For eight days, as his team pursued a national championship, Hinds Community College coach Sam Temple had one simple message for his players.

Win or lose, make sure you soak it all in and enjoy the ride.

Hinds, eventually, lost in the NJCAA Division II World Series. Mesa (Ariz.) scored three runs in the top of the 11th inning Saturday night and beat the Eagles 9-7 in the winner-take-all championship game in Enid, Okla.

Hinds’ runner-up finish, however, capped the best season in the program’s history. It finished the season with a 40-21 record, its first World Series appearance in 15 years, and the best World Series showing ever.

“The ball doesn’t always bounce your way. That’s baseball. I’ve been around it enough to know there’s some magical things that have to happen to get to this point,” Temple said. “You’d better soak it all in and be grateful to be with these guys. That was the message ­— don’t take it for granted and don’t think it’s something that happens all the time.”

The magic for this Hinds team seemed to kick in when its back was against the wall. After starting the season 4-8, it won 23 of its last 31 regular-season games.

The Eagles then won four elimination games in the postseason, including one against Jones County in the Region XXIII championship game and another against Madison (Wisc.) in the World Series.

In the World Series championship game, played two days after Mesa blitzed Hinds 12-0, the Eagles rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game before losing in extra innings.

“We are nothing but the byproduct of a great league,” said Temple, a Vicksburg native and former Warren Central coach. “Fortunately, a couple of us every year are going to have a chance to get hot, and we were fortunate to be that team this year.”

The Eagles returned to Raymond as the sun was setting Sunday night, about 22 hours after the final out was recorded against Mesa.

Temple said the mood lightened as the long bus ride from Oklahoma progressed. The team watched the NCAA Division I regionals on a satellite TV feed and enjoyed the company of teammates one last time.

A throng of fans greeted them at Joe G. Moss Field, where players and coaches showed off the national runner-up trophy and celebrated the memorable season.

Temple credited the entire Hinds community, as well as his players, for helping make it all possible. He singled out former players, Hinds president Dr. Clyde Muse, and former Hinds coach Rick Clarke for creating a winning tradition and atmosphere in the school.

“We have a great thing going on over there. Not just the baseball program, but our college. All of that is a credit to Dr. Muse,” Temple said.

Temple also didn’t entirely shut the door on another trip to Oklahoma — and one more victory — next season.

Seven of 11 regular starting position players will return for their sophomore seasons, as will 11 of 13 pitchers.

The road, however, will be difficult as ever. That’s why Temple isn’t making hotel reservations in Enid yet.

“I’ve learned in coaching that next year is next year. You never know what next year brings you,” he said.

It’s also why he and his players savored the long bus ride home, even in defeat. Despite so many players coming back next season, this was literally their last ride together.

“It was really tough times. It is at the end of every season. We won’t play as a team again, this group,” Temple said. “It’s all about the journey. It’s not the end that counts, it’s the stuff in the middle.”