Colonel Richardson High’s Jamison Covey considered it one of the best days of life when he committed to pitch for Southern Mississippi University on a baseball scholarship before his junior year.
One year later, the senior discovered he had three herniated disks in his back. That led to a major change in plans. He decided to concentrate on rehabbing his back and picking another college after de-committing from Southern Mississippi. “I could have stayed committed,” Covey says. “But I figured that if I am hurt, there’s no sense in going 16 hours away when I probably would have to redshirt.”
Covey spent 12 hours a week for six months going to physical therapy, training, and working his way back toward top form—which he showed by dominating this spring. He had a 6-0 record with a 0.52 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 40 innings to help the Colonels to a perfect 18-0 record and their fifth North Bayside Conference title in six years. “I’ve never faced adversity like this,” Covey says. “I’m probably 85 percent healthy, but I’m getting there.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Covey decided to attend nationally-ranked Harford Community College, where he believes the two-year window gives the best potential for being selected by a professional team. “You can get drafted after your first year at a junior college,” Covey explains.
Covey’s draft hopes may have been inspired by 2018 Colonel Richardson graduate Jake Zebron, whom the Orioles took in the 18th round last year.
Colonel Richardson Baseball Coach Dan Mangum says Covey is every bit as talented as Zebron.
“His ultimate goal is to get drafted, and he felt Harford was the route to go to get drafted right away,” Mangum explains. “He is certainly on the radar of scouts. If you go to a four-year school, you have to wait until you are a junior to get drafted. He didn’t want to do that.”
Mangum said Covey, who throws in the low 90s (mph) at times, is a potential draft pick because of his excellent control and impressive three-pitch repertoire of a fastball, curveball, and change-up. His coach says he also shows the maturity of a seasoned college pitcher with his baseball I.Q. “He is not afraid to throw any of his pitches at any time or in any situation,” Mangum says. “That’s what makes him different.”
The Prep Baseball Report ranks Covey as the second-best pitcher in the state for the senior class. He’s been living up to the accolade with some standout performances. Covey threw a one-hitter and struck out 11 in a 1-0 victory over Decatur on April 1st. About three weeks later, he fanned 10 and yielded five hits in a 9-0 win against North Caroline.
Covey has been an excellent pitcher ever since joining varsity as a freshman. He went 6-1 that year, 4-1 as a sophomore, and 5-1 the following year with a 1.24 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 30 innings. One of Covey’s biggest strengths is his control. He’s only walked seven batters this season.
Covey stood out as a hitter, too. He batted over .300 as both a sophomore and junior.
But Magnum decided to limit Covey, who has played baseball since he was four, to pitching this spring. Magnum didn’t want to put more stress on Covey’s back by having him run the bases and playing in the field. “One game you pitch and the next game you are in the outfield,” the coach says of Covey in past seasons. “We had to take a different approach. He is only focused on pitching.”
