Curt Jones has been a steady presence around the South Central Cougars baseball program for decades. Since taking over in the mid-1990s from legendary coach Gary Shirley, he hasn’t just maintained the program’s success—he’s shaped it into something distinctly his own.
That legacy grew even stronger on Friday, April 24, when the Cougars rallied for a 4–3 comeback win over Flora. The victory marked the 950th of Jones’s career, all of them coming at South Central. It’s a remarkable milestone, especially considering the program itself has totaled 1,150 wins since the consolidation of Kinmundy/Alma and Farina/LaGrove back in the 1989–90 school year.
Because of the school’s size and the absence of a football program, South Central plays both fall and spring baseball seasons, giving Jones more opportunities to build that win total. Still, 950 victories is no small feat, and he now finds himself within reach of the 1,000-win milestone—a number few coaches ever approach.
I had the chance to play for Coach Jones on his very first team at South Central, and I’ve followed his career ever since. What stands out most is his consistency. Year after year, his teams compete at a high level, and he has a way of getting the most out of his players.
His résumé backs that up. Jones has led the Cougars to a Class A state championship and coached three players who went on to be drafted: Shawn Garrett, Tanner Bushue, and Spencer Patton—the latter earning a World Series ring with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
The Cougars won’t have to wait long for another shot to add to that win total. They’ll be back in action this weekend at the Centralia Tournament, where Jones will look to keep the momentum going—and inch even closer to that next milestone.
