Jace Bowman confirmed early Tuesday afternoon that he is signing a letter of intent to play baseball for Barton Community College.
There will be a ceremony on Thursday at the Lawson-Biggs Field clubhouse for the Great Bend High School graduate, starting at 10 a.m. Bowman said he committed to Barton head coach Mike Warren to play for the Cougars on Tuesday.
Bowman, a Class 5A first-team all-state selection by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches, batted a team-best .480 for GBHS in the spring. The senior second baseman also led the Panthers in at-bats (75), hits (36), singles (24), home runs (2) and runs batted in (22).
“I just think it’s the best opportunity for me to play and get better,” he said Tuesday. “I’m excited to get a chance to play for Coach Warren and for Brent Biggs (Cougars assistant).
“It’s a honor to be playing on my grandpa’s field. I’m just really excited about the opportunity and I’m grateful.”
Barton’s Lawson-Biggs Field is named after Jim Lawson and Daniel Biggs, contributors to the athletic department. The late Daniel Biggs was the father of Kelly Biggs-Bowman, Jace’s mother.
Brent Biggs is also Daniel Biggs’ grandson.
Rob Bowman, Jace’s father, played basketball at Barton.
Jace Bowman, a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection in both basketball and baseball this past season, considered playing basketball for the Barton Cougars, but followed his heart and took the baseball route.
Entering into his junior year at GBHS, Bowman made a wise investment by purchasing a Swingaway, complete with bungee cords.
“Basically, it is like hitting off a tee,” he said. “It definitely helped my swing a lot, just because of the repetitions.”
Bowman, who was a starting designated hitter for the Red squad during the KABC all-star game last Wednesday at Kansas State University’s Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, also played third base a few innings before finishing up at second.
Bowman finished 2-for-4 at the plate, including a line-drive single in the third inning for the Red’s first hit in an 11-7 loss to the White squad in a game featuring players that were named to all-state teams in their respective classifications (6-1A).
Bowman, who will receive a partial scholarship, including books and tuition, wants to contest for the BCC starting position at second base, although he said he would play most anywhere to see the field.
“I like second base, just because I feel more involved in the game with double plays and things of that nature,” he said. “It’s a position I’ve played for a long time and I feel real comfortable there.”