Trion junior Gabe Howell has signed with baseball power Chipola College in Florida.

Howell, who also starred in football for the Bulldogs, hit nearly .560 a year ago. He will join a program that has produced numerous major leaguers, including Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and catcher Russell Martin, as well as Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin.

The school has had 15 players drafted in just the past two years.

Trion athletic director and football coach Justin Brown said. "It is a great baseball school," We're extremely excited for Gabe. One thing I appreciate about Gabe is that, in a time where kids concentrate on one sport, he did it the right way. We supported him in the summer when he played baseball, but he made it to a lot of football workouts; he could’ve signed a football scholarship if he wanted to go that route, but baseball is his favorite and he's got a great shot at a long career."

The three-year starter in football and soon-to-be four-year starter in baseball also has worked out for the Minnesota Twins and has, according to Brown a chance of being drafted this summer saying “Gabe's getting some interest from the Twins and others and it couldn't happen to a better kid. He's worked hard and earned it. Hopefully this one door will open up several others."

(TimesFreePress.com)