Inductees

In the spring of 1966, the Oak Park High School Northmen took the field for their inaugural baseball game. At the time, there was no outfield fence and, of course, no tradition.

However, a coach named Jim Derry saw to it that the entire state would eventually see Oak Park through a different lense, the kind that left opposing teams and any follower of high school sports nodding that the Northmen were among the state’s best.

“It wasn’t a struggle (finding players),” Derry said. “I had had 100 players try out for baseball. There was a lot of good talent in the area.”

Apparently so, because the Northmen became an immediate success, soon winning consecutive state championships as they authored a tradition of 10 total Final Fours and six state championships.

Which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted the Oak Park High School Program with the Class of 2020.

The Northmen have 781 wins, with state championships in 1968, 1969, 1983, 1987, 1993 and 1995. They placed third in 1992, 2001 and 2006, and fourth in 2008.

Only New Bloomfield (MSHOF 2017) has won more state crowns (seven).

The secret to success? Attention to detail, and Oak Park has been led by only four head coaches in Derry (1966-1986), Cam Jury (1987-2007), Troy Andrews (2008-2014) and Will Mayle (2015-current).

“(Derry) set the foundation,” said Jury, a senior on the 1967 team. “You put your uniform on in the locker room, you wore it on the bus, you did not take it off until you got back in the locker room. You wore your hair the same way, just like the Yankees.”

Jury nearly outdueled Glendale’s Steve Rogers (MSHOF 2004) in a 1967 quarterfinal loss, which fueled the next two championships seasons.

“How could I forget them?” Derry said of the title teams. “Anytime you have the success of winning a state championship, it was a very good feeling.”

The 1968 team (21-7) beat West Plains 8-7 in the finale. Larry Jones fanned 89 in 61.1 innings and Jerry Evans had 27 RBI.

The 1969 team (19-8) topped Lafayette Wilwood 5-1 in the championship. Keys were Ken Hollander (61 innings), Ted Wales (76 strikeouts in 48 innings) and Rick Keese (32 RBI).

“One year, in 1968 or 1969, the last four or five games we didn’t make an error,” Derry said.

Oak Park’s 1983 team (20-2) beat Mehlville 13-6 in the finals. Conrad Petty and Mark Roggy combined for 72 RBI. Petty and Steve Scheetz both batted .450. Four years later, Derry retired.

“My first year, I was so nervous,” said Jury, who had assisted Derry for five seasons. “Basically, it was the same philosophy, the same practice situations. Honestly, Coach Derry had it set up, and I just tried to keep it going.”

Jury’s 1987 team (24-2) beat Lafayette Wildwood 8-7 in the championship, with a thrilling ending: first baseman Jeff White chased down an errant throw behind the bag, and rifled a strike to catcher David Roggy, whose sweep tag denied the tying run.

Jeff Niemeier hit a home run that sailed over a house across the street, and Jeff Herrington, Shane Chester and Andy Bramms combined to pitch 149 innings and strike out 153. Roggy, White, Niemeier, Jeff Norman, Mark Johnson, Mark Haskins and Sittichoke Huckuntod combined for 206 RBI.

The 1993 team (22-0) batted .398, featured left-handed pitchers Craig Burroughs, Pete Forster, Eric Massey and Dan Durham, and beat Parkway Central 7-4 in the finale. Two shortstops led Jury to move one to second base, and that player tracked down numerous foul pos by right-handed batters.

The 1995 Northmen (19-4) beat Joplin 6-2 to win Class 4. Future Arkansas Razorback Mike Moriarity (8-2, 3.83 ERA and 32 RBI, 11 home runs), Ryan Stone (6-1, 3.47 ERA), Robert Aschentrup (21 RBI) and Jonny Mitchel (39 hits) set the tone.

“By the time we became seniors, we were on a mission,” said Zac Jury, who hit two home runs in the sectional.

Overall, Oak Park has won 19 district titles and 18 conference championships.

“When you come to Oak Park, the first day as a freshman, you see the 75 to 80 kids who come out and only 20 of them are going to make the team,” said 1995 senior Matt Reynolds, a catcher who manned right field to help the team that spring. “If you made the team, you knew you had a responsibility as an Oak Park baseball player to do your best.”