After leading the BJ’s to their first NBC championship in 10 years, Liberal manager John Martin has been invited back to manage the club next summer. The BJ Board of Directors voted Saturday night to have Martin back. The 26 year old Emporia State pitching coach and Kansas City native led the team to a 38-14, a 22-12 Jayhawk League season, and the program’s fifth NBC World Series championship by going 7-1 in Wichita.

During recent weeks, BJ general manager Bob Carlile indicated that Mike Hargrove might be back to manage the team in 2011. But after winning the title, it was Hargrove’s opinion that Martin should manage the team again. Hargrove led the Bee Jays to a fourth place finish and a 31-21 season in 2008 and a third place finish and a 34-20 season in 2009.