Mark your calendars for Feb. 23 as the annual BCHS alumni baseball game will take place at Redskin Field. All past players are invited to play in the game, and everyone is encouraged to come out.

Prior to the game, at 6 p.m., a ceremony will be held to both honor Coach Albert Lodge and retire Russell Williams’ #9 jersey.

All past players, friends and acquaintances are encouraged to attend.

Earlier that day, at 4:30 p.m., the 2007 Redskins will kick off their season in a scrimmage versus Bradwell Institute.

On Jan. 20, Lodge was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Midtown in Atlanta. Coach Lodge retired from the Bryan County School system as head baseball coach and is currently a part-time Assistant Principal at Walker Middle School in Ludowici and Assistant Baseball Coach at Benedictine Military School.

Harvey Cochran, President of the Georgia Dugout Club, spoke highly of Lodge and said induction into the Hall of Fame was one of the greatest honors a coach could achieve.

There are no specific achievement requirements for induction into the Hall of Fame, but a coach’s years of service, their achievements during that service, and how much that coach has done for the sport of baseball throughout his career are all taken into consideration when choosing an inductee.

Some of Lodge’s achievements in baseball include 13 region championships and a state championship. He coached a Junior Olympic team, a Georgia All Star team, numerous hall of fame inductions, and he boasts a career record of 422-193.

Russell Williams has a heralded past with the Bryan County High School baseball program.

With Lodge as his coach, Williams was a key player in four regional championship seasons.

"He is one of the best athletes ever to come out of Bryan County High School," said Lodge. "He beat Statesboro’s Joey Hamilton 1-0. Joey was the number one draft pick for San Diego."

Williams had an impressive 11-2 record that year.

He was a draft pick for the Cincinatti Reds and was offered a contract by St. Louis, but being enlisted in the Navy deterred him from joing.

Other accomplishments include pitching three no-hitters and being picked for the elite Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-star team.

Williams was also very successful in BCHS football and basketball. After graduating from BCHS, Williams went on to play ball for Middle Georgia in Cochran, Gordon College in Barnesville and Armstrong State University in Savannah.

His last year at Gordon he had a 12-4 record, was MVP for a team that won the state championship, had a 441 batting average with three home runs.

He also broke the school record for most strikeouts (99) which still has yet to be topped.

All the events will take place at Redskin Field, so come out and celebrate the past and present baseball stars of Bryan County High School.

Admission is $5, and all food and drinks will be free.