LEWISBURG — Beyond the wall in right-centerfield the scoreboard lets everyone know just where they are, exactly whose house this is.

Depew Field is the home of the Bucknell baseball team, but there is a big difference between this honor and most. You see Gene Depew isn’t just a black and white photo hanging on a wall some place. He is a living, breathing legend, whose credentials grow every day.

With more wins than any coach in any sport in Bucknell history, Depew keeps adding to his legacy in Lewisburg. And now, three decades into his tenure as the patriarch of the Bison baseball program, Depew is probably at the top of his game.

The Bison won their fifth Patriot League title in program history last weekend – and second in three years – winning both the semifinal and championship series in three games and both on the road. But, perhaps more impressive was the way the Bison did it, especially taking two of three at Holy Cross in the final.

Bucknell suffered a crushing loss in the series opener, scoring four times in the top of the ninth inning to go in front, only to fall in the bottom of the inning when a fly ball was lost in the lights, allowing two runs to score. But less than 24 hours later, the Bison rebounded with two victories to clinch another bid to the NCAA tournament.

It was verification of a lot of things for Depew, especially that he is bringing in the right kind of players who are playing the game the right way, adding another chapter to the story.

“Friday’s loss was such a different loss. It was a difficult thing to handle that night,” said Depew. “But Saturday was a good indication of the maturity of the seniors and the leadership of our seniors. We came out focused.”

That is what the veteran coach has come to expect. Depew has been at Bucknell since he was a standout football player in the late 1960s. He was a three-year letterwinner and captain of the 1970 team. He became the head baseball coach in 1981 after serving as an assistant beginning in 1974.

Three of his current players are playing professionally, including 2008 All-American Jason Buursma (in Class AA Springfield), Mark Angelo (Arizona Rookie League) and the gem, Matt Daley, who was just recalled to the Colorado Rockies’ bullpen after a two-week stint in Class AAA. A four-time Patriot League coach of the Year, Depew has coached three PL Pitchers of the Year, four players of the Year – including Midd-West graduate Andy Brouse this season – and two Rookies of the Year.

That said, he feels pretty good about where the program is right now.

“I’m very humbled by the field thing,” said Depew, who earned the honor in 2003. “I’ve spent a lot of time working with the program. We’ve got some very good assistant coaches and we’ve been able to continue to attract quality young men. I enjoy what I’m doing; I enjoy coming to work every day.”

The Bison found out Monday that they will be heading to South Carolina for the NCAA tournament, beginning Friday. The Gamecocks are one of the top teams in the nation, so Bucknell landing in that regional isn’t really a surprise when you consider in his first four trips to nationals, Bucknell has visited a Who’s Who of college baseball: Texas, Florida, Miami and Florida State.

Two years ago the Bison upset top-seeded Florida State on its home field in the regional opener, although the Seminoles came back to win the regional.

“It’s just a privilege to keep playing, to represent the Patriot League and our program,” said Depew. “One of the guys said this week, ‘I don’t care where they send us, just so we get to keep playing ball.’ 

“That’s the attitude this team has. We just want to keep playing.”

With graduation last weekend, Depew is excited that is players are able to focus just on baseball right now with classes over for the summer. He said his squad has played its best in 2010 when class has been out of session.

“We play really well when we are out of school,” he said. “The whole spring break week we played well. We played very well in Florida (winning four of six games). Now school is over and we are just playing baseball and the guys really like that situation.”