STARKVILLE — Starkville High baseball coach Danny Carlisle had a pretty good day at the office Saturday afternoon.
In pregame ceremonies at the Starkville High baseball field, Carlisle received a 52-inch flat screen TV from the school’s baseball booster club. More than 40 former players attended the pregame ceremony, taking a stroll down memory lane of Carlisle’s 35 years at the school.
Later on the same diamond, Starkville moved to 9-3 with a pair of 13-3 run-rule victories against Louisville and West Point.
“I feel really blessed,” Carlisle said. “This program means so much to me. It was an emotional day. I really appreciate everybody’s support. To have so many players come back really meant a lot to me.”
Carlisle retired from teaching and coaching at the end of the 2011 season. The school district arranged for Carlisle to work as a part-time employee this spring, also allowing him to return for a 29th and final season as the school’s baseball coach.
On Saturday, Carlisle’s No. 24 was retired. The coach received a framed uniform, a TV, and a special award commemorating his 547 career victories, five district championships, and three state championships.
“I really want to thank coach Carlisle for helping me so much,” said Ryan Taylor, a member of the 1991 state championship team at SHS. “He stayed on me a lot. I gave him a lot to be worried about. When it came down to making sure I was eligible and able to play, coach always came through for me.
“We had a lot of good times here and I took a lot of great memories away from here. Coach taught me a lot about baseball, but he taught me even more about life.”
Assistant coach Ronald Campbell spoke of his lifetime association with Carlisle. Campbell has known Carlisle since he was in first grade. Campbell played from 1982 through 1984 at SHS, with the final season being Carlisle’s first season as coach.
“We were 22-0 in the regular season,” said Campbell, who is in his sixth season as an assistant coach at his alma mater. “We were set to play for the state championship. We drove to Clinton but when we got there to play, they had locks on the gates.
“There was a problem on the coast and that caused them to cancel the state championship. Later, Hattiesburg was named state champions and then they had to vacate the title. So there is no Mississippi State champion from that year. However, our first year together in 1984, that is when it all started around here.”
The Yellow Jackets won state championships in 1986, 1987 and 1991.
“Of all the victories and all the championships here the one that haunts me to this day is the 1988 state championship that we gave away,” said Will Arnett, a member of the 1987 state championship team. “We will always remember Coach Carlisle for all the things that he did for the young people in Starkville.
“The indoor facility, the grandstand, everything this program has is because of coach Carlisle. He touched so many people all of these years. He did a make a difference in one or two lives; he made a difference in a whole bunch of lives.”
Starkville High Athletic Director Dr. Stan Miller said his 25-year association with Carlisle has been “a genuine blessing.” Miller added that nobody worked harder or took more pride in his program than Carlisle.
“He could sell the Brooklyn Bridge,” Miller said. “He could straight-arm anyone and have them give money. He was a tireless worker who had a vision for this program.”
The vision has been carried on by several former players now coaching around the state. One such coach is Laurel High School football coach Milton Smith. A native of Starkville, Smith played both football and basketball for the Yellow Jackets before later playing football at Mississippi State University.
Smith led Laurel to the 2007 Class 4A football state championship and had the school back there this past fall when the Tornadoes fell short in the state championship match.
“The day before graduation we hung the first state championship banner here on the outfield wall,” Smith said. “I will always remember that team for the rest of the life. In 1986, we were headed to West Lowndes to play and we were cutting up on the bus.
“We lost the game. Coach told us when we got back we were going to have a two-hour practice. Then on Monday, he said we were going to take 500 cuts. He knew how to motivate. He knew the right thing to do at the right time. I want to thank Coach Carlisle for helping us learn how to expect to win and then teaching us to win.
“Those lessons I still use today. He has meant a lot to me.”
On the field Saturday, the Yellow Jackets needed six innings to defeat Louisville. Daniel Murphree pitched a complete game. Tanner Clanton threw a complete game in the five-inning win against West Point. In Saturday’s middle game, Louisville defeated West Point, 4-2.
For the Yellow Jackets, Nathan Pugh finished the day with five hits.
“We had to win these couple of games for coach Carlisle on his day,” Pugh said. “He was really touched by so many of the former players coming back. He also had a lot of family here. I am glad we were able to play well.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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