MACON, Ga. — Of the more than 20 players on the Macon Bacon roster, nearly half have a connection of playing either high school, college baseball or both here in Central Georgia.
13WMAZ’s Marvin James spoke to three players who call Central Georgia home and are happy to be playing in front of familiar faces again.
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Playing in the Coastal Plains League over the summer break is not exactly a vacation for these college student athletes, but for those who want to be great, it’s a necessity.
“Playing year-round really critiques your craft. Being able to play with a bunch of different guys really helps you to understand a different style of baseball. You learn how they like to play and cater to your style and you learn a lot,” said Cal Gentry.
Gentry is one of the home-grown talents hailing from Perry High School and he’s now on his way to his senior season at Georgia College. He says he loves the idea of playing in front of the home crowds.
“Baseball back in Macon is one of the greatest things that happened. Just the love they show for all the players and fans…how crazy they got last summer and I'm really excited for this league to be back,” Gentry said.
Former Tattnall Teammates Logan Fink and Corey Bartholomew find themselves on the same roster again this summer returning to a more familiar field of dreams.
“We played here a little bit with high school stuff and just with the history with this field and turning it into the Macon Bacon is cool what they’ve done here,” said Fink.
“It's pretty exciting to be back home playing. I know I’ve been away for a while. They got some pretty good players coming out. I'm excited to see what they are going to do,” said Bartholomew.
And for the next two months and some change, these players will be considered local putting on a show for the fans in the stands.
“It’s awesome to get your friends and family to get here and watch you play a game you love. We are a family and that we'll do anything for each other and how the coaches will do anything to make us better baseball player and better person,” said Gentry.
Preston Spark, a relief pitcher from Veterans High School and Middle Georgia State, rounds out the four players on the roster with Cal Gentry, Logan Fink and Corey Bartholomew.
The Bacon are expected to add a few more players from the Georgia Bulldogs and Mercer Bears once they finish with the college baseball postseason.