Middlesboro senior Jake Partin signed his national letter of intent to continue his baseball career at Pikeville College on Friday. Pictured above, seated from left are Jake’s mother, Tessa Stiltner, sister Gracie Stiltner, Jake, and father George Stiltner. Standing, from left are MHS assistant principal Waylon Allen, MHS baseball coach Billy Powell, former MHS baseball coach Aaron Sowders and Pikeville College head coach Robert Taylor. Middlesboro athletic director Kenny Roark was also present for the signing.
The sweet-swinging righty, whose game blends power and speed, said he decided to go ahead and commit to the Bears program after a strong scholarship offer and the promise of early playing time from coach Robert Taylor.
“I’m excited, a little nervous, but just glad to get it over with and really happy that I’m going to be playing somewhere,” Partin said after his signing ceremony at Middlesboro High School. “They offered me more than what you usually get for baseball. It was more than what I thought anyone else would give me and (coach Taylor) seems to think that I’ll get a lot of playing time and that had a lot to do with it.
“It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
Taylor, who is just about to start his first season as the Pikeville head coach, said he can see big things for Partin as he develops at the next level.
“I think he’s one of the best players in the 13th Region. We saw him at the Tennessee Smokies’ showcase and then my assistant coaches checked everything out about him,” Taylor said. “He’s a young man of great character, solid in every aspect of his life and in his game, and I think he’s going to contribute as we build a championship program at Pikeville College.”
Partin will be joining Bell County graduate Adam Overbay in the Bears’ outfield next year. Overbay signed with Pikeville at the end of last season and will start his college career when their season kicks-off on Feb. 20.
Pikeville is an NAIA school that competes in the Mid-South Conference.
“I’m just looking forward to going up there and trying to contribute and doing my best,” Partin said. “(Coach Taylor) is really big on hard work and I like working hard, it makes you better. I really think they can make me a whole lot better and I might be able to go somewhere and do something.”
Partin wanted to thank his dad, George Stiltner, and his uncle, former Jacket head coach Aaron Sowders, for helping him become the player he is today.
“They spent a lot of time with me out in the back yard playing and hitting off tees. They put in a lot of time letting me practice out on the field even before I got to high school,” he said. “Coach Sowders would bring me in when I was in sixth or seventh grade and let me take batting practice on the high school field and it really helped a lot.”
Current MHS coach Billy Powell said he’s always happy to see a player go on to play in college and that Partin should do well.
“Jake has worked so hard for this and he has done everything that we’ve asked. You love to see everything come to fruition and for him to be able to play at the next level,” Powell said. “Pikeville College is getting an outstanding player and an outstanding young man and I have no doubt that he’ll be an outstanding collegiate player like he has been in high school. I’m just glad he has one more year left with us.”
The MHS baseball season starts March 22 when they host Williamsburg.
Partin, who plans to study Biology at Pikeville, says his goals for his senior season are simple.
“More stolen bases and more home runs, basically.,” he said. “I just want do better overall, play better in the outfield — the most important thing is to win.”
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