Jamie Barnett will continue his baseball career at Faulkner University, after making it official during a signing ceremony at Billingsley High School on May 20.

The senior pitcher was the ace of the Billingsley’s pitching staff over the past two seasons, and grew into a role as a leader.

“No. 1 pitchers are normally going to do their own thing,” Billingsley pitching coach Cleve Mallory said. “His ability to learn and embrace being a leader was what stood out to me.”

Mallory has spent the past two years as a pitching coach with the Billingsley baseball program under Ricky Atcheson.

“All of his stuff has been natural,” Mallory said. “Most of what we did dealt with mechanics and the mindset that it takes to be a pitcher.”

During that time he developed a close relationship as Barnett’s pitching coach and a youth pastor at Bethsalem Baptist Church in Billingsley.

“I’ve been able to watch him grow on the diamond and in life,” Mallory said.

According to Mallory, the top attribute that Barnett has worked on over the past two seasons is the command that he demonstrates with his pitch placement.

“In college, hitters will eat you up if you don’t live on the outside,” Barnett said.

Faulkner captured the attention of Barnett and was a place that he felt comfortable with from the start.

“It is a small campus, and it reminded me a lot of Billingsley,” Barnett said. “It was an awesome experience to play high school baseball, and I’m going to miss it.”