Fans flock to SRP Park for Augusta GreenJackets' opening night; first opening game at home in since 2018 (2024)

Nick Frietas has never missed an opening day of Augusta GreenJackets baseball.

“It’s nice to be at the first game of the season, have a hot dog, and enjoy the baseball game,” Frietas said. “It’s going to be a good time.”

Frietas is one of the hundreds of people who came out to support the GreenJackets on Friday during the opening night and first game of the season at SRP Park in North Augusta. The team is a single-A-affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and has 66 home games this season.

The GreenJackets, who played against the Columbia Fireflies, won 2-1.

This year’s opening night was very special to the team because it was the first time in six years the team opened their season at home. The last time the team began their season at home was at the Lake Homestead Stadium.

The Augusta Green Jackets moved to SRP Park in August 2018.

“It just puts a smile on everybody’s face to know that we get to start off the season not watching the box floor and not watching the broadcast of the team being on the road," said Noah Adco*ck-Howeth, who serves as the team broadcaster and media intern . "It’s a really incredible atmosphere [at SRP Park]."

The game on Friday was part of a weekend of events as the team kicked off their season with a towel giveaway, a post-firework show and more.

“There has been much excitement on and off the field as there has been at this ballpark for a long time," Adco*ck-Howeth said.

Adco*ck-Howeth said by 11:30 a.m. on Friday there was only standing room left for the tickets and the time to open the gates was moved up to two hours at 5:30 p.m.

Frietas said his favorite memory of the team is when they were called the Augusta Pirates and other team names. He also enjoys watching the sport with his family, including his son, Dawson.

“I have lived here all my life, and I have been coming to GreenJackets games since I was his (Dawson) age,” Frietas said

Chuck Baumann Sr., Eric Baumann and Chuck Baumann Jr. came all the way from Orlando, Florida to see a relative play the game.

“My brother is starting today’s game pitching,” he said.

Evans resident Sarah Eichenlau brought her family along because they are season ticket holders. She said they made sure they got to the stadium early to check out

“We are a huge baseball family,” she said. “My partner's son plays baseball, and he played baseball when he was growing up, so we eat, sleep and breathe baseball most of the time."

Ralph Sapp said coming to the games kicks off his summer and looks forward to the games each year.

“It’s my summer routine and it has been for the past three years,” said Sapp.

Sign up to receive weekly roundups of the latest Post and Courier North Augusta stories.

Handpicked by our editor, as well as breaking news, business profiles, and government recaps from North Augusta.