User:Dcb1986/Macon Bacon
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| Dcb1986/Macon Bacon |
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The Macon Bacon is a Georgia based wood-bat Collegiate summer baseball team that began playing in the South division of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) in 2018. They have appeared in the league playoffs twice, and finished as the runner-up after a Championship appearance in their second season.
History
[edit]In 2017, the Macon-Bibb County Commission announced that a Coastal Plain League franchise would be coming to Macon. It would be owned by sports marketing firm SRO Partners, and would begin play in the 2018 season.[1] On July 6th, 2017, SRO Partners and Macon-Bibb County signed a ten year lease agreement for Luther Williams field, which is currently set to expire on December 31st, 2027.[2]
Later in 2017, a contest was announced to select a name for the team.[3] After receiving over 1,500 submissions, five finalists were selected: Macon Bacon, Macon Soul, Macon Hits, Macon Heat, and Macon Noise.[4] A vote was held, with the name "Macon Bacon" being announced as the winner.[5]
Location
[edit]The team is based in Macon, Georgia and plays its home games at Luther Williams Field in Macon.
Luther Williams Field was built in 1929, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] It has housed numerous baseball teams, including the Macon Peaches and the Macon Braves (a class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves), who were the fields' last major tenants, and left at the end of the 2002 season.[7]
Prior to the inaugural 2018 season, the team announced plans to complete major renovations and updates to Luther Williams Field, in partnership with Macon-Bibb County. At a cost of approximately $2.5 million, the renovations would be funded by revenue from the 2016 SPLOST.[8] In addition to modernizing and updating the stadium's playing field, facilities, and seating bowl, the team added new concession stands and hospitality areas.[9]
During the 2019 off-season, a new concession stand and children's play area were added to the stadium.[10]
During the 2020 off-season, the team announced plans to request that the City of Macon use a portion of their yearly lease payment to install industrial fans in the stadium overhangs, in order to help alleviate the high summer temperatures.[11] After some minor opposition, the county commission voted to allow the installation, citing language in the lease that allowed rent money to be applied towards stadium capital improvements.[12] [13] [2]
Coaching Staff
[edit]Danny Higginbotham managed the team for the 2018-2019 seasons. At the end of the 2019 season, he announced plans to leave the team after being named as an Assistant Coach at Des Moines Area Community College.[14] [15] On September 10th, 2019, the team named Jimmy Turk, an assistant coach at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona as the new manager.[16]
Attendance
[edit]In 2018, the team was named the Coastal Plain League's Organization of the year after selling out 11 out of 23 home games. It finished the 2018 season 2nd in attendance in the Coastal Plain League and 11th overall for the entire summer league, with an estimated home total attendance count of over 47,000.[17]
Yearly Records
[edit]| Season | Manager | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Danny Higginbotham | 22-25 |
| 2019 | Danny Higginbotham | 29-21 |
| 2020 | Jimmy Turk | TBD |
| Overall Record: | 51-46 | |
Players in the Pros
[edit]These former Players have been selected in the MLB Draft or have gone on to sign contracts with professional baseball teams:[18] [19]
| Player | School | Drafted | Drafted/Signed with | Season(s) with Bacon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dylan Spacke | Georgia | Round 21, 641st overall (2019) | Boston Red Sox | 2018 |
| 2. | Matthew Minnick | Long Beach State | Round 23, 705th overall (2019) | New York Yankees | 2018 |
| 3. | Riley King | Mercyhurst | Round 26, 787st overall (2019) | Atlanta Braves | 2018 |
| 4. | Keaton Weisz | Coastal Carolina | Round 36, 1081st overall (2019) | Los Angeles Angels | 2018 |
| 5. | MJ Rookard | Middle Georgia State University | Undrafted | Gary RailCats (Independent) | 2019 |
Post-Season Appearances
[edit]During their first season in 2018, the team advanced to the league playoffs.[20] On August 5th, they were eliminated in the first round after a 4-15 loss to the Savannah Bananas.[21]
In the 2019 season, the team advanced to the League Championship, the Petitt Cup, for the first time, where they faced the Morehead City Marlins in a 3 game series for the Petitt Cup, where they finished as the runner up, losing by a margin of 1-2.[22] Game 1 of the series resulted in a 3-0 loss to Morehead City.[23] [24] In game 2, Macon scored an 11-4 victory over Morehead City.[24] Game 3 resulted in a 2-6 loss by Macon to Morehead City.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ Dunlap, Stanley (2 February 2017). "Macon-Bibb baseball proposal sails through committee". The Macon Telegraph.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Luther Williams Field Lease Agreement" (PDF). 6 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Macon Bacon? Gwinnett Braves aren't only Georgia team looking for a name". Gwinnett Daily Post. August 9, 2017.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dunlap, Stanley (August 7, 2017). "Five team names make the cut for the new Macon baseball franchise". Macon Telegraph.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ McGlamry, Maggie (September 27, 2017). "Macon Bacon chosen as new baseball team name". WGXA News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Luther Williams Field". National Register of Historic Places Collection. 24 June 2004.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Spedden, Zach (1 March 2017). "Plan for CPL Team in Macon Moves Forward". Ballpark Digest.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Shepard, Katherine (24 August 2017). "Macon Baseball, county leaders unveil plans to renovate Luther Williams Field". WGXA News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gambill, Rachel (25 August 2017). "Renovations for Historic Luther Williams Field unveiled". Macon-Bibb County.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Macon Bacon adding tiki bar, Kids Zone to Luther Williams Field". 13WMAZ Eyewitness News. 11 December 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Staff (October 8, 2019). "Macon Bacon officials ask county for investment for cooling fans at stadium". WGXA News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Fabian, Liz (October 8, 2019). "Macon Bacon plan for cooling fans at Luther Williams field draws heat from Commissioner Lucas". Center for Collaborative Journalism.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Helm, Claire (15 October 2019). "Bibb leaders approve Macon Bacon rent money for electric fans at Luther Williams". WGXA News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Danny Higginbotham named DMACC assistant baseball coach". Des Moines Area Central Community College. October 9, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Garrett, Miles (August 21, 2019). "Macon Bacon head coach leaving team for new position". WGXA News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Macon Bacon announce Jimmy Turk as new manager". WGXA News. September 10, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Macon Bacon Named 2018 Coastal Plain League Organization of the Year". Coastal Plain League. 23 August 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Garrett, Miles (June 7, 2019). "Macon native takes unique path to being selected in MLB Draft". WGXA News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Baxley, Justin (June 6, 2019). "These Georgia athletes were selected in MLB Draft. Here's what to know". The Macon Telegraph.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gaskins, Cam (August 4, 2018). "Bacon are playoff bound in inaugural season after Bananas eliminate Red Wolves". WGXA News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Heath, Donald (August 6, 2018). "Bacon done: Savannah Bananas advance with 15-4 win in first round of CPL playoffs". Savannah Morning News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Cox, Jeff (August 6, 2019). "Macon Bacon advance to championship in the Coastal Plain League". WGXA News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Cox, Jeff (8 August 2019). "Macon Bacon fall in Game 1 of Championship Series". WGXA News.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "2019 Petitt Cup Playoffs". Coastal Plain League.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
[edit]
Category:Coastal Plain League Category:Amateur baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Sports in Macon, Georgia Category:Baseball teams established in 2018 Category:2018 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
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