Knights Returning to Waynesboro
Waynesboro, Virginia
Another long-standing partner of the Generals, the University of Central Florida Knights, will be sending two key contributors from Orlando to Waynesboro for the 2018 season. The 23rd-ranked Knights, according to Baseball America, will be sending infielder Jackson Webb and outfielder Dalton Wingo to the Generals. As UCF looks geared to make a deep NCAA Regional run this season, Webb and Wingo may be tardy on their arrival to Waynesboro, but Greg Lovelady and staff insure these two will be impact players for the Generals.
Jackson Webb – Infielder
A native of Roswell, Georgia, the 6’0 176-pound redshirt-sophomore comes to UCF after spending his freshman season at Georgia Tech and one year at Gulf Coast State College. The switch-hitting Webb was a 37th Round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2015. Webb’s one season at Gulf Coast State College was deemed a success as he was named First Team All-Conference with a .357 batting average, 14 doubles, 1 home run and 15 stolen bases. The versatile infielder has the ability to play all three infield positions and will be a consistent piece for the Knights and Generals during their respective 2018 seasons.
Dalton Wingo – Outfielder
A native of Plant City, Florida, the 6’1 190-pound freshman came to UCF as one of the Knights’ most treasured recruits. The right-handed hitting Wingo was ranked by Perfect Game as the 123rd best outfielder in the country’s class of 2017. He was also ranked by Perfect Game as the talent-rich state of Florida’s 5th best outfielder and 31stoverall recruit. The 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game 3rd Team All-American and Florida-All Region 1st Team is a highly followed prospect by MLB scouts and projects to lead UCF for years to come.
Waynesboro Amateur Athletics Inc is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Visit waynesborogenerals.net for more information and game schedules.
Tyler Hoffman Continues as General Manager of the Waynesboro Generals
Waynesboro, Virginia
Tyler Hoffman has agreed to continue as the General Manager of the Waynesboro Generals. Serving as General Manager since 2014, Hoffman’s reputation is extremely impressive. New leadership Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward are excited to continue the trend.
“We are ecstatic to have Tyler continue his winning role as the General Manager of the Waynesboro Generals.” stated the Wards. “He has built strong relationships with colleges around the US and even more in our community. His work ethic, knowledge and values make it a no brainer to continue to allow him to do what he loves for our community.”
A graduate of Fort Defiance High School, Hoffman was a 2010 Regional Champion catcher as well as a member of the Final Four Team that year. He continued his baseball career at Bridgewater College where he was catcher and team captain on the winningest team and class in program history and named 2014 ODAC All-Tournament Team. Hoffman graduated Bridgewater in 2014 with a degree in Business Administration.
Later that year, Hoffman was hired on as the Waynesboro General’s General Manager in 2014, the team became Valley League Champions. In 2015, they were Valley League Semi-Finalists and then in 2016, the Generals won the Southern Division Pennant and had the greatest winning percentage in Generals’ history.
“The relationships and friendships I’ve made over the past 3 seasons make all the long hours and summers worthwhile,” said Hoffman. “Bringing top-notch baseball players to Waynesboro and helping them become leaders on their teams and in our community makes this position very fulfilling.”
Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward look forward to a great season and a successful future with the Waynesboro Generals. Waynesboro Amateur Athletics Inc is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Visit waynesborogenerals.net for more information and game schedules.
John Jeanes Hired as New Head Coach for the Waynesboro Generals
Waynesboro, Virginia
John Jeanes has just been hired to coach next season’s Waynesboro Generals. New leadership Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward feel confident that The Generals will have a terrific season with their new coach. “John has a diverse and successful record in playing, coaching and recruiting baseball,” said the Ward’s. “We are very excited to see how he inspires our team!”
John was a four-year starter at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut where he received his Bachelors in Sports Management. As a pitcher, he finished 4 th in career innings pitched and 5th in strikeouts, as well as 6th in all-time appearances. The staff set the three lowest team ERAs in program history. John began his coaching career with the Ohio Warhawks; where his staff won the Past-Time National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his two summers with the Warhawks, their combined record was 90-7 with a sub 2.50 ERA.
Jeanes’ first stint in collegiate coaching was in 2014 at the University of The Cumberland’s in Williamsburg, Kentucky where he took a pitching staff with only 1 senior and no returning starters and was able to produce a staff that tallied 31 wins. The staff included 3 sophomores who logged 180 innings and still had the lowest walk total since the 2009 season. Following his 2014 season, Jeanes was hired as the Recruiting Coordinator/Pitching Coach at Middle Georgia State University where he led the Knights to 2 regional appearances, a .710 winning percentage, 4 All-American Awards and 12 All-SSAC Players, including a Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Freshman of the Year in only 2 recruiting classes.
In August of 2017, Jeanes was hired as the Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Chipola College in Florida. Shortly after, Jeanes posted a nationally ranked recruiting class for the defending NJCAA Division 1 National Champions.
“I’m extremely excited to accept the position as Manager for the Waynesboro Generals. It is a honor to be a part of a first class organization,” John stated. “I hope to lead these young men in the right direction not only to make them better baseball players on the field but better human beings off.”
John plans to bring this organization and community a product they can truly be proud of as well as be involved with for many years to come.
Coach Jeanes, General Manager Tyler Hoffman, and new leadership Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward look forward to a great season and a successful future with the Waynesboro Generals. Waynesboro Amateur Athletics Inc is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Visit waynesborogenerals.net for more information and game schedules.
Waynesboro Generals Acquired by Long Time Supporters
Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward Acquire Local Baseball Team
Waynesboro, Virginia
Supporting the Shenandoah Valley community is something the Ward family gets fulfillment from, so when given the opportunity to acquire their beloved Waynesboro Generals Baseball Team, they jumped at the chance.
