College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

Brownsboro’s Keaton Parsell figures to be a menacing presence on the Mike Carter Field mound the next two years.

The former ace pitcher for the Brownsboro Bears signed with Tyler Junior College on Friday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

“It’s just a great program,” Parsell said of the 2007 NJCAA Division III national champion. “It’s local, I know the area, and the coaches with what they’re doing with this program is just amazing. TJC is a really fine school.”

Parsell easily stands out in a crowd. He’s 6-foot-5 and weighs 210 pounds and brings with him some menacing stats from high school.

Parsell went 7-3 with three saves as a senior, and struck out 115 in 72 innings. He posted a 1.58 ERA with nine complete games for Brownsboro.

“He was the most dominating pitcher in our district,” said Brownsboro head baseball coach Joe Fleming. “He had a couple of losses that were tough that were not necessarily his fault. He had some big wins and he had some huge saves.”

Parsell, who was also a starter on the Brownsboro basketball team, throws a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a slider and a changeup. He throws in the mid-to-upper 80s.

“He’s done a great job at Brownsboro and it’s always great to keep a good local talent right here in East Texas,” said TJC head baseball coach Jon Groth.

“He’s got a high ceiling. We’re not sure he’s done growing and he’s already performing at a pretty high level. I know coach (Hart) Hering is a great pitching coach and I’m looking forward to having Keaton on board and letting him work with coach Hering.”

Parsell was joined at the signing ceremony by his mother, Kelli and brother, Weston. Weston played one season recently for North Lake College, which is a member of TJC’s conference.

KEATON PARSELL (seated), a standout pitcher at Brownsboro High School, inks a letter of intent to play baseball for Tyler Junior College. Attending the ceremony were (left) brother Weston and mother Kelli.
((Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.))