Brookhaven head baseball coach Matt White said he knew Trace Owens had become a really good left-handed pitcher after he dominated North Pike and West Jones in the two playoff games the senior pitched.

On Tuesday morning, someone else took notice as Owens inked with Coahoma Community College as a pitcher for the Tigers.

“I’m really happy that I’m going to get to continue my baseball career,” Owens said. “It was always a dream of mine to play college baseball, and I’m happy I’m going to have school paid for to play baseball.”

Owens said the coaches at Coahoma made him feel at home when he visited and that it was a key in him picking the school.

“It was immediate comfort when I went there,” Owens said. “The coaches were really up front and honest with me, and I really liked that.”

Owens was dominant throughout the season for the Panthers, as he posted a sub-two ERA on the year and struck out 37 hitters in 45.1 innings.

The senior thrived in the playoffs as well, with stellar outings in the first and second round against North Pike and West Jones, respectively.

In a win-or-go-home game against North Pike, Owens threw a complete-game shutout where he struck out six over five innings. Owens only surrendered three hits in the contest.

Against perennial power West Jones High School, Owens was just as dominant. He went six innings against the Mustangs and struck out five in the process, while not allowing an earned run over his complete-game performance.

“They’re going to get a really good pitcher and a hard worker,” White said. “He’s a crafty left hander. He’s a student of the game, and he’s a workaholic. They’re really getting a good one.”

Chuck Owens, Trace’s father, said he was proud of his son being able to sign a scholarship to compete at the next level.

Chuck Owens said that while Coahoma was a long ways from home he knew Trace would enjoy his experience there.

“While it’s a long drive, they were very understanding of that,” Chuck Owens said. “They did a really good job of making us feel comfortable there.”

Owens said he’s excited to get to work at Coahoma this fall.

“I’m excited to be able to play baseball at the next level,” Owens said.