Townsend was a major contributor for the Hatters in his freshman season, playing in 51 games and making 37 starts. In 158 at-bats, he logged eleven extra base hits, scored 14 runs, and drove in another 12. Townsend reached base in eleven consecutive games at one point in the season, and logged nine multi-hit appearances. He was twice named Offensive Player of the Year at Riverview High School in Sarasota, was was ranked among the top 30 third basemen in the class of 2018 in Florida.