Owen gives verbal commitment to Gardner-Webb softball

Autumn Owen has three seasons of high school softball remaining. But she already knows where she’ll be playing once her Polk County career ends.

The Wolverine sophomore has given the Gardner-Webb softball program a verbal commitment. Owen said Gardner-Webb coaches made their scholarship offer a few weeks ago.

“You’ve got to get started early. You can’t wait around,” Owen said of the reasons behind her early decision. “With softball, the recruiting is done early.

“I felt like it is the place I need to be. It’s the place for me. Plus it’s close to home.”

Owen can’t officially sign a letter-of-intent with Gardner-Webb until her senior season, and neither her verbal commitment or the Bulldogs’ offer is binding until that signing. But Owen doesn’t anticipate changing her mind.

“They want to win. They’re trying to build a solid program,” she said. “They’ve just built a new softball facility which is super nice.”

Owen hit .420 with 24 RBIs and six homers in a freshman season in which she earned all-Western Highlands Conference and All-Area honors. Owen played third base last season for Polk County, but will return this season to catching, the position she played at Polk County Middle School and plays with 3rd Degree, her South Carolina-based travel softball squad.

Gardner-Webb, which competes in the Big South Conference, finished 15-35 last season and will be seeking in 2016 its first winning season since 2007. The program recently completed a major renovation of Brinkley Softball Stadium, its home field.

“I feel more relieved than anything,” Owen said. “I’ve wanted this since I was little, since I started playing.”