West Hall High baseball coach Manny Pontonio was named an inductee of the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame this week. His induction ceremony will be held in January.
Pontonio has coached baseball in Georgia for 28 years, where he has a 350-139 overall record, four state semifinals appearances and six region titles. Before joining the Spartans in 2004, he coached at Dalton for 20 years. Prior to Dalton, he coached in New Jersey, where he won a state championship.
Pontonio was named Region 7-AAA Coach of the Year and the Dalton Daily Citizen’s Coach of the Year in 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. He was the Northwest Georgia All-Star head coach in 1992, 1997 and 2003 and the assistant coach in 1995. He also was the North Georgia All-Star assistant coach in 1995.
Pontonio has coached over 65 players who signed professionally or played college baseball. Three of his former players have played in the College World Series and two of his former players are now coaching college teams.
Pontonio played baseball at Miami Dade Junior College in Miami, Fla., and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. He also coached football for 28 years in Georgia and New Jersey.
Pontonio has coached baseball in Georgia for 28 years, where he has a 350-139 overall record, four state semifinals appearances and six region titles. Before joining the Spartans in 2004, he coached at Dalton for 20 years. Prior to Dalton, he coached in New Jersey, where he won a state championship.
Pontonio was named Region 7-AAA Coach of the Year and the Dalton Daily Citizen’s Coach of the Year in 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. He was the Northwest Georgia All-Star head coach in 1992, 1997 and 2003 and the assistant coach in 1995. He also was the North Georgia All-Star assistant coach in 1995.
Pontonio has coached over 65 players who signed professionally or played college baseball. Three of his former players have played in the College World Series and two of his former players are now coaching college teams.
Pontonio played baseball at Miami Dade Junior College in Miami, Fla., and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. He also coached football for 28 years in Georgia and New Jersey.