Gage Posey plans to be on the Hinds Community College campus in Raymond this summer. The Brookhaven Academy senior will give football a fling during volunteer workouts before devoting most of his time to playing baseball for the Hinds Eagles.

Posey, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound southpaw, signed scholarship papers with the Eagles Friday afternoon in the school’s library. His family, friends and teammates celebrated the event with a large maroon and white decorated cake and soft drinks.

Posey, passed for over 4,000 yards in leading the Cougars to the MAIS Class AA state championship. He passed for 28 touchdowns and ran for 18 more, giving him 46 TDs on the season. In the 49-40 state title win against Marshall Academy, he passed for 6 TDs and ran for another.

“I had some schools recruit me for baseball and some for football,” Posey revealed. He was mainly recruited by Hinds, Co-Lin, Southwest, East Central and Mississippi Gulf Coast.

“I really like the baseball program at Hinds,” said Posey. “They have a very good program. They have a real good recruiting class.”

He said he would be a roommate with Brookhaven High senior Houston Case, who also signed with Hinds. Another Hinds signee is Centreville Academy standout pitcher/infielder Randy Bell.

“Everybody knows the kind of competitor that Gage is,” said Hinds head baseball coach Sam Temple. “He is a good pitcher and hitter. We are happy to get him.”

Temple said Posey’s intensity on the field impressed him. “We are sold on his ability and his leadership. We will have him ready to play next year.”

Posey is the 18-year-old son of Kevin and Rhonda Posey. He currently leads the BA basketball team in scoring and rebounding. His father, a 1982 BA graduate, played football, basketball, baseball and track for the Cougars. His mother, the former Rhonda Coleman of Wesson, played basketball for the Lady Cobras.

“I’m proud of Gage,” said BA baseball coach Casey Edwards. “He’s going to a great school with a great coach.”

As a junior, Posey batted .360, driving in 22 runs and hitting 2 homers, plus 2 triples and 9 doubles. On the mound, he prouced a 4-2 worksheet. He struck out 42 batters in 44 innings.

Posey said he plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. His favorite subject is anatomy and physiology. His favorite Major League Baseball player is southpaw pitcher Andy Pettit of the New York Yankees.

He said he plans to pitch and play first base at Hinds.