Hudson Valley Grad Selected by the Cleveland Indians

Awesome news for local baseball product, James Karinchak.

The Times Herald says that the right hand pitcher and 2014 Valley Central graduate was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the Major League amateur draft Tuesday.

The Bryant University (RI) junior was actually at his job at a local paving company according to the Times Herald when the draft got underway.. Now, he could join fellow Valley Central graduates, the St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Morris and the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jason Motte in the big leagues.

It definitely went on a little longer than I thought. I thought I was getting drafted a little earlier. But, it’s the same excitement as if I got drafted first overall.

My name got called and I was really excited. I’ve been dreaming about this my whole life.

The 21 year-old out of Walden, was a three-time all-league and all-state performer while at Valley Central. Karinchak had a 7-0 record with a 0.71 ERA and 75 strikeouts his senior year at VC, and later played in the nationally known Triple Crown Game in Richmond, Va.

He was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Bryant. His best year so far in college was his sophomore year, where he was the Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year and first team All-NEC. Karinchak would go 12-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 15 starts.

He finished 6-3, with 3.65 ERA as a junior. Best of luck, James!