Former Bainbridge High School first-team All-Region 1-AAAA and Gold Glove winning catcher Drew Kelley is having a strong senior season with the Georgia Southern University Eagles in Statesboro.

Kelley, son of Tad Kelley and Leslie Brock and nephew of Bainbridge Leisure Services Department Director Al Kelley, was a first-team All-Region 1- AAAA selection and Gold Glove winner as a senior for Coach Scott Miller’s Bearcats in 201. He had 29 runs batted in that season.

As a senior this season at Georgia Southern, Kelley, who played his first two seasons with the Georgia State University Knights in Cochran, has hit .265 with a double and four runs batted in. He was also named to the Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll. He is majoring in general studies.

Coach Miller said he is proud of Kelley and all the other hard working and dedicated players who came through his Bearcats program and made major contributions to it.

“Drew Kelley was always a hard working, dedicated player with the Bearcats and he is demonstrating the same attributes at Georgia Southern,” the former Bearcats head coach said. “Drew always handled the pitchers well and came up with key hits in key situations. I remember one game his senior year when he blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in deep right field in the bottom of the third inning, tacking on the final run in a 4-0 Region 1-AAAA victory over the visiting Northside Columbus High School Patriots.”