Rowland to play baseball for Vols

The Meigs County player spent most of the past season as a designated hitter after suffering a stress fracture to his elbow.

Jake Rowland spent most of the 2010 high school baseball season as a designated hitter, and it is hitting that has earned the Meigs County player a scholarship offer from the University of Tennessee.

A shortstop most of his career, Rowland suffered a stress fracture in his elbow while pitching early in the season and was forced into the DH role. He hit well enough to attract offers from Memphis, Austin Peay, Coastal Carolina, Lipscomb and Tennessee.

"I cut the list by one and seriously considered Lipscomb, Austin Peay and Coastal Carolina, but it's UT and it's the Southeastern Conference. That's the way I feel about it," Rowland said. "I have been going to UT athletic events most of my life and going to UT is almost like playing in my back yard."

Rowland, Meigs' leadoff hitter this past season, hit .447 with 24 RBIs, four homers, six doubles and three triples while stealing 27 bases and scoring 34 runs.

"He is a great player overall but his bat is what stands out," Meigs coach Dave Mason said. "He's very consistent. He's a typical leadoff hitter, and I see him staying in that role through college."

Rowland's pitching days are over and his days at shortstop may be numbered. It's likely that UT will move him to centerfield.

"I have never played it in high school or anywhere else until this summer and then I played every game in center," he said.

Rowland played for the Padres scout team, which is coached by San Diego Padres scout Ashley Lawson.

"I never doubted Jake's ability but I doubted whether he would get noticed playing at a smaller school," Mason said. "Playing in Knoxville and playing for Ashley made a difference."

While he noted that Rowland will have to make adjustments if he moves from infield to outfield, Mason didn't see that being a problem.

"He'll have to change his arm angle for the throws but playing outfield means being athletic and he is quite athletic," the coach said.

Rowland is the fourth player from the Chattanooga area to commit to the Vols, joining McMinn County's Drew Masingale, Polk County's Jared Allen and Walker Valley's Brandon Zajac.

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