Williamsburg, KY – Following their success on the mound at Cumberlands, two UC Baseball players, Chipper Korbacher and Dustin Sprong, will further their careers, as they have officially signed with Partner League teams of Major League Baseball.

Chipper Korbacher will continue his career with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League, in Evansville, Indiana. The Frontier League is the largest independent professional league in North America and is playing for the 31^st year, with teams located in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Canada.

Throughout his four year career at Cumberlands, Korbacher has totaled an ERA of 3.99 and tallied 111 strikeouts, with a 3.33 ERA in the 2024 season. He holds an overall record of 6-4, while collecting 23 saves, breaking the single season saves record, throwing 12 this year. The Oceanside, California native has pitched 88 innings as a Patriot with 68 career appearances, making Korbacher the Cumberlands pitcher with the most career appearances in program history.

Dustin Sprong signed to continue his career with the Rocky Mountain Vibe of the Pioneer League, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Pioneer League began in 1939 and became an MLB Partner League in 2021, with teams in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and California.

During his two years at UC, Sprong finished with an overall ERA of 5.63 and has thrown 86 strikeouts across 62.1 innings pitched. The Trafalgar, Indiana native totaled 30 appearances for the Pats, and tallied a record of 6-3, with one save, and a batting average against of .279.

Both pitchers were vital to the success of the Patriots' most historic years, helping Cumberlands reach the Avista NAIA World Series in 2023 and 2024, for the first two times in program history.

 Head Coach Brad Shelton shared, "I am very happy for Dustin and Chipper, both were instrumental in the success of our team." Shelton and the rest of the Patriot baseball family are "looking forward to following their careers in professional baseball, and wish them all the best in this part of their journey."

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