WEST POINT — West Point High School baseball coach Mitch Bohon is enthusiastic about having Jordan Fitzpatrick at the top of the Green Wave’s order this spring.
After all, his center fielder has signed to play college baseball before the new West Point coach has put his name on a lineup card.
Fitzpatrick signed to continue his academic and athletic career at East Mississippi Community College on Wednesday, saying he had a very positive feeling after a visit to Scooba.
“I like the coaches, and it felt like it was home down there,” Fitzpatrick said.
The West Point senior offered a scouting report on himself and described a player who can do a lot of things on the baseball field.
“I have a good arm in the outfield,” Fitzpatrick said. ”I like to run and dive to catch balls. I bat leadoff and hit a lot of doubles, steal bases.”
Steak bases, indeed. Fitzpatrick swiped 22 of them in 27 attempts as a junior, helping explain how he scored a team-leading 24 runs in 22 games. He also hit .351 with an OPS of .814. His 5 doubles were second on the team, and he shared the team lead in hits with Noah Essary at 26.
“I saw him play a couple of times, and I was excited to get to coach him,” Bohon said. “His athletic ability, you don’t see many that are like him.”
Fitzpatrick said he chose East Mississippi over Northeast Mississippi, Holmes and East Central, saying he has been in communication with the Lions baseball program since the summer and the EMCC staff seemed to want him the most.
“He’s going to pitch for us, too,” Bohon said. “And he’s going to double in college. He’s got a good fastball and breaking ball.”
Fitzpatrick said he always has pitched and that his curve is his out pitch. But no matter where he plays, Bohon knows he will be an asset, both at West Point this spring and at EMCC over the next two years.
“He’s an extremely athletic player, extremely fast, big arm, good glove, bat’s got a lot of pop in it,” Bohon said. “He’s got a chance to be special.”
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