Cory Cabrera plans to spend the rest of his life working in and around sports so getting the chance to continue his baseball career on the collegiate level is just icing on the cake.

“Getting the chance to continue playing is great,” the recent Bradley Central graduate stated after signing scholarship papers to play for Bryan College. “I plan to be an EHS (Exercise and Health Science) major so I can go into sports medicine or be an athletic trainer or it would also qualify me to coach.”

I looked at both Bryan and Tennessee Temple but it came down to Bryan had a better program for my major,” he added. “I’m going to miss high school ball and it stinks that we didn’t make it past the district this yea,r but I wouldn’t have wanted to play anywhere else.”

Starting out in the Blue Springs program, Carbrera played at Lake Forest Middle School before joining the Bears.

“Cory has a great work ethic will continue to improve each year,” Bradley head coach Travis Adams stated. “He’s been a great leader for us. I’m proud to have had the opportunity to coach him. He’s a quality individual who will do well in life.”

With an impressive glove and speed in center field, Cabrera batted leadoff for the Bears this past season, posting a .499 batting average and a .574 on base percentage. “He also stole 20 bases, had 12 doubles, two home runs and drove in 30 runs,” Adams added.

Cabrera also went 6-3 on the mound as Bradley’s No. 2 starter. “They (Bryan) are wanting me to play outfield and maybe pitch some in relief if they need me to,” he explained.

“We are losing seven seniors, including two outfielders, so Cory will get a chance to compete for playing time right away,” Lion head coach Taylor Hasty expressed.

“We went 21-33 and finished fifth in the AAC (Appalachian Athletic Conference) tournament, which is the best the program has ever done. We are taking steps in the right direction,” he added.

“Matt Day (a Bear assistant coach) and I played together in college and he called at the start of the season and told me I needed to keep an eye on Cory and he was right,” Coach Hasty related. “He knows how to play the game and has a good foundation of skills. He has been well coached and comes from a successful program.”

Cabrera was not only drawn to Bryan for its academics and the opportunity to play baseball, but by the school’s “Christian atmosphere,” he stated. “That’s something that’s important to me. I like the campus and the facilities. It’s also not too far from home, but far enough.”

Cabrera will be joining some familiar faces on the Lion squad as former Walker Valley standout Steven Brown, as well as Andrew Smith from McMinn County and Rhea County’s Tyler Latham. “Knowing some guys there will help me adjust better. I’m looking forward to the chance to play with them,” he concluded.