Austin Peay Governors Baseball adds Garrett Copeland to start early signing period

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Baseball

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team has signed infielder Garrett Copeland, of Bartlett, Tennessee, to open the 2012 fall signing period.

Copeland, a 5-9, 185-pound infielder at Bolton High School, enjoyed a breakout junior campaign in 2012, batting .407 with three home runs, 10 triples, 22 doubles and 27 stolen bases en route to first-team All-State honors from the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association.  That followed a sophomore year where he batted .539 with two home runs. Copeland ended his junior season ranked as the No. 39 player in Tennessee by PerfectGame.com.

“Garrett was a young man that we knew without a doubt we wanted in our program early in the recruiting process,” said Govs head coach Gary McClure. “He has extraordinary knowledge, instincts and feel for the game along with being a very good player both offensively and defensively. Garrett comes from a very good high school program and he has played for the Dulins Dodgers Travel Team which is one of the elite programs in the country and plays against the best competition available year in and year out.”

Copeland is a three-time All-District 14-AAA first-team selection and has twice been named to the District 14-AAA all-tournament team. He has been recognized three times on the Commercial Appeal’s All-Metro Team. He was selected to the TBCA Junior Sunbelt Series this past summer. In 2011, he was named to the TBCA Super Sophomore squad. He also has played for the Dulins Dodgers during the summer.

A two-sport athlete, Copeland also has played linebacker for the Wildcats football team and is a three-time all-district and Commercial Appeal All-Metro selection in that sport. He recently was selected to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game.

Copeland also has excelled in the classroom, where he is a four-time member of the athletic director’s honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society.

“Garrett also comes from a very knowledgeable baseball background,” said McClure. “His father has been his coach with the Dulins Dodgers so he has been in a great environment to learn the game of baseball his entire life. He is a very good student and I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach Garrett because of the talent, makeup, and love for the game that he has.”