Keeping up with Jones — Former Destin Marlin, Viking to play for North Carolin

Jonathan Jones, a former Destin Little Leaguer, Destin Marlin and Fort Walton Beach Viking, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).

The Spartans are a member of the NCAA Division 1 Southern Conference that placed three teams in the NCAA Regional’s this year.

Jones, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound, left-handed pitcher, transferred from Fort Walton Beach his senior year after playing three years under Coach Dan Bohannon, as well as three years in the football program.

Jones transferred his senior year to Mobile, Ala., and played his final year of high school ball for 6A power McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Jones was a member of the starting rotation and helped take them to the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

He went on to sign with Marion Military Institute, a Junior College in Marion, Ala., and helped them win 37 games in 2010, which propelled them to the Alabama State Jr. College Tournament for the first time in school history. 

His conference ERA was 3.86 and he held opponents to only a .230 batting average. Additionally, he helped lead the Thomasville, Ga., Bombers to the league Championship in The Great South League, the summer wood bat league for Florida, Georgia and Alabama college players. He finished the season by winning his last five games that included a stretch of 23 straight scoreless innings.

Jones is projected to become a member of the starting rotation at UNCG when he reports in August.