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VALDOSTA — Valdosta High’s Jamie Turner was a key player in two of the most successful seasons of Wildcat baseball. Now the former VHS catcher and first baseman will try to repeat that success on the college level.

Turner recently signed a letter of intent to play with the Lake-Sumter Community College Lakers in Leesburg, Fla.

“It’s just a good feeling to go play college ball somewhere,” Turner said. “As a little kid I always dreamed about playing college baseball, but I never knew where or when it would come.”

Lake-Sumter CC is a two year school that has sent many baseball players onto four-year schools. According to the Lake-Sumter Web site, the school has sent 14 baseball players onto four-year schools in the last two seasons. Turner is hoping to do the same, but he said first he’s going to focus on academics and becoming a better ballplayer.

“It’s a nice campus with good coaches and smaller class sizes which will be better for me,” Turner said “It’s a great school which sends a lot of kids to four-year schools, and it’s a place where I can play baseball and have a future.”

Like several athletes from Valdosta that sign college scholarships, Turner has been working at his craft for a long time. He’s been in the Wildcats’ system since the seventh grade. Before that he played at Parks and Rec. In his time with the Wildcats, including his promotion to varsity as a junior, he has been known as a terrific defender behind the plate and at first.

“What they’re getting with Jamie is that he is a dual player,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “He’s a great first baseman and an outstanding catcher as well…This is the result of a lot of hard work and dedication. He’s been a good student, good citizen on campus and a good role model for our younger guys.”

In 2008, Turner helped Shuman’s squad advance all the way to the final four of the state AAAAA playoffs. It was Turner’s first year on varsity, and he said it’s one of the best memories of his baseball life.

“I had never really been to the playoffs until then,” Turner said. “It’s like I woke up and wow, we’re going to the final four. It’s like one of those dreams.”

Turner played first base that season, but he was also the bullpen catcher so he got a chance to catch Earl Daniels who went to the University of Georgia and Kyle Rowe who signed with Valdosta State. He’s sees working with those two as an advantage.

“It makes you feel like there’s nobody you can’t catch,” Turner said.

Shuman also thinks that Turner can benefit in college from his time at Valdosta.

“He got to experience the best competition in the state as a junior, and as a senior he was put in a leadership role,” Shuman said. “He’s a great kid and I know we’re going to be great things about him.”

Turner will move to Lake-Sumter CC in the middle of August and a couple weeks after classes begin the Lakers will begin fall practice. Last year’s Lakers squad consisted off players all from Florida except one who was from Canada. The former Wildcat said he doesn’t mind going to a school where he doesn’t know anyone.

“I figured it would be a new start, meet new people and make more friends,” Turner said.

If Turner plays catcher and first base like he did in high school, he’s sure to make a few friends out of some pitchers.