Hudson Valley Graduate Lives out His Dream by Making it to the World Series

The MLB World Series kicks off tonight in Cleveland, as the Indians host the Chicago Cubs.

It's been quite a while since either team has won a World Series. The last time the Indians won was in 1948. And the Cubs? Well, baseball fans know all about the curse that's lingered over Wrigley Field for 108 years.

Finally, one of these teams will end the drought.

There's a lot of big names on both sides, but one name working for the Indians coaching staff has local ties here in the Hudson Valley.

Meet Ricky Pacione.

Pacione is a part of the Indians staff who warms up the pitchers by catching for both the starters as well as relievers. The 27 year-old also helps Indians positional coaches with a number of important tasks.

You dream of playing in the World Series, but at this point, no matter how you can get to it, you get that same feeling and same adrenaline inside. It still hasn’t hit me and I'm sure it won’t until first pitch.

Ricky is a 2007 graduate of Newburgh Free Academy who went on to play college ball at Marist. At Marist, Picione was selected first-team all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2011, as well as being Marist baseball's first Academic All-American.

After college, he was selected in the 48th round of the 2011 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, where he went on to play for two years in the organization's minor league system.

In 2013, he returned to his hometown and coached the Newburgh American Legion team. Later that year, he landed his first job big league coaching job with the Indians.

While he may not be playing on the field during the series, remember, it take of lot of people and support to make these organizations work - many of which, you may never hear about.

Now, Picione lives out his life-long dream of making it to the World series.

Game 1 is Tuesday night in Cleveland at 8:08 p.m.