Ex-Jag returns to familiar field

When Shannon Wilkerson finally arrived Saturday afternoon at Lake Olmstead Stadium, he received the good news from his manager, Kevin Boles.

After traveling all day Friday from New England to get to Augusta, Wilkerson learned he'd get the start in right field in his first game with the Greenville Drive against the Augusta GreenJackets.

For Wilkerson, the former Augusta State slugger, it was an exciting homecoming. After getting promoted from the short-season Lowell Spinners to Class A Greenville, the 21-year-old continued his professional career at a familiar park.

Augusta State played 21 of its 57 games at the GreenJackets' stadium last season. Wilkerson returned to the same dugout on the visiting side.

"Everywhere around the ballpark I know," he said. "It feels like home here."

On about five hours' sleep, Wilkerson went 2 for 4 from the plate in Augusta's 7-3 win. In the seventh, he just missed a home run, doubling off the left-field wall. Wilkerson later came around to score.

About 30 of his family members attended the game, along with friends and former Jaguars coaches and teammates. Wilkerson's parents, Kim and Scott, returned to Augusta for the first time in three months.

"Who would've thought we'd be coming back to Augusta, especially this soon?" Kim Wilkerson said.

The 2009 Division II Player of the Year, Wilkerson received a loud ovation before his first at-bat in the second inning. Batting eighth in the order, he came to the plate with runners at first and second and one out. After taking a called strike, he fisted a soft liner up the middle for a 6-4-3 double play.

Wilkerson learned of his promotion Friday morning after Lowell arrived at a hotel in Burlington, Vt. Shannon reached his parents' house in Dacula, Ga., about 4 a.m. Saturday.

He had no complaints about fatigue after spraying balls all over the field during batting practice. And his family was just excited to see him play a lot closer to home.

"We just hope he does well," said Scott Wilkerson, wearing a Lowell hat he bought two weeks ago. "He's finding out it's not about average. It's about hitting the ball and getting on base."

That, he did in his first start.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.