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Head Coach Scott Beatty becomes all-time winning softball coach in ICCAC History

By Kristi Nixon
Muscatine Journal

As the Iowa Community College Region XI Division I softball tournament commences today, the host school boasts the winningest coach in league history.

Muscatine Community College head coach Scott Beatty (668-188) surpassed Jeff Kelley for all-time softball coaching wins with a  victory over Marshalltown Community College on April 20 in Game 2 of a twinbill.

“Without the quality student-athletes, parents, faculty and staff support, I wouldn’t have been able to build this program into the national success,” Beatty said. “We are a developmental program – it takes a lot to bring in quality athletes – make them buy into it (the program).

“Softball is such a small window of what our program is about, but obviously, that is why they are here.”

In addition to becoming the all-time ICCAC coaching leader, Beatty is 12th among active coaches nationally. In his 14th season with MCC, Beatty is also the youngest coach to reach the milestone at age 42.

Beatty believes a key to his success is local talent. Eleven of the 17 members of his roster are from within a 50-mile radius, including five from Muscatine and Louisa counties.

“The thing I’m proud of is we do go outside the community, but the majority of our program is local,” Beatty said. “It shows it is a community, and ultimately the local kids embrace this program and come here. We can compete without going to California and Arizona, plus I get to be here with my family instead of on the road getting commitments.”

Among the local talent is sophomore infielder Ashley Montelongo, who played her prep career for West Liberty. She said she wasn’t aware that Beatty had reached the mark.

“I knew he was getting close,” Montelongo said. “I’ll have to congratulate him.

“It just shows he does whatever it takes to win. He cares about the program and also shows a lot of character. We haven’t been getting the wins we should get, but we’re going to keep our heads up.”

Muscatine High School graduate Nichole Ganzer said she knew of her coach reaching the mark. She chalks it up to Beatty’s instruction.

“Coach is an amazing coach,” Ganzer said. “He’s taught me a lot the last two years. We have a good team and I’m sure we’ll do really well at regional. I’m excited.

“I’ve known him for a while – I came to his clinics for a couple of years. Just the way he coaches, he knows a lot about the sport. He can teach you and makes you better. He’s also a fun coach.”

Montelongo added, “Being here and having coach as a coach I can make a play I couldn’t have last year – I wasn’t even coordinated. I didn’t have what it took to make plays last year.

“He teaches you the game and it’s taught me so much – all I knew was to hit, catch and throw. I was dumb to the game until I came here.”

Beatty admits that it took about four years to get players to buy into the program, but the last five or six seasons the program has virtually sold itself. The program will get 10 to 15 walk-ons whereas before he would lose out on players to Indian Hills and Kirkwood.

When asked if he ever thought about going to another level, Beatty said Muscatine is home to him.

“You always have aspirations,” said Beatty, “but I was born and raised here, my wife was born and raised her, my kids are rooted here. I love coming to work, and this is my program I’ve built from the ground up. We’ve helped to put Muscatine on the map.”

It comes as no surprise to Montelongo that Beatty didn’t fill the team in on his accomplishment.

“That’s coach for you,” Montelongo said. “It’s not like, ‘Hey guys, I got this.’ He’s not the type of person to tell us things like this.”

Ganzer said she hopes Beatty and the Cardinals can continue the success he has created.

“I’m thankful to be a part of this tradition,” Ganzer said. “I hope after this year it continues to get better.”

But Beatty wants more than just wins.

“I care about what happens to them after softball,” Beatty said. “I want them to come back five years later and tell me what they are doing outside of the game.”

Read more: http://muscatinejournal.com/sports/college/article_42bdc5ac-72e3-11e0-b4c2-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1cfWzknOM