NEO BASEBALL HISTORY
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College's baseball program began in 1920 as a club sport and has evolved into one of the premiere junior college programs in the nation. Currently under the guidance of 14-year head coach Roger Ward, the Golden Norseman baseball program includes a 20-game fall scrimmage schedule and a spring 56-game regular season. Ward, who is NEO's all-time winningest coach and has won more than 500 games while head coach at both NEO and Western State College. During his tenure, Ward has guided the Golden Norse to a Region II Tournament title in 2005, a South Central District title and a ninth place finish in the 05’ National Junior College Athletic Association Junior College World Series. Ward’s Norse have competed in the Region II Championship game 6 of his 14 years and won 2 Bi-State Conference Titles and 2 OACC Conference Titles in the process. Coach Ward has had nine players sign professional contracts.
From a team comprised of primarily football and basketball players, the Golden Norse Baseball program began competition in the Oklahoma Junior College Conference in 1948 under the direction of Homa Thomas. During his 17-year career, Thomas won eight state championships while compiling a 313-98 overall record. Homa Thomas was one of the architects of what would be the National JUCO World Series now played in Grand Junction Colorado. In 1958, the first JUCO World Series was held in Miami Oklahoma at what would be eventually name Homa Thomas Field. Currently, the late Homa Thomas is immortalized each year during the JUCO World Series as one Coach is given the Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award. NEO not only has a history in the development and existence of the JUCO World Series, NEO baseball has an expectation to compete in the World Series yearly. NEO finished second in the National Junior College Athletic Association Junior College World series in 1958 and 1959. Homa Thomas’s program produced 15 NJCAA all-Americans and seven players that went on to either play or coach at the professional level. One of Thomas' Golden Norseman, pitcher Ralph Terry, signed with the New York Yankees after one year at NEO. Terry went on to throw a no-hitter in the World Series. Former Golden Norse all-American Bob Maxwell assumed the reigns as head coach from 1966 to 1979. While winning 223 games, Maxwell produced three NJCAA all-Americans which included the 1978 National League Rookie of the Year, Pittsburg Pirates second baseman Johnny Ray. Former Kansas State University head coach Mike Clark started his college coaching career at NEO. Clark guided the program from 1980 to 1986 and won 285 games. He was the first coach in NEO history to win 50 games with a 53-23 record in 1986. Clark coached four players that played at the professional level. Despite only coaching at NEO from 1987 through 1990, Bill Mayberry became the first NEO coach to win 65 games (65-20) while guiding the Norsemen to second place in the 1989 junior college world series. Three Norsemen earned all-American honors and six signed professional contracts. Rick Ritschel coached the Golden Norsemen from 1991 to 1997 and directed NEO to a third place finish in the 1993 junior college world series. The "ace" of the staff, Jason Dickson, signed with the Anaheim Angles and would be a starter in an All-Star game as a Rookie. Another of Ritschel's former players, Mike Butcher, is currently the pitching coach for the California Angels.
