10-2 and 2-1 over the St. Louis Spikes at Fox High School in Missouri.

Ethan Ruff went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases and three RBIs in the 10-2 win as Waterloo ace Parker Stidham from Mineral Area College went the distance with six strikeouts. The Millers plated five runs in the first inning and four runs in the seventh.

In the second game, Mitchell Krebs went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and Trevor Davis went the distance on the mound with six strikeouts.

On Sunday, a five-run sixth inning broke up a close game as the Millers downed the Latinos, 7-0. Ruff and Krebs collected three hits each. 

In the second game, which was a 7-1 win, Ruff went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and three runs. Davis added a hit and two runs for the Millers, who host Millstadt in a non-league game this Friday night before taking on the Charleston Riverdogs this Sunday afternoon in Jackson, Mo.

In other Mon-Clair League action, the Valmeyer Lakers (4-4) won 9-3 and 7-1 over the Latinos on Saturday and split a Sunday twinbill with the Cape Girardeau Capahas.

The Lakers play at Charleston on Saturday before hosting the St. Louis Printers on Sunday. 

Millstadt (4-4) won 3-0 and 2-0 over Charleston on Sunday. 

The Green Machine will play at the Latinos in St. Louis on Saturday before hosting the St. Louis Spikes on Sunday. 

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Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.

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