Dunkirk head coach Frank Jagoda stands with his seniors as they hold up the Section VI Class A2 championship plaque. OBSERVER File Photo by Christian Storms

Frank Jagoda grew up on Central Avenue in Dunkirk, a short distance from Crino’s Music store, the favorite hangout for him and his buddies in the 1970s.

Decades later, during his 2023 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame induction speech, he paid tribute to his old pals.

“We are a very close group to this day,” he said, “and I’m proud to say a very successful one to boot.”

The “Corner Gang,” as they were known back then, would be proud of Jagoda, too.

Especially this year.

For not only did he reach the 400-career win milestone as the Marauders’ baseball coach, but he also capped his final season at his high school alma mater with Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 and Section VI Class A2 championships.

Talk about going out in style.

“This year was their time,” Jagoda said after Dunkirk knocked off Lewiston-Porter 2-1 in the Class A2 title game. “This was the seniors’ time. They’ve put three hard years of work into this and they prevailed today. I’m so happy for them and so proud of them for what they’ve accomplished over the last three years. They’ve put together a real good legacy for themselves.”

Speaking of legacy.

The Marauders finished the season 18-4 — they lost to Amherst in the Class A crossover game — and they captured the 17th sectional crown in school history.

“It’s been over a decade, which is way too long,” he admitted. “Sometimes I don’t think we win enough, but you can’t fault these guys. Sometimes things happen. We had a few lean years, but we’re league champs, we’re section champs and that says a lot the way these guys play ball.”

It also says plenty about the man who has lived and breathed Dunkirk baseball for nearly half a century as a player and/or coach.

“When I was in eighth grade,” Jagoda said in 2022, “Bill Walters took me under his wing and got me into the jayvee program and then (varsity coach) Al Stuhlmiller just taught you discipline, dedication to the sport and intestinal fortitude. He could get the best out of any player and I always appreciated that out of him.

“He was a hard-nosed guy, but he meant well and he always wanted to win. He gave me that desire constantly in my life.”

It was a “gift” that kept on giving year after year.

Among Jagoda’s many personal coaching highlights were earning his 366th career win in 2022 that pushed him past Stuhlmiller on the school’s all-time list and claiming his 400th career win, which came earlier this year against rival Fredonia.

And, as a player, arguably his most memorable game was in 1978 when he and Williamsville North’s Paul Webb pitched into the 16th inning of a Section VI Class BB playoff game. The Marauders ended up winning 4-1 and Jagoda finished with 14 strikeouts before being relieved by Brian Benamati, who got the final out.

Having already announced that the 2025 season would be his last as the baseball coach at his alma mater, Jagoda’s words at the end of his CSHOF induction speech more than two years ago certainly ring true today.

“I took advantage,” he said, “of what was given to me.”

Jagoda’s program and, ultimately, his players were the beneficiaries.

For those reasons, he is the 2025 Post-Journal/OBSERVER Coach of the Year.

The “Corner Gang” would undoubtedly approve.