The Connection

Jack Owens was a four-year member of the Lake Braddock varsity baseball program. As a sophomore, Owens helped the Bruins win the program’s first state championship. The following year, he helped Lake Braddock capture the Northern Region title. Unfortunately for Owens, he missed part of his senior year due to a wrist injury, and the Bruins failed to qualify for the region tournament.

While Owens’ high school career ended in disappointing fashion, he will continue playing baseball in college at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Owens recently participated in a Q&A via email with The Connection.

*Connection: What made East Carolina the right fit for you?

Owens: Greenville is a great college sports town. The all-around school pride and attitude within the baseball team felt like a perfect fit.

*Connection: What is your major? What position will you play?

Owens: No major chosen yet. I'll be playing middle infield.

*Connection: At what age did you start playing baseball? Have you always been a shortstop? When did you realize playing college baseball was a possibility for you?

Owens: I've been playing baseball since before I can remember. I've played everywhere from center field to catcher to shortstop. Shortstop felt like the right fit. I've known college was a definite possibility after freshman year when I developed and started getting attention from schools.

*Connection: The Lake Braddock baseball program seemed to deal with quite a few injuries in recent years. How many times were you injured in your high school career and how much time did you miss?

Owens: I battled tendonitis in my knee for almost three years, which didn't sideline me but it was a handicap. I missed almost half of the 2014 season due to a torn ligament in my wrist. All healed now and I'm feeling 100 percent.

*Connection: You won a state championship your sophomore year, a region title your junior year, and then the team failed to qualify for regionals your senior year. What was it like dealing with the disappointment of your senior year after all the success you experienced in the past?

Owens: The failure to win a regional or state title my senior year was tough. It was hard to comprehend that my last season in high school could end so quickly. But in my years at Lake Braddock, we made history. The 2012 Lake Braddock team will always be remembered as Lake Braddock's first state baseball title.

*Connection: What is your favorite memory of playing high school baseball?

Owens: I've had more good memories than I could ever remember but the thing that stands out to me most is when Coach [Jody] Rutherford was in a rare good mood and can joke around with the team. It's unbelievably funny and the team jells because of it.

*Connection: If you could go back and change one thing about your high school athletic career, what would it be?

Owens: Not one thing. I worked my [butt] off and every hardship brought me to where I am today.

*Connection: What are you most looking forward to about the transition from high school to college?

Owens: I'm excited to experience the freedom in college to mature and grow. The biggest thing for me though is the level of baseball I get to see. I'm excited to challenge myself.

*Connection: Who is your favorite music artist? Why?

Owens: Zac Brown, because he has the voice of an angel.

*Connection: What is your favorite movie?

Owens: ‘The Other Guys.’

*Connection: What is your favorite hobby outside of baseball?

Owens: Beach volleyball. My friends and I will play at Burke Lake for hours on end. We're not very good but it's still fun.

*Connection: What location is the farthest you have traveled from the Washington, D.C. metro area?

Owens: I flew alone to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Perfect Game World Series, where the Evoshield Canes team I was a part of won, and I got my second ring.

*Connection: Are you a pro sports fan? If so, who are your favorite teams?

Owens: I'm a big pro sports fan except for the NBA. I'm a big Steelers fan and a bigger Nationals fan.