Jay Francis named Bogeys GM
The Sandhills Bogeys will enter their fourth season next summer, under a new general manager.
This summer the organization announced that Jay Francis will take on the role of GM. Jay has a background in sports media for over 30 years. Working for WBAL-TV in Baltimore and behind the camera for ESPN shows like Baseball Tonight, College Gameday, and Sports Center.
“I did all the Orioles Sports programming at WBAL and then when the Ravens came to town, I did two seasons covering the Ravens,” said Jay. “I was doing Orioles programming in those great years in the early 90s with Ripken, Palmeiro, Devereaux, Brady Anderson, Alomar you know when they should have won a World Series and they didn’t, but that was a blast.”
After his time at WBAL-TV, he went to ESPN to direct Baseball Tonight. At his time with ESPN, he earned an amazing 16 National Emmy Awards.
In 2005, while working on College Gameday for a Duke basketball game and a site prep for College Gameday for UNC football, Jay a few days to spare and decided to drive to Moore County, where the 2005 U.S. Open just took place.
“I just remember driving down Midland Rd. and just thinking Midland Rd. the most beautiful thing. It was just like, what am I doing? Why don’t we live here? So, when I had the opportunity to do it, I did it. I’ve been to the area a bunch, and I just loved it and I love the people,” said Jay.
Jay has been a Moore County resident since 2017.
Alec Allred reached out to Jay over the summer, and he felt like it would be a great fit. “You have to do so many things right to be in the position they are in now,” said Jay. “They started a team without a field and now have a championship program.”
Head Coach Andy Fox has recruited guys that make host families want to keep hosting. Jay described the players as hard-working kids with character. “That’s not going to change. That’s Andy’s process,” said Jay.
One thing that Jay will focus on over the next several months is community involvement, corporate sponsorship and reaching new fans. “The core fan base is incredible. It’s the same people every day. The core group is great,” said Andy. “We just need a bigger awareness in the community of the quality of baseball that is going on out there.”
The team still will use high school interns from the local high schools. That program has been a tremendous success within the Bogeys organization.
One of the most important tasks Jay is determined to improve on is the fan experience. How to improve upon the existing efforts to create excitement for fans every night. From the sound, streaming, giveaways, all the way to the concessions.
"I'm not changing anything, I am adding to it, I am excited," said Jay.
Opening game is set for May 29th.
Written by Curtis Self
This article is sponsored by Lucky C Hat Co.
