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Inside Hokie Sports
P
eople who love the game of baseball come to learn it in different
ways. Some are born into a baseball family, and some just
learn to love it individually. Jack Owens’ love for the sport
came at an early age through the swift encouragement of his
older brother. Starting fromwhen Virginia Tech’s leadoff hitter
could first pick up a baseball bat, that love continued to grow.
“I honestly think my brother had the biggest role in that,”
Owens said. “He’s 10 times more passionate about the
game than anybody I’ve ever met. Dad bought a batting
cage [and put it] in the backyard, and we lived out there.
Sometimes when I didn’t want to go outside and hit in
the cages, he [his brother] would pick me up and throw
me out the door. Hats off to him for that, and he’s had
success in his career, too, so it’s awesome.”
Owens’ brother, Ryan, who was a standout at
Mount St. Mary’s and now plays independent ball
in Canada, kept his brother by his side during his
playing days.
“Jack has always had more talent than I
had,” Ryan said. “I was always there pushing
him. Every time I knew I needed to go put in
work, I would kind of force him to go with
me. I think he appreciates it more now. I’ve
always been passionate about the game,
and I think that rubbed off on him.”
The sibling rivalry played out over
the course of their childhood. That
rivalry fueled both brothers on all
playing surfaces, and not just on the
baseball field.
“We’re different types of
players,” Ryan said. “He’s an
infielder, and I’m an outfielder,
but when we were younger, it
[the rivalry] was big time. I
Virginia
Tech second
baseman and leadoff
hitter Jack Owens started
his career at East Carolina, but a
coaching change there resulted in
him coming to Blacksburg, where he
is enjoying success
by
Nathan Loprete
Special to Inside Hokie Sports
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