FRANKLIN – Jim Hughes knew it would take seven wins at the beginning of the season to reach 700 for his career.

But once the season got started, he was engulfed in bringing his youthful team with 11 underclassmen along when that win came, June 15, it took Brookfield Central coach Jeff Bigler to congratulate him for Hughes to remember it was No. 700.

After yet another win Tuesday night, an even bigger “W” over Greater Metro Conference South rival Oak Creek, the 23-year veteran in the Sabers dugout still downplayed the fact he is second among active coaches to win 700 games.

“I forgot all about it because we were going back and forth at the beginning,” Hughes said of the up and down start for the Sabers this season. “It’s a thrill to have 700 wins.

The Sabers skipper now has a 707-365 record and .660 winning percentage and credits the support of his wife for his longevity.

“I’m thrilled to be around that long,” Hughes said. “In order to have that many wins you have to have longevity and I’ve been doing it for 37 years.”

“My wife knows I really enjoy coaching and she’s been behind me the whole way.

This year’s team is a very young one and those  players, while obviously not around for all of those years, relish the opportunity to play for a renowned coach.

“He’s been around for awhile and knows how to coach a team,” sophomore Lance Baretz, who delivered the game-winning hit Tuesday night, said. “In game situational stuff, no one is better than him. He knows how to handle the players and he’s great.

“I’m really glad I have the chance to be able to play for him and I’m just a sophomore, so I have two years left.”

Baretz is one of five sophomores in the Tuesday’s starting lineup, which makes the success of this year’s squad that much more impressive and shows Hughes still connects with the kids.

“There’s five sophomore’s in the starting lineup and another one, a pitcher on the bench,” Hughes said. “They know what they can do if they can focus. If we get some pitching down the stretch here, we can have a good team.

How many more does Hughes have in him? Not even he has an idea.

“I just play each year and I’ll know after the year’s over if I’ll be back,” Hughes said. “I feel pretty good.

“When I started coaching my son, who is now 40 was two or three years old in a stroller. Now he’s got grandkids and I get to watch them play.