Frontier (Bakersfield, Calif.) tied a California record for home runs in a game last week, crushing 10 round-trippers in a 26-2 win over Liberty (Bakersfield, Calif.), but it fell just short of breaking the Oklahoma state record for home runs. In an inning.
Ryan Metz hit one of the10 home runs by Frontier Highhitters last week.
Photo by Larry Aronat
In 1977, the
Choctaw (Okla.) Yellowjackets set one of the more amazing records in high school baseball history, clobbering 11 home runs in one inning of an 11-1 win over Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City). According to former Choctaw all-state player Randy Bernardi, the sudden power outburst was a surprise to everyone involved.
"We were not a home run hitting team at all," said Bernardi, who graduated in 1978 and currently works for the Choctaw School District. "It was early in the year and our record was roughly 8-2. The first home run was hit by our 7-hole hitter and it was his first of the year."
That home run didn't seem like anything special at first, but then the home runs kept coming, and coming, and coming.
"After home run number four, the players started kidding each other on who was going to break the streak," said Bernardi. "Then after the sixth one, it was like, 'Oh no, I really don't want to be the one to break the streak.'"
The Yellowjackets hit seven straight home runs in the inning, but they weren't done yet.
"The wind was blowing out to left field, which was 315 feet, but most of the home runs were hit to left center, which was 340 feet," said Bernardi. "We were not trying to hit home runs, they just kept getting the ball up in the strike zone and we were getting good looks."
Choctaw finished with 11 home runs in the inning, all solo shots. Coincidentally, Bishop McGuinness' lone run came on a home run.
The 11 home runs in one inning is easily a national record, besting second-place Madison LacQui Parle Valley of Minnesota, which had seven in 1998. The seven consecutive home runs is also a national record, topping four other teams that have hit five in a row.
Bernardi, who went on to earn all-state honors in 1978, noted that the Yellowjackets finished the season around 28-10 and advanced to the state playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Tulsa Kelly.
"We had our catcher, first baseman and shortstop make all-conference and they went on to play ball at junior colleges across the state," he said.
"The newspaper article the next day in the Daily Oklahoman was saying how the Choctaw bats were booming and asked if it was a result of poor pitching or great batting," said Bernardi. "They picked the latter."
Bernardi remembers the game as one played with good sportsmanship between the two schools despite the lopsided score.
"This incredible day we were playing against Bishop McGuinness, a very respected Catholic school here in Oklahoma City," Bernardi said. "We were in no way trying to embarrass them. They were good sports about it."
