Hixson pitcher Josh Coppinger has signed to play baseball for Chattanooga State.

“I’m excited. They told me I had a good chance of pitching right away,” the left-hander said.

Coppinger finished the regular season with a 4-1 record and a 1.04 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. He had 65 strikeouts.

He chose Chattanooga State because he wanted to stay close to home and he also wanted a two-year school.

“I thought about Lee (University), but I decided to go to junior college and see what happens after two years,” he said.

Hixson coach Brian Bray said Coppinger was overlooked but had plenty of potential.

“Josh isn’t a thrower. He’s a pitcher,” Bray said. “He knows how to get outs, and being with Robert (Long, the Tigers’ pitching coach) is going to make him that much better. Josh has a good mound presence and a willingness to learn, and he knows how to work out of jams.”

Chattanooga State has struggled to find left-handed pitching, and Tigers coach Greg Dennis felt Coppinger would be a plus.

“Josh is a solid low-80s guy that may pick up another couple of miles per hour,” Dennis said. “What we liked about him is that he pounds the strike zone. I think he has a chance to help us out right away.”