FRANKLIN – The timing wasn’t ideal for Jacob Curtis.

Changing plans on the college route during his final season proved stressful at times, but the Franklin-Simpson catcher is happy with where the last month has taken him.

Curtis was one of three Franklin-Simpson seniors Wednesday to sign a national letter of intent to play college baseball. Curtis is headed to Austin Peay State University this fall after two years being committed to the University of Louisville.

That initial commitment came the summer after his sophomore season and held strong until March 20 when he announced his recruitment would reopen. A few visits and phone calls later during the season and Curtis found a new home in Clarksville, Tenn., with the Governors of the Ohio Valley Conference.

“Very grateful that Austin Peay took me in and believed in me,” Curtis told the Daily News. “Things fell through at Louisville and I understand there’s a business side, too. I’m definitely excited about going to Austin Peay. I love the coaches there and love the campus, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Curtis signed Wednesday in the FSHS cafeteria, flanked either side by teammates signing to play at junior colleges next year. Pitcher Cole Heinze will play at Volunteer State Community College and pitcher-turned-third baseman Zach Sliger is headed to Roane State Community College.

That group as sophomores helped Franklin-Simpson win the 2017 Region 4 Tournament and post a 31-6 record. Curtis, who started catching for varsity as a freshman, quickly became a must-see at bat with a .355 batting average and seven home runs.

He committed to the Cardinals that following summer, the same year UofL played in the College World Series. A shoulder injury at the beginning of his junior season set Curtis back and limited his playing time to hitting responsibilities only. That internal impingement on his throwing arm added to the fact Louisville will have around seven catchers on the roster meant Curtis needed to seek options elsewhere for playing time during the season.

Curtis announced his decommitment March 20, then announced his decision to join Division I Austin Peay on April 26.

“It can get stressful a lot, but knowing my family is there for me and teammates and coaches, just prayed through the whole thing and let God take it where I need to be,” Curtis said.

FSHS coach Kyle Gammons said the shoulder injury hasn’t affected Curtis much this season, adding his catcher is about 95 percent back to old form.

“The last month or so he’s expressed no concerns about his shoulder,” Gammons said. “He’s throwing the ball all over the field and has the last two or three weeks. He’ll be back 100 percent this summer and he’ll be ready for their fall workouts.”

Curtis is leading the Wildcats this year with a .386 batting average with a team-best 27 hits and seven home runs, which matches his season-high as a sophomore with seven games remaining before the District 13 Tournament.

Heinze has earned seven starts this season and sports a 2.32 earned run average in 11 games pitched. Sliger, a starting pitcher up until an arm injury offset those plans this year, is hitting .329 with 23 hits.

“They all expressed interest when they came in as freshmen to play college baseball,” Gammons said. “It’s exciting to see that and have it for these guys. It’s exciting for our program and for our younger guys to see.”{&end}