Carlisle to be inducted into NEMCABB HoF

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Danny Carlisle, left, shakes hands with Ronald Campbell following a game last season. Carlisle is being inducted into the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association Hall of Fame today for his 29 years as head baseball coach at Starkville High School. His retirement was official after the completion of the season. (Photo by Kim Murrell, SDN)

Danny Carlisle has shared many moments with family and friends since announcing his retirement as baseball coach at Starkville High School.

He gets to add to that list this afternoon.

Carlisle travels to Corinth today where he will be inducted into the NEMCABB (Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball) Hall of Fame. The ceremony takes place at 4 p.m. between two All-Star baseball games.

"I'm excited about being inducted," Carlisle said. "It's a good honor.

When your peers recognize you for the work you've done, that's the thing. You don't do it for the recognition. You do it for your kids and the love of the game.

"You think about people playing baseball. I like to go on Saturday or Sunday afternoon to watch these independent teams play. That's for the love of the game. They are between 30 and 35-years-old, and 40 some of them, and they are still out there playing."

Carlisle, a 1971 graduate of SHS, has served the Starkville School District for 35 years and the last 29 as head baseball coach.

The Yellowjackets won three state championships (1986, 1987 and 1991) under Carlisle and he won over 500 games during his tenure.

Starkville finished the just-completed season with a record of 21-9 and reached the third round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Carlisle learned of the news from one of his former players and Ackerman baseball coach Brad Mitchell.

Mitchell, one of the board members for NEMCABB, said Carlisle being inducted into the Hall of Fame was something that became a priority.

"He's always been a part of the organization," Mitchell said. "At the meeting, a bunch of us brought it up and it's a no-brainer. We've got to get him in. It couldn't happen to a greater guy. He's meant a lot to a bunch of us."

Carlisle doesn't take being inducted into a Hall of Fame lightly and calls it "a humbling honor."

"I'm overwhelmed with the fact they would do that and I'm just doing my job," Carlisle said.