Born and raised in Waynesboro, Brent Ward has baseball in his blood. His grandfather spear-headed the building of Wayne Hills Baseball Field and organized the North Little League. Brent’s father played and then coached for many years. Brent and his brother both played baseball since they were kids. Brent’s wife, Kathleen Kellett-Ward, moved to Waynesboro VA in 2002 and now has the Top Selling Real Estate Team in the Shenandoah Valley. She has been very active in community, supporting local businesses, helping local charities and providing opportunity for over 12 years.
The Wards have a history with, and a passion for, supporting the Waynesboro Generals. Two years ago, they volunteered to be the host family for a member of the team. One member became two and soon after became four. “It was a terrific experience for our family – especially our kids,” said Kathleen Kellett-Ward. “ We stay in touch with all of our players to some degree and especially one, Zach Sterry who was drafted shortly after he left here, to the Red Sox. They have become extensions of our family and we have thoroughly enjoyed it.”
“My husband and I have enjoyed our past experience with the team and we see the potential for the growth in the future,” said Kellett-Ward. “It’s an amazing organization for our local community to rally behind.” College students from all over the country are able to experience the unique, small town of Waynesboro and enjoy the experience and the Wards get fulfillment from impacting today’s youth in a positive way.
Brent Ward and Kathleen Kellett-Ward look forward to a great season and a successful future with the Waynesboro Generals. Waynesboro Amateur Athletics Inc is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Visit waynesborogenerals.net for more information and game schedules.
Thomas Added to Williams’ Staff for 2017
The Waynesboro Generals are pleased to announce that Micheal Thomas, a former Detroit Tiger and 2014 22nd round draft pick will be joining the Waynesboro Generals staff in 2017 as an assistant coach. Thomas, currently the graduate assistant coach at the University of Kentucky, completed his star career as a catcher at the University of Kentucky by being named to the 2014 Gregg Olson Award Watch List, which honors college baseball’s breakout player of the year.
Thomas, a native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, spent two seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization after being drafted in the 22nd round in 2014. Upon voluntary retiring from professional baseball, Thomas joined the University of Kentucky’s baseball staff as the graduate assistant for the 2016 and 2017 seasons as he completed his graduate studies.
In Thomas’ current role as a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky, he assists in all aspects of the game including throwing batting practice, catching drills, and managing bullpens.
Thomas’ day-to-day duties with the Waynesboro Generals will include working with hitters and catchers.
Woods Returns to Waynesboro in a New Role
The Waynesboro Generals are pleased to announce that 2012 & 2013 Generals’ outfielder, JoMarcos Woods, will be returning to Waynesboro in 2016. This time Woods will be hanging up the spikes and joining Matt Williams’ staff as an assistant coach.
Woods was a member of the Generals in 2012 where he finished with a .253 average, 14 RBI’s, and 9 stolen bases. In 2013, Woods finished with a .258 average, 9 doubles, 11 RBI’s, and 16 stolen bases as he led the Generals to a Valley Baseball League championship.
Woods played four seasons for Terry Rooney’s Knights at the University of Central Florida and recently finished an extremely successful senior campaign, in which he was crowned 2nd Team All-Conference for his .329 average, 12 doubles, 5 home runs, 32 RBI’s, and 9 stolen bases.
Woods will handle the outfielders and hitters in Waynesboro as he returns for the 2016 season.
Gusky to Return as Pitching Coach in 2016
The Waynesboro Generals are pleased to announce that 2015 assistant coach, Ross Gusky, will be returning in the same capacity in 2016. With the Generals, Gusky will handle the pitching staff.
The 2015 Generals’ pitching staff, under Gusky’s supervision, witnessed many spectacular appearances on the mound. One of which Brett Sasse (Nebraska-Omaha) faced the minimum in an outing at Woodstock.
Gusky recently completed his graduate assistant duties for Greg Guilliams’ staff at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.
Prior to coaching, Gusky played two seasons for Tallahassee Community College before finishing his collegiate playing career at Valdosta State University, where he was twice crowned Gulf South Conference Player of the Week. Following Gusky’s time at Valdosta State University, Gusky played professionally for the Washington Wild Things in Washington, PA and then internationally for the Vienna Metro Stars in Vienna, Austria.
As a member of the Valdosta State University coaching staff, Gusky has been crowned Gulf South Conference Tournament Champions and a Top 15 Division II pitching staff in 2013. During this time, Gusky works directly with the pitching staff, supervises fielding drills, bullpens, and prepares practice plans.
Williams hired as Generals new coach
The Waynesboro G
enerals are pleased to announce the hiring of former Generals’ assistant coach and current Valdosta State baseball assistant coach, Matt Williams, as the clubs new head coach for the 2016 season.
Williams takes over the head coaching duties following a successful campaign in 2014 & 2015 by D.J. King. Just as in Williams’ previous seasons with the Generals, he will handle the hitters, defense, and man the third-base box.
While Williams assisted King, they led the 2014 Generals to their sixth Valley League championship and back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history.
Williams is currently the assistant baseball coach at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia after previously serving as the assistant coach for the Valdosta State softball team and graduate assistant for the Valdosta State baseball team in prior years. Williams played collegiately at Texas College in Tyler, Texas and Valdosta State University.
Williams’ day-to-day duties as a member of Greg Guilliams’ staff at the NCAA Division II member, Valdosta State University, include working with hitters, infielders and baserunning.
A complete story can be read by following this News Virginian link: News Virginian Story
