Mark Maberry, a Cookeville native and Cookeville High School graduate, was a four-year letter-winner on the Tennessee Tech baseball team, and established himself as one of the top players in program history both on the mound and at the plate.

As a freshman in 1994, Maberry proved himself a reliable batter, hitting .231 with 14 RBI. In addition to 15 total runs, he collected two doubles, one triple, and a home run on the season.

The following season saw Maberry remain steady at the plate, batting .268 and more than doubling his previous season’s RBI total with 30. He had three doubles on the year and once again scored 15 runs, including four homers. His sophomore campaign also included his first action on the mound for the Golden Eagles, as Maberry made seven appearances, allowing just three earned runs in 10 innings pitched.

As a junior, Maberry began to make an even greater impact on the team. As a batter, he continued to be reliable, hitting .274 with 35 RBI’s across 47 games. He scored 24 runs on the year with six homers, nine doubles, and one triple. He also became a much greater factor in the pitching game, appearing in 10 contests, including four starts. Across 34.1 innings, Maberry tallied a 2-3 record with a 6.55 ERA on the year. His performance earned him Tech’s 1996 Most Improved Player award.

During the 1997 season, Maberry exploded onto the national scene with dominant performances on the mound, as well as at the plate. In 59 games, the senior had a batting average .344 and drove in 74 runs, which was more than his previous two seasons combined. He also became much more of a long ball threat, smashing 17 home runs on the year. In addition, he tallied up 19 doubles and three triples, and scored 44 total runs.

Maberry also became the best pitcher in the Ohio Valley Conference. He made 14 starts in 16 total games and earned a record of 12-2 with a 2.34 ERA. He struck out 108 batters in 104.0 innings pitched, and only gave up 35 walks.

Maberry’s fantastic senior season earned him a collection of accolades. He was named first-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball magazine and was selected to the All-South Region Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association. After leading the OVC in RBI, Wins, and ERA, Maberry became the first player in conference history to be named both OVC Pitcher of the Year and OVC Player of the Year. He was also a first-team All-OVC pitcher and designated hitter, and was recognized with Tech’s Most Valuable Player award. He was named 1997 Tennessee Tech Male Athlete of the Year.

At the end of his playing career, Maberry’s name could be found all over the TTU record books. In 1997, he set school single-season records for most RBI (74), most wins (12), most complete games (10), and most innings pitched (104.0). He also set the career record for RBI with 153.