Roberto Kelly, now the San Franscisco Giants first base coach was once a member of the Greensboro Hornets….Kelly played here back in 1983 …….Kelly also took the Sally League’s Augusta Greenjackets to the playoffs twice(once to the finals) and was named the SAL Manager of the Year….Kelly brought his Greenjackets to NewBridge Bank Park just four years ago….
Madison Bumgarner(Giants) is from Hickory and he played high school baseball for South Caldwell and he was with the Caldwell County American Legion program for a few years….
Josh Hamilton(Rangers) is from Raleigh and he played for Raleigh Athens Drive, in the State 4-A baseball championship against Sandy Gann’s Northwest Guilford Vikings back in 1998 and Northwest beat Josh and the Vikings won the NCHSAA title in their first year as a 4-A school….
Guided Augusta GreenJackets to 285-187 ledger (.622) and 2 playoff appearances…2006 South Atlantic League Manager of Year skippered Augusta to best record in all of minor league baseball each of last 2 seasons, going 92-47 in 2006 and 89-51 in 2007…each of those 2 clubs qualified for post season play, with ’06 version advancing to SAL Championship Series…2005 version went 77-59, finshing in 2nd place during both 1st and 2nd halves.