By Laura Stabbert
COCHECTON — Sullivan West Central School graduate Everett Saul has made his dream become a reality.
On June 1, Saul was signed by the Florence (Ky.) Freedom, a professional baseball team in the Frontier League.
Saul played college baseball for four years.
He attended Herkimer County Community College, where he was a starting pitcher for two years. Saul then went to Missouri Western State, where he was the team’s top starting pitcher for two years.
Saul made his professional debut on June 4. He pitched four innings to gain his first victory.
When asked if he feels any regret for having to be 12 hours from home, having to endure grueling workout routines everyday or only having eight days off all summer, Saul replied, “I miss home, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime and what I’ve always had my mind set on.”
Saul, who is from Cochecton, is a right-handed pitcher who can reach up to 94 mph on the mound with his fastball.
He threw a three-hit shutout against Kalamazoo (Mich.), the No. 1 team in the Frontier League, on Sunday, July 20. He recorded eight strikeouts in earning the victory.
With everything from his 94 mph fastball to his 82 mph slider Saul has been working his arm off, but the payoff has been big.
In recent years, Freedom players have earned affiliated contracts from the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and more.