SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Wearing his state championship rings — one for baseball and one for football — Zac Fowler of Spanish Fort signed baseball scholarship papers last week to play for the Jones County Community College Bobcats in Ellisville, Miss.

The Toros senior is having an outstanding year in all aspects of the game from pitching and hitting to defense at first base. At 6-foot-5, 240-pounds Fowler was also recruited for football as a lineman as well as his all-state punting ability. But baseball, he said, was always his first love.

“When I was little I was told I was going to go somewhere big and be the (baseball) player everyone wanted me to be. Then football came around and I started getting offers for that and people told me I ought to go for that, but it just made we want it that much more for baseball.”

The Jones County campus, about 25 miles north of Hattiesburg, as well as the Bobcats’ winning record also appealed to him.

“It means a lot to me and my family,” he said. “When I went to visit I felt like the coaching staff, students and faculty took time out of their day to introduce me and make me feel at home around the campus. Everything was just real nice out there and it felt like home.”

Spanish Fort coach Tommy Walker said JCCC coach Chris Kirkland and the Bobcats made a good decision in making Fowler one of the four out-of-state players they could sign.

“I think Zac has unlimited potential,” Walker said. “He’s got the size and strength that you look for on both offense and the pitching side. I think they are going to use him as a pitcher and at first base. He's a big boy and can also play third, too. He throws hard enough. He's 86-88 (MPH) at times. And with two years of growth he can be up there in the 90s and maybe we will see him pitch at the Division I level. Plus, he's got very good power.

“He does work very hard. You see him working on things every day, which is awesome. He brings a little bit of a loose atmosphere out there sometimes and he's always having a good time. This year he’s really enjoyed baseball more than I’ve ever seen him. In the past he’s always enjoyed practice but in games he pressed a little too much. This year he’s gotten himself under control, done well and not let things get to him.”

Walker added that Fowler has had a great year in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and pitching.

To date this season he is hitting .413 with seven home runs — two behind teammate and season leader Cole Jarman — and has 37 RBIs. He is also third in all-time career home runs at Spanish Fort with 15. With pitching, he has compiled a 6-0 record in 2011 with 51 strikeouts in 33 innings and has an excellent earned run average of 1.47.

Kirkland said Fowler was a good fit for his team and would definitely see action as a freshman, especially on the mound.

“With only four out-of-state picks, we have to find not only good athletes, but good students with great character who will represent our school and our team well. We know we have all of that and more in Zac. It’s also important that he can do more than just pitch or just hit or play defense. He can do it all and will be a dual threat for us. Throwing, he's around 87-88 now and I expect next year for him to be in the low 90's. With the command he has of the zone, hitting spots, the kind of pitching coach Walker has him doing, he won’t have to throw a lot harder to be very effective. In the box he can hit for power and for average so we're excited about having him.”

The son of David and Kelley Fowler of Spanish Fort, Zac is undecided on a major course of study.