Sherman senior pitcher Garrett Powell, shown here in a spring 2009 photo, verbally committed to attend Grayson County College in the fall 2010 as a member of the Vikings.
SHERMAN - Simply put - Garrett Powell wants to get the best of his opponent.
Whether it be on the football field chasing an opposing quarterback or the baseball diamond trying to get the best of a hitter, it’s a simple philosophy he uses to help himself mentally prepare
for a game. The results are more often than not on the positive end, and Powell recently made a decision allowing himself not to be burdened with where he will spend the first two years of college.
Powell, a standout linebacker on the football team, will don his baseball cleats in 2011 after verbally committing to attend Grayson County College to play for the perennial champion Vikings and head coach Dusty Hart, who are two years removed from a title.
GCC had its worst season in school history a year ago and was notably absent from the conference tournament, but Hart settles for nothing less than success and has grabbed a young man he feels can help him on the mound.
Powell's high school coach Gary Cosper firmly agrees with Hart's assessment.
"He's such a great athlete, and there are a lot of things Garrett can do," Cosper said. "He's improved so much in the last year and has a really high ceiling regarding future success."
Powell certainly has the experience as a four-year starter, even starting at catcher as a freshman against rival Denison.
"I've coached him for four years, and on the plus side, Garrett can continue to get better in the years to come," Cosper said. "He's a great kid and is so good at a game of baseball that can beat you down. It's not an easy game, but he's got a great future in the sport."
Powell joins current teammate Madison Carter as Bearcats who have announced their intention to play for the Vikings. They can officially sign Jan. 15, and the thought of having them next fall certainly hasn’t hurt the morale of Hart, who now has two freshmen for his 2011 team to join the current crop of 25 freshmen who will then be sophomores.
Hart feels Powell’s ability to focus solely on baseball can turn an already talented player into someone bigger.
“Garrett is going to be a pitcher first, and I think he’s got a chance to really be something special,” Hart said. “He throws 88 to 90 right now but has never really concentrated on just baseball. He’s such a great athlete and has played two sports all his life. It’s always exciting to have such a great guy like him, because just playing baseball could allow him to work on his arm speed and throw up to 95 some day. I’m excited about coaching him.”
It’s a decision that has been weighing heavily on Powell’s mind lately, but it hasn’t affected his performance on the football field. He scored his first touchdown since his sophomore year of 2007 Friday after primarily playing defense the last two seasons. He recently met with Hart and chose the Vikings against the University of New Mexico and Texas State.
“I talked with Coach Hart, and it wasn’t a very difficult decision to make,” Powell said. “I know I will feel comfortable, and there are more options attending Grayson. What I like about Coach Hart is the way he approaches you, tells you how it is and what he expects you to do. They’re supposed to be really good this year and can be even better the next.”
Powell was invited to Arlington last summer to participate against top-notch competition.
He was one of a select few allowed to showcase his skills against some of the area’s best players, and once Powell sat down and collected his thoughts, things began to sink in his mind on the tremendous opportunity he was able to take part in with some of his peers.
“I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time,” Powell said. “Once people kept talking about it, I began to realize what an honor it was to be a part of that kind of competition.”
Powell, who plans to major in architectural drafting, admits the same way many other high school athletes do on the relief of knowing their post high-school graduation plans.
He is part of a Bearcat team under Cosper expecting to build off a successful 2009 season that included a fight to the finish with McKinney High for the district championship before falling one game short against the Lions. Bigger and better things are expected in the spring after a first-round exit against Carrollton Newman Smith, including a 1-0 loss in the deciding Game 3.
It certainly caught the eye of Hart from an early stage.
“Garrett and Madison both if you want to get down to it are guys who bring a little extra with them every time they hit the field,” Hart said. “They’re big-time football players as well as baseball and have a competitive fire I think will bring a winning mentality to this team. They definitely hate losing, and it’s something you like to see as a baseball coach.”
The opportunity to continue playing with a current teammate made Powell’s decision even easier. It certainly can’t hurt having a familiar face around to ease the transition.
“It will be nice to keep playing baseball with Madison,” Powell said. “It will help us both entering the fall once we start playing to enter Grayson in a comfortable situation.”
Powell played all summer with the exception of a two-week break, but don’t get the idea of football simply being a means of staying in shape.
“My mind is definitely on football right now and doing what I can to help our team win,” Powell said. “Football is the main focus for me and will be until our season is finished.”
He is also rid of an injury to his throwing hand and is completely healthy, which is always a plus to an athlete who would be miserable standing on the sidelines. It’s now full speed ahead, and the bottom line is doing what he can to bring another title to Grayson County.
“Winning is something I strive for no matter what field I’m on,” Powell said. “It’s a constant thought on my mind - doing what I can to be better than who I’m going against.”
Spoken like a voice of a true winner, and the rich get richer at Grayson County College.
