WESSON — It didn’t take long for Javon Washington to realize that he preferred a different school.

Although the former Natchez High School standout originally signed to play quarterback for Delta State University last spring, Washington decided after summer courses in Cleveland that he preferred to be at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

“I felt like Co-Lin would be a better place for me,” Washington said. “I just didn’t like the feel of it (at Delta State), and Co-Lin’s also closer to home.”

But because Washington transferred to Co-Lin in August, he was forced to redshirt for the football team.

“I missed a whole year of football, and that’s never happened before,” Washington said. “I came in after fall camp, and I really wasn’t able to learn the offense, because the season started in two weeks. It was really just a learning experience.”

Washington moved from quarterback to slot receiver for Co-Lin, but he’s still playing the same positions in baseball that he did in high school: starting pitcher and center field. With baseball season under way, Washington said he’s also having to adjust to the college game on the diamond.

“It’s a new level of playing,” Washington said. “Everything is faster as far as the tempo of the game. The pitching is better. There are just different things that you have to do.”

Since there is an adjustment period, Washington said he putting in extra time before and after practice to work on his hitting. He’s also learning to make use of BBCor bats, which is an adjustment from the BESR bats he used in high school last season.

“The bats don’t have the same pop the used to have, and the ball is not really jumping off the bat like it used to,” Washington said.

“I wouldn’t really say that’s the biggest thing to adjust to, though, because it doesn’t stop you from getting home runs or base hits. If I make good contact, I still hit the ball pretty far.”

Washington said he pitches every five or six days, and there’s also an adjustment to make when it comes to getting hitters out.

“In high school, I could just strike everyone out, but in college, you’ve got a lot of good hitters,” Washington said. “You can’t strike everyone out, so you have to rely on your defense a lot more.”

Because of that, Washington said location is very important, especially since missing your location can be costly.

“There was one game, early in the season, I was supposed to throw a curveball, but I missed my spot,” Washington said. “I kind of left it up, and it was a home run.”

But Washington said he didn’t dwell on things after the ball went over the fence.

“After it happened, I just got my mind off of it and got ready for my next batter,” Washington said. “I knew not to miss my spot anymore.”

Washington is currently 1-0 on the season with an 8.77 ERA in 13.1 innings pitched. He also has a .045 batting average, one triple, two RBIs and six runs scored in 22 at-bats.

Washington said his parents are able to come to his home games, and he still keeps in touch with his former coaches at NHS, such as Lance Reed, Trey Woodard and Ivan Evans.

“They just tell me to keep my head right and focus on my grades,” Washington said.

Washington said he originally planned to major in nursing, but now he’s leaning more toward physical therapy or sports medicine. He’s undecided as to which four-year college he might eventually transfer.

“Whoever comes with the best scholarship offer,” Washington said.

Washington is the son of Tammy and Joseph Washington.