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Bobby Bickley, Vice President and Commercial Lender at United Bank’s Zebulon office, began coaching baseball as many parents do; standing on the field beside his young son, Tripp, guiding him through his first swings and ground balls. Ten years later, it has become much more than that.
“I’ve been coaching in some form for about a decade now,” Bobby said. “It all started when Tripp began playing tee ball at four years old. I began to help during practice, and it just kept going from there.”
“I’ve been coaching in some form for about a decade now,” Bobby said. “It all started when Tripp began playing tee ball at four years old. I began to help during practice, and it just kept going from there.”
Baseball has always been part of Bobby’s life. He played throughout his childhood and into high school, and the game left a lasting impression with him. Coaching introduced him to something new: the opportunity to shape young players at the very beginning of their journeys. That development—watching players improve with practice and gain confidence over time—is what keeps him coming back each season.
“A lot of times you start with kids who don’t even know how to put on a glove,” he said. “But by the end of the season, the growth you see is addictive. Watching the player’s development is the most gratifying part of coaching.”
As Tripp grew older, his baseball opportunities expanded. He played recreation league baseball in Thomaston and Pike County and was later invited to join a travel team. Bobby was asked to coach, and the two have been part of travel baseball for four years. This change brought a higher level of competition and commitment.
When Tripp reached middle school at St. George’s Episcopal School, a new challenge emerged: the private school had never developed its own baseball program. For several years, parents and supporters quietly worked behind the scenes trying to change that.
In the beginning, the players competed through a partnership with Trinity Christian School. They wore Trinity jerseys, but the roster told a different story. “Seven of the nine starters were St. George’s kids,” Bobby said.
That success made something clear: St. George’s already had the players and the talent. What it needed was its own program.
Parents began discussing how to make that happen. After months of conversations, planning, and persistence, the effort paid off. St. George’s officially launched its baseball program in the spring of 2026, with Mike McCart serving as head coach. Bobby joined the staff as an assistant alongside David Knight and Josh McElroy.
While wins and losses matter, Bobby believes the most important lessons happen long before the final score is recorded.
“There are times you leave practice wondering if you were too hard on them,” he said. “But then you remind yourself to go back and tell them something good, too. Sometimes I challenge them to build them back up—and bringing them back up is the best part. For many on the team, baseball helps them come out of their shells. It gives them an outlet to find themselves.”
Several SGES players have been competing together since tee ball; friends who have pushed each other to improve year after year. Those lessons—showing up, working hard, and supporting one another—extend far beyond the ballfield.
“We expect these kids to show up and give their best,” Bobby said. “And that’s a really good lesson they’ll take into their careers later in life.”
Coaching has also strengthened Bobby’s connection to the community. As a banker, he’s seen firsthand how relationships built through youth sports often extend into other areas of life.
“I can’t tell you how many relationships, personal and professional, I’ve built through coaching,” he said. “I’ve made plenty of connections standing on a baseball field.”
Being part of St. George’s first baseball team carries special meaning. Looking ahead, the goal is to sustain and grow the program—eventually expanding into the high school level while continuing to develop younger players.
“People are pouring into this school and its athletics,” he said. “Good people, good parents. They care and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
For Bobby, the vision is simple: keep building the program, keep strengthening the community, and keep watching young players grow—both on the field and beyond. OS