Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds, Jared Powell is an imposing force on a baseball diamond. A former resident of Inver Grove Heights, Powell played first and third base for the Blue Knights for two seasons.
Jared Powell
Known for his hitting ability, he batted .320 in 2006, upping his average 29 points the next season. An RBI machine, he knocked in 25 runs in 2006, following up with 34 in 2007, ranking second on the team both years.
Head Coach Tim Huber remembers Powell as a natural athlete who worked exceedingly hard to make his mark. “Jared has tremendous ability and potential as a ballplayer; he has all the tools,” Huber said. “I’m happy to see him make it to the Division 1 level.”
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Powell played his high school ball in Andover, Kansas. First-Team All-State as a utility player, he led the Andover Central High School Jaguars to a second place finish in the 2004 Kansas State Baseball Tournament. He batted .420 for his high school career.
“I really enjoyed playing for DCTC,” Powell said. “Tim Huber is a great coach. He really knows baseball and helped me a lot with my hitting.”
Powell chose the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for its excellent baseball program, but also for the relatively warm Arkansas winters. “I was offered a scholarship so I visited the campus and checked out the program,” he said. “The Trojans are a small squad, but we’re growing. The upcoming NCAA season will be demanding, but we expect to do well.”
Majoring in health science with a minor in secondary education, Powell looks forward to a chance at playing Major League Baseball after graduating from UALR. “Another option I’m exploring is a career as a teacher. I definitely want to coach baseball at some point.”
Powell’s brother, Dillon, played for the Blue Knights as a freshman in 2007, batting .348 with 39 RBIs. An outfielder who also pitches and plays third base, Dillon Powell is a member of the 2008 roster.
The Blue Knights kick off their 2008 schedule with a spring trip to Florida. The team’s first game is against the London Badgers on March 10 in Orlando. Home games are played at Alimagnet Park, a 178-community park in Burnsville. Winter and early spring practice sessions are held in the Irish Sports Dome, a premier indoor facility in Rosemount.
Head Coach Tim Huber enters his fourth year managing the team, coming off a school record 25-win season and three straight appearances in the Minnesota Community College Conference State Tournament. Huber’s assistant coaches include pitching coach, Randy Briesacher, who’s also an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves, Jake Swartout, and volunteer assistant coach,Garrett Retka.
