Baylor baseball coach Gene Etter
photo by M.A. Locke
McCallie baseball coach Greg Payne (right) is all smiles with one of student managers after winning the 2014 state championship
photo by Trey Tucker
McCallie baseball coach Greg Payne
Baylor baseball coach Gene Etter is in his final season with the Red Raiders - 847 wins
photo by M.A. Locke
The McCallie-Baylor baseball rivalry dates back to 1906 (McCallie won 12-5), but with Baylor coach Gene Etter having announced his retirement at the end of this season, it is appropriate to focus on the Etter Era 1975-present.
With the 17-1 triumph Friday night at McCallie, the Red Raiders lead the series over the past 40 years, 67-54, as well as the overall series, 122-95.
Two State Titles: During the Etter Era, Baylor has two state titles (2003, 2006), while McCallie claimed its state championships in 1976 and 2014.
A Few Highlights:
1975 – First Etter Era Game: Baylor gave first year coach Etter his first head coaching win in a 10-0 home victory against Brainerd.
Doug Stein pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 10. Ron Cates had two RBIs while Jimmy Foster and James Berger collected two hits each.
Baylor swept defending district champion McCallie in four straight games, defeating Guy Buher in each game. Baylor won the newly formed CIL and was region runner-up to Tullahoma.
1976 – McCallie (24-3) returned the favor with a 4-0 sweep of its own as Buher had three victories and a save against the Red Raiders.
In the district final at Darwin Field, Buher hit a late game, bases-clearing double to all but secure the win and stood on second base in the rain with arms raised. McCallie went on to win its first state baseball championship.
2003 – The two teams split two games during the season and Baylor won its first of two state crowns in this decade … Red Raiders (32-13)lost first game of state tournament before winning five straight for the title.
2006 – McCallie swept the season series, 3-0, but the Red Raiders (38-9) gave coach Etter his second state championship.
2014- Baylor swept the season series 3-0, but McCallie (28-11) edged the Red Raiders, 3-2, in the state semis and then beat MUS, 10-0, for the Blue Tornado’s second state crown.
Season Sweep: (3 games or more)
1916: Baylor, 3-0
1917: Baylor, 3-0
1919: Baylor, 4-0
1975: Baylor, 4-0
1976: McCallie, 4-0
1985: McCallie, 3-0
2000: Baylor, 4-0
2006: McCallie, 3-0
2011: Baylor, 3-0
2013: McCallie, 3-0
Big League Grandfather: Baylor freshman Teddy Lepcio is the grandson of former major league player Ted Lepcio who had a 10-year career, including eight with the Boston Red Sox in the 1950. Teddy’s father, Thad Lepcio, is the Baylor athletics director.