• Golden Bears baseball field named for longtime former coach

ROBERTSDALE, Ala.— Former Robertsdale baseball coach Kevin Raley was honored Tuesday night before the start of the UMS-Wright-RHS baseball game. The longtime coach was introduced as a banner across the scoreboard revealed the Golden Bears baseball field will now bear his name: ‘Welcome to Kevin Raley Field.’

Raley retired from teaching and coaching two years ago with 23 years at RHS after leading the Golden Bears to a Class 6A, Area 3 title and a second-round appearance in the state playoffs. He took over the UMS-Wright program in 2015. It was the 12th Area championship for RHS under Raley.

The Golden Bears won 443 games during Raley’s leadership. He won his first game as a head coach at G. W. Long where he went 66-19 in three years before taking over at RHS in 1992.

He led the Golden Bears to a Class 5A state runner-up spot in 1994 and 1996, was named Baldwin County Coach of the Year eight times, selected Press Coach of the Year in 1996 and has served on the Alabama High School Athletic Association Baseball Committee since 2002. He won his 500^th career victory in his final year at RHS.

Raley played at Davidson High and then at the University of South Alabama for head coach Steve Kittrell. Robertsdale head coach Peter Bezeredi took over the Golden Bears after Raley stepped down in 2014. 

The newly named field was very welcoming to Raley as UMS-Wright took a 12-4 win in the late game. Tied 4-4 after four innings, the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead in the fifth and exploded in the seventh for seven runs.

In Game One, Foley defeated Gulf Shores 11-1. For the full 2016 tournament schedule visit: BayBears Classic.