MERRILLVILLE — Sometimes Dave Pishkur has a roster full of varsity experience. Other times — like 2019 — he does not. But the head coach keeps finding ways to pile up the victories.

In his 40th season in charge of the Andrean High School 59ers, Pishkur just became the second Indiana high school baseball coach to reach the 1,000-victory plateau (the other is Ken Schreiber, who was 1,010-217 at LaPorte).

“I don’t like the attention,” says Pishkur. “I feel uncomfortable with that.”

But his players kept reminding him as he got closer to the mark.

“It didn’t mean that much,” says Pishkur. “I’d rather see the kids keep improving.”

Vanderbilt University commit Michael Doolin pitched a perfect game and added a three-run home run and two-run double as Andrean beat visiting Beecher (Ill.) 12-0 in five innings for the milestone win.

There are six seniors on the roster. But Doolin and Lee University commit Joel Holtcamp are the 12th-grade regulars in the lineup for the IHSAA Class 3A No. 1-ranked 59ers (22-1).

Pishkur notes that it took 22 seasons to get to win No. 500 and 18 to reach 1,000.

“I guess we’ve figured something out in the last 18,” says Pishkur. “We send the same message every year. One guy for 40 years at the same institution doesn’t hurt at all. I’ve surrounded myself with great assistant coaches with integrity. They’re definitely engaged in what Andrean has done and understand the tradition of Andrean.”

There are six AHS graduates on the coaching staff — Dave Pishkur (1971), Ryne Pishkur (’04), Joe Plesac (’79), Mark Pishkur (’12), Matt Doolin (’10) and Joey Plesac (’14) — plus Griffith product Sal Aguilar and Highland grad Jordan Smolar share of good ballplayers, which come from all over northwest Indiana and some from across the state line in Illinois.

“The jockey doesn’t carry the horse across the finish line,” says Pishkur, who has sent more than 125 players on the college baseball and has coached many future professionals including big leaguer Sean Manaea. “There is not a better high school baseball coaching job in the state of Indiana but Andrean. There are a lot of perks to it.”

Since 1980, to save time and expense, players have car-pooled and follow Pishkur to away games then scattered to their homes after the contest.

The 59ers’ lone loss in 2019 came against Father Ryan of Nashville, Tenn., in the second game of the season. It was the second year Pishkur’s club played at Vanderbilt, a perk of having Doolin being committed there.

“Administrators allow us to go the extra mile with games in Tennessee and games in Illinois,” says Pishkur. “Our alumni have been very generous.”

Andrean, the defending 3A state champions, are in the six-team Kankakee Valley Sectional. The 59ers meet Hanover Central in Game 2 on May 22. The semifinals are slated for May 24 with the championship on May 27.

Before that, there are seven games in eight days. 

Two Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coaches are scheduled to square off today (May 13) at Notre Dame — Pishkur and Guerin Catholic’s Rich Andriole.

Hobart visits Andrean Tuesday to wrap up Northwest Crossroads Conference play. Marquette Catholic will be at the 59ers field Wednesday.

The 16-team Bajenski Tournament in Chicagoland is Thursday through Friday. Andrean, located in Merrillville, is the lone Indiana team in a strong field and will play Oak Park River Forest Thursday.

“Without a doubt those will be our toughest games of the year,” says Piskur. “We hope that sets the tune for playing in the state tournament.”

The 59ers are guaranteed four games in the Bajenski. Last year, they went 1-3.

The last regular season game is slated for Monday, May 20 at home against North Newton.