Things couldn’t have worked out any better for Brandon Jones.
After years of traveling to tournaments with his age-group teams and with East Coast Baseball, Jones only had to look five minutes from his home in Columbus to find the right fit for college.
On Thursday morning, Jones finalized his plans by signing to play baseball at the Mississippi University for Women. The Heritage Academy senior infielder/pitcher is one of the first players to sign to play for the Owls, who will start play in 2018.
“It really surprised me,” Jones said. “I had never really been on the campus. It is a big campus. I really didn’t know about it. It was close to home so my family and friends could watch me. I came and liked everything about it.”
In addition to baseball, The W will add softball, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, and volleyball for the 2017-18 school year. It will add more sports for the 2018-19 school year as it continues the process to gain NCAA Division III status.
Jones said he doesn’t mind being part of a fledgling program that likely will be without a home to call its own for at least its first year of existence. He said he had a few offers from out-of-state schools before he heard about the baseball program at The W, so he contacted coach Mike Wolfenbarger and told him he really wanted to be an Owl.
Jones said the size of The W’s campus was the most surprising thing to him. He said he had been inside the Stark Recreation Center and he thought that was it to the campus. His thinking changed when he went on a campus tour.
“I didn’t know they had that many buildings,” Jones said. “It really felt like a college atmosphere once you got inside the gates.”
Jones also is excited about being part of the first class that helps to establish a tradition. He said he talked with Wolfenbarger about the construction of a baseball field that possibly could have a turf field. The W still hasn’t made an announcement where it will play its games in 2018.
But Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said none of that will make a difference to Jones, whose passion for baseball is the equivalent of a gym rat’s love for basketball.
“In 20 years it will be a good trivia question,” Branch said. “He will be one of the first to be a part of the Mississippi University for Women and be an Owl. In several years, he is going to be able to put his imprint on it and say, ‘I was part of that first class that made this thing possible.’ I am excited for him. It is a great fit for him.”
Jones hit .362 last season, which was the highest among regulars. He led the team in hits (29), doubles (nine), RBIs (25), runs (21), and slugging percentage (.537). He was second in on-base percentage (.470).
“He has always been able to hit,” Branch said. “Brandon is not the type that is going to lead by being a rah-rah player. He is going to lead on the field. It has shown the past two years with his bat. He has truly led our team. He has come up with the big hits when we needed them. He has gotten hot when we needed him to get hot.
“He is a kid who has put the extra work in to get better, whether it is here at Heritage Academy or going the extra mile in the summer, even playing high school football on Friday night and going and playing baseball on Saturdays (with East Coast Baseball) through the fall. He is definitely a kid who is well deserving of playing at the next level. He loves the game. He is a student of the game. He has done all of the right things to get to the next level.”
Branch said Jones isn’t a flashy guy. He knows staying close to home and having the support of family and friends will be important to Jones.
“Brandon really thrives in a smaller environment,” Branch said. “I don’t think there is a better place for Brandon Jones to be.”
Jones said playing college baseball has been his dream ever since he started playing the sport when he was 5 or 6 years old. He credits coach Barry Harcrow, his tournament ball coach; his brother, Brooks; and his father, Dennis; for teaching him how to play the game. Jones said he has continued to learn about the game in high school. He admitted to being nervous as a freshman, but he said last season he felt most at ease.
Regardless of the time of day or the number of hours he spent on the field, Jones said playing baseball never was a tedious endeavor. Now, he has secured an opportunity to play at least four more years. He might even have a chance to make a little history in the process.
“Ever since I knew what baseball was I loved it,” said Jones, who plans to study physical therapy/kinesiology. “It turned out perfect. It is close to home and friends and family can watch. It feels great.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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