Updated 9:45 a.m. Wednesday to correct 2015 stats.

BY: DAN SMITH

Former Charles Henderson High baseball and football standout Joey Denison committed Tuesday morning to play baseball at Troy University for the 2016 season.

 

Denison has been ripping the ball this season at Southern Union State Community College, where he is hitting.416 with a .592 slugging percentage, 11 doubles, 4 triples, one home run, 52 hits and 33 RBI.

 

Former CHHS Head Coach Derek Irons expressed how proud he was of Denison Tuesday.

 

“Joey is one of the finest young men I’ve ever coached,” said Irons. ”He’s a very hard worker, and always led by example even during his early years of high school. He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever been around, and I’m so excited for him to get the opportunity to play at the Division I level and right here in his hometown.”

 

Last year as a freshman at Southern Union, located at Wadley, AL., Denison hit .329 for the season with 66 hits, 42 runs scored, 17 doubles, 52 RBI and three home runs.

 

As a senior at CHHS, the first baseman batted .520 and hit .421 as a junior.

 

He was named All-Area, All-State and Super 12 in football, and in baseball was All-Area, All-State, Super All-State, Super 12 first-team, 4A hitter of the Year and MaxPreps 2013 Baseball All-American Team.

 

Tuesday evening following practice, Denison said Troy University was the only school he wanted to play for although he had other options.

 

“I’m glad to be going to Troy as I have always liked them,” Denison said. “I’ve grew up in Troy, and I still go home on the weekends, and it will be great to be around family and friends. It will be good to be back.

 

“I also am excited to get a chance to play for Coach Mark Smartt. He is one of the main reasons I chose Troy University, as I want to learn to hit from Coach Smartt. Everything I know about him is that he can really teach how to hit, he is a great guy, and I will love to play for him.”

 

Denison will also join two other Troy natives next season at Troy University in Blake Floyd, a Pike Liberal Arts graduate, and current CHHS senior Chase Smartt.

 

Hitting has always been Denison’s strength, and he has grown in those talents at Southern Union under coach Joe Jordan.

“Coach Jordan is a great hitting coach, and he has helped me a lot with my approach at the plate,” said Denison. “There is a difference between high school and college pitching for sure, and he has taught me how to hit those guys that can really run it up there hard, and then bend it.

 

“I pretty much had Troy circled all along. I’m glad to have the opportunity to play for Troy University, and am excited about it.”