Seated between his mother Lisa Warren and his brother Gage Kent, Colquitt County right fielder Daren Kent signs to play his collegiate baseball at Darton College. At back are, from left, Packer outfield coach Will Southwell and head coach Tony Kirkland.

Colquitt County’s Daren Kent went to a tryout at Darton College last week and it didn’t take him long to impress Cavaliers coach Brandon Hemmings.

“Within two or three swings, I said, ‘That’s enough. He can hit,’” Hemmings said.

And not only was Hemmings impressed with the way Kent swung the bat.

He liked that the Packers’ right fielder could explain what he wanted to do at the plate.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Hemmings said.

That performance in Albany last week earned Kent a chance to continue his career with the outstanding junior college program. He signed with Darton on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers went 47-9 last season and 10 of their sophomores have signed to play at the next level, including six who are going to Division I schools.

Hemmings said he thought Kent would likely be an outfielder at Darton, but if he continues to hit as he did this season, there will be a place for him somewhere in the Cavaliers lineup.

Kent batted .370 with 13 doubles and 17 runs batted in and saved his best work for the postseason.

He had at least one hit in each of the Packers six postseason games against Harrison, Luella and Parkview. And against Luella and Parkview he went a combined 11-for-15.

He was 6-for-8 in the season-ending doubleheader at Parkview.

“He was seeing it big,” Packers coach Tony Kirkland said of Kent’s performances down the stretch. “He’s a hitter.”

Kent said he was impressed with Hemmings and like the fact that Darton has such a successful program and that the school has outstanding baseball facilities.

While obviously impressed with his player’s offense, Kirkland will remember Kent for an uncommon decision to switch positions before last season.

The Packers staff was trying to figure out how to get Kent, who was an All-Region third baseman in 2012, and Ross Goforth on the field at the same time.

Goforth’s best position also is third base.

Kent volunteered to move to right field, a position he had not played since he was on a  travel baseball team.

“He made the position change on his own,” Kirkland said. “He saw that it was going to be the best for the program. It was completely unselfish.”

So not only did the Packers have Kent and his .370 average in the lineup, but Goforth made the most of his opportunity to play by hitting .413 with eight home runs and 33 runs batted in.

And Kirkland said Kent displayed a strong and accurate arm in right field, helping the Packers post a 20-11 record.