Warhorses work to set the standard on the diamond

Owen baseball turns to familiar face to build long-term success

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 12, 2026

Jackson Shaw was a sophomore in 2017, when he sat in the dugout as Owen fell to Bunker Hill in the opening round of the playoffs. It is a memory that stands out for the third-generation Warhorse student-athlete, as the moment marked the 17th consecutive year the program qualified for postseason play.

Although nobody realized it at the time, that playoff appearance would be the team’s last for a decade, but the newest head coach to lead the once-storied Owen baseball team is focused on getting back to its winning roots.

Shaw, a graduate of the class of 2019, played football and baseball for Owen, before pursuing his passion for the latter at Caldwell Community College. When the COVID pandemic interrupted his freshman season, he began thinking about his career.

“I had helped over at (OMS) for my senior project in high school, so I thought about looking into education,” said the physical education teacher who returned to his alma mater last year. “I was done with baseball and went to Clemson. I love S.C., but it’s not home, so I counted down the days until I could come back.”

After substituting at other schools, Shaw accepted a faculty position at his alma mater before the 2024-25 academic year. He joined the coaching staff of his former baseball team, which has posted a combined record of 22-59 since his coach, Anthony Lee, retired after the 2021 season.

When the head coach position was vacated last summer, the former first baseman and pitcher did not hesitate to submit his name for consideration.

“I was all about it,” Shaw said. “I’ll never forget what it was like to sit in that dugout for our last playoff appearance, but since then there has definitely been a drought. My main goal is to bring this proud program back to where it should be.”

While away in college, the newest Warhorse coach returned to watch his old team play, often recognizing subtle differences between his experience and those of players who came after him.

“Baseball is a game of swings, and not necessarily just at the plate,” he said. “Sometimes you get down early, or by a lot of runs, but it’s all about how you respond. Body language and how players carry themselves makes a huge difference, because it’s hard to beat someone who never quits.”

The Warhorses are 1-4 to open the 2026 campaign, but the program, under Shaw, has no shortage of talented players. The roster features seven seniors, including Jackson Warnock, Hayden Burpeau, Gavin Hooks and Gabe Mahar.

“The seniors on this team have been our rock, and they’re more passionate than anybody about changing the narrative and culture around Owen baseball,” Shaw said. “It’s a group with a ton of talent, and they’re definitely motivated to get us back to the playoffs.”

The head coach, who is joined on staff by assistant coach Allen Burpeau, is encouraging the upperclassmen to mentor their young teammates.

“All of our seniors lead by example, but every team needs vocal leaders who can step up, push each other and get everyone where they need to be,” Shaw said. “Gabe Mahar is a great example of how to lead, because we did summer workouts and he held kids accountable, even more than I did. He’d load up his Subaru and show up with six other kids, so he went out of his way to make sure players were attending.”

Many of the athletes, like Warnock and Asante Martin, are teammates on other Owen athletic programs, while more than half of the roster trained and played together The Diamond Mine in Asheville. The chemistry of the group, according to the coach, is a team strength.

“We will practice for two-and-a-half hours and I’ll hear them making plans for the weekend,” Shaw said. “It sounds like a cliché, but they’re actually like brothers. It’s awesome.”

On the field, players like the shortstop, Burpeau, embody the program’s vision of Warhorse baseball.

“He’s the glue that holds our infield together,” the coach said. “He’s one of those guys who is going to give you everything he has, no matter what inning you’re in or what the score is. He holds those guys together, and having a guy like him on the team is like having another coach on the field.”

The offensive production of Warnock, whose career batting average with the program is hovering near .500, while leading the team in RBI, may be eclipsed by his prowess in center field.

“He had a play against East Henderson, where he was running back toward the 340 sign in center, and he extended and made a catch that saved 2 runs. That really impressed me, and I’m sure everybody,” Shaw said. “His game is so fun to watch, and he always sets the tone for us.”

Earning a spot in the postseason will present multiple challenges for the Warhorses, but the effort will help get the program back on track, he added.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere, and our senior players are proud to be part of building a winning culture here,” Shaw said. “We have talent, and we have the legacy of a great program, but right now it’s all about setting our standards.”

Meeting the new head coach’s expectations will require adherence to some basic principles.

“This school, and this baseball program, are home to me, so my goal is to get us back to being a powerhouse,” Shaw said. “We’re going to build this program to the standard it needs to be, and the energy, effort and intensity they bring to every practice, every drill, is another block in that foundation.”

Photos of Owen’s 4-5 loss, March 10,, at home against Polk, can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.