By Laura Clark/Shelbyville Sentinel News

SHELBYVILLE- Senior right-handed pitcher Corey Williams signed a letter-of-intent to play baseball for St. Catharine College
During a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Shelby County High School, Williams and the Rockets were still excited from their district title win the night before against Anderson. As one of the team's top pitchers, Williams will undoubtedly play a role in the continuing postseason before his college career begins.

“This is a young man that’s won 13 games in the last two years for Shelby County,” Coach Bart Roettger said, citing big victories against Dunbar, Covington Catholic, Greenwood and Mercer County.

Roettger teased Williams about being chubby when the two first met and praised his hard work since joining the team as an eighth-grader.

“If you need something done, he’ll get it done,” Roettger said. “He’s come in and saved many a game for us.”

Williams leads the Rockets with three saves this season and has an earned-run average of 0.88. He was recruited to pitch for St. Catharine and will start with the junior varsity squad.

“Hopefully by the time spring comes around, I’ll get some varsity time,” Williams said.

The Rockets' coaches prepared him for playing college ball, he said.

“I believe my pitches, my mechanics are ready,” Williams said. “But I need to be ready to face higher-level hitters.”

He also credited his coaches with helping him grow up and develop a positive attitude, “not only toward baseball, but also toward school and life.”

Williams earned an athletic scholarship from St. Catharine, an NAIA school, and was drawn to the small class sizes.

The college also offers a criminal justice degree, and Williams said he would like to become a sheriff or FBI agent.