Larry Vaught Photo
After Patrick Cooper finished his baseball playing career, he remembers pitching to Cameron Owens when he was only 13 years old.
“I had a hard time getting him out. He’s one of the most gifted athletes I have known,” said Cooper. “He’s so competitive and he would not let adversity beat him.”
Owens is now a Boyle County senior and Wednesday he officially signed to play baseball for coach Nick Mingione at the University of Kentucky. Boyle coach Adam Blair said he will be the 60th Boyle player to play college baseball but the first to do so at UK.
Owens played in 31 games last season at Boyle and hit .481 with 40 RBI’s, 10 doubles and nine home runs. He struck out just nine times and drew 18 walks. He also went 27-for-27 on stolen bases.
“I played shortstop last year but was not able to pitch,” Owens said. “I hurt my back on the mound toward the end of my freshman season. I was not able to pitch my sophomore year and just played shortstop. Last year I had a really good year at shortstop.”
Blair said Owens “impacted” the program as a freshman before injuring his back that has hampered him the last two seasons.
“He has shown a lot of resiliency. His family found any treatment possible to help. Then as a junior he had a breakout year,” Blair said. “He’s a terror on the base paths and really is the ultimate competitor and it doesn’t matter if it is badminton, fishing or anything else.”
Owens impressed college coaches with his summer play and workouts. He had a 101.3 miles per hour batting exit velocity and an infield arm velocity of 99 miles per hour at one showcase event. He also was timed in 6.43 seconds in the 60-yard dash.
Cooper said it was easy to see that Owens’ dreams had a chance of coming true during the Boyle senior’s signing ceremony Wednesday.
“Is Division I, Power-5 possible? His tools are undeniable. He should be playing at this level,” Cooper said. “He is one of the best athletes I have ever seen. He throws harder than anyone I have seen and he still has so much more left in the tank.”
Cooper, a former college pitcher who runs his own baseball academy, doesn’t think UK will be at Owens’ last stop. He said he believes Owens has the talent to eventually be a draft pick and have a chance to play professional basketball.
