ATHENS – The packed crowd at Foley Field poured out a strong performance at Kudzu Hill for Georgia baseball’s super regional opener Saturday.
The program’s oldest tradition — dating back to the 1960s — has students fill the hill with lawn chairs where the backyards of several Pinecrest Drive homes back up to Foley Field.
UGA students on a college budget could still catch the very expensive super regional from nosebleed-looking seats behind right field.
DawgNation’s Cody Chaffins visited the hill and its neighbors – the greenhouse and the pastor’s porch – in the spotlight of Georgia baseball tradition.
UGA baseball superstar Charlie Condon is encouraged to see students filling the hill in midsummer. The projected No. 1 pick in the MLB draft often talks about the return of Georgia baseball, so Condon would naturally welcome Kudzu Hill’s resurgence.
“It’s really fun to bring that back to baseball,” Condon said. “Football has been around for a long time. That student engagement, everyone has always rallied really strongly around the football program for good reason, but bringing that back to baseball as well is really fun.
Condon laughed Friday when a particular feature of the hill was brought up: a sign reading “Condon’s Kudzu Kegs.”
The Georgia third baseman has grown close with one of Georgia’s most beloved former baseball players, Gordon Beckham. Condon says Beckham mentored him throughout the season through his individual success and leadership of the Bulldogs.
Condon is especially trying to follow in Gordon’s footsteps now as Georgia aims to beat NC State for a spot in the College World Series, just like it did in 2008.
It’s all part of the comeback of Georgia baseball, just like the Hill.
“I think it’s the start of some new old traditions for this program, getting them back to where they should be,” Condon said. “It’s been really cool to see it start to turn around.”
