By Mark Rountree, Sports Editor
It was a hot, muggy night in Pine Bluff, Ark., and the Enid Majors American Legion baseball team staggered off the field after an 18-9 loss in the opening round of the 2005 Mid-South Regional.
It wasn’t the end. Instead, it was the beginning of what has become known as the Miracle on Dirt.
Battling back through the loser’s bracket, the Majors won five straight games to win the tournament and advance to the World Series. In Rapid City, S.D., the Majors advanced to a winner-take-all championship game, ultimately winning the crown on a balk in the bottom of the ninth inning.
As the players celebrated with a dog pile at home plate, the man pulling the strings had a sudden thought.
“Every player in every league wants to win their last game,’’ said Majors manager Bill Mayberry. “And we just did it.
“When we won it, a feeling came over me. I had a feeling for all the guys I’ve coached over the years. I had a sense of accomplishment for our (2005) team, but a big part of all those former players was with me on that field that night.’’
Enid’s national championship ranks as the highlight of May-berry’s coaching career that be-gan in 1982. But his summer ballclubs have enjoyed success ever since. The Majors have won four straight state champion-ships.
Mayberry has coached at every level of amateur baseball — little league, high school, American Legion, junior college, NAIA and NCAA.
“The secret of coaching is knowing when to stay out of the way,’’ said Mayberry.
Mayberry said during the Majors’ chase to the World Series title, he got advice from Dr. Joe Record, the former baseball coach at Phillips University.
“Dr. Record said, ‘This is no time to start coaching,’’’ May-berry said. “I remember Dr. Record saying I should be more worried about where the team was going to eat.’’
Like most youngsters, Mayberry began baseball in the youth leagues.
“That helped me develop an infection for baseball,’’ he said. “It gets in your system.’’
Mayberry graduated from Enid High School in 1976 and played college baseball at Western Oklahoma State and Phillips University.
“My plan was to play in the big leagues, get rich and then coach American Legion baseball,’’ he said. “One out of three isn’t bad.’’
Enid’s American Legion baseball program takes seriously its pledge to promote patriotism, especially under local baseball directors like Howard Shaffer and Les Beckham.
Mayberry said the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, in-spired him to return to the program after a 10-year hiatus.
“When 9-11 happened, I got a sense to help young people directly,’’ he said. “I wanted to help them live up to the legacy of the American Legion program under Les and Howard and all the others.’’
Mayberry is hard-pressed to name the top players in his coaching career. But he did identify one player.
“I’ll give you one name that’s going to stir a little controversy ... Justin Funk,’’ said Mayberry. “His work ethic, his love of baseball, the way he competed. Justin was my David Eckstein, the way he over-achieved. We share the same passion for the game.
“Now, I know that’s going to start some controversy. I have had so many great players. I would hate to start naming names because there’s no end to it.’’
Mayberry was a central figure in the planning, design and development of Enid’s downtown gem, David Allen Memorial Ballpark. With the help and guidance of other local baseball supporters, he was there from the initial planning to the finished construction.
This summer, the ballpark will celebrate its 10th year of operation, and one of the chief guiding hands behind the facility has been Mayberry.
Mayberry, 50, may have many years of baseball behind him, but many more years are left.
“I don’t have any plans of getting away from the game any time soon,’’ he said.
Mayberry likely will be coaching when his 6-year-old son, Maddux, is old enough to play American Legion baseball.
Mayberry has many roles to fill as the point man for the American Legion baseball program, and many of those roles include duties off the field. But his biggest satisfaction is on the field.
“That’s where it’s most gratifying,’’ he said. “Playing the games, going out to practice, hitting ground balls, being around the guys in the dugout. Those are the things I like best.
“This is the best baseball job ever. I get to do general manager work, front office work. I get to be on the field and be around the players. And it’s summer. It’s not cold.’’
Mayberry said a tip of the hat goes out to all his former players and the local baseball community.
“Those two groups, I can’t thank them enough,’’ said Mayberry. “I think of all those players who have been through the program. And I think of the great baseball community we have here in Enid. I just feel really lucky to be a part of it.’’
