ENID —



Many talented hitters have come through the Enid Majors’ program through the years. But few, if any, have carried a .549 batting average into July — until now.

Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa signee Miguel Bretado, the Majors’ lead-off hitter, had smacked 28 hits — 11 of them for extra bases — in 51 at bats going into Thursday’s doubleheader with Woodward.

He had a two-run home run in going 1-for-4 as the Majors lost the opener, 12-5. He was 2-for-3 in Enid’s 6-1 victory in the nightcap.

Bretado, who hit only .301 as a senior at Enid High School, said he has been more patient at the plate, and the result is a nearly twofold increase in his batting average.

“I knew what we were going to get out of Mikey this summer. I just didn’t know it would be .549 halfway through the summer,” said Majors head coach Chris Jensen.

“I was hoping to have a really good senior varsity year,’’ Bretado said, “but that didn’t come out real well. I knew this was my last chance to talk to college coaches, and I’ve just been more calm and more relaxed at the plate.”

Prior to the summer, Bretado already had planned to walk on with the Mavericks, so he could play with Majors and former high school teammates Zach Gonzalez, Seth Sturgeon and Dylan Nave.

 But when he started heating up for the Majors, the potential for a scholarship became more of a reality. Finally, he received a text message earlier this summer from Gonzalez telling him to call NOC Tonkawa head coach Terry Ballard. When he did, Ballard gave him the news he was hoping for.

“The first thing I did was go tell my family, they were really excited to hear about it,” Bretado said.

 “Sometimes for kids going to college, they’re scared about not knowing anybody. But I get to go out and play with people I know and who I’ve played with for years.”

Bretado said he especially is thankful for the input of Gonzalez, who also helped to recruit Nave and Sturgeon to Tonkawa.

 Gonzalez has the ear of the Mavericks’ coaches after he smacked a team-record 63 RBI and 13 home runs.

Bretado said he would like to play infield for the Mavericks, but he said he would “go anywhere, as long as I can see the field.”

Jensen, who described Bretado as a hard worker, has played the 5-foot-8 utility man at every position except first base this year.

Jensen said he has worked with Bretado since he was in eighth grade. Since then, he has played for the Prairie League, AA, AAA and Majors squads.



Woodward 12-1 Enid 5-6



Christian Lafontan and Blake McMullen combined for a four-hitter as the Majors (19-4) bounced back from losing the opener.

The Majors gave Lafontan all the support he would need with three runs in the first on RBI by Zach Gonzalez (single), Braden Martin (ground out) and Seth Floyd (sacrifice fly).

Enid added two more runs in the third on the strength of singles from Bretado and Gonzalez, a walk and two wild pitches.

Enid scored its last run in the sixth when Cody Coats doubled and came home on a triple by Jeremy Smith.

In the opener, the Travelers took advantage of four Enid errors in ending the Majors’ 10-game winning streak. Enid committed three errors in the second as Woodward scored four runs to take a 7-0 lead.

The Majors cut the led to 7-5 with three runs in the fourth on an two-RBI double by Jeremy Smith and an RBI single by Joe Black.

Woodward, though, added a run in the fourth and four in the fifth.

Gonzalez had two hits for the Majors, who will host Bartlesville in a 6 p.m. doubleheader tonight at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

“Two gams, two different teams,’’ said Majors assistant coach Tony Gwinn.

The Majors’ scheduled doubleheader Saturday with Bartlesville at NOC Enid’s Failing Field has been changed to a 2:30 p.m. single nine-inning game.