MIDLAND, Tx – Corey Walter is living the life that many only dream of when they’re growing up.

The Wheeling Park graduate played major college baseball at West Virginia University, heard his name called in the Major League Baseball Draft and is now playing professionally in the Oakland Athletics farm system.

Not bad for the soon-to-be 24-year old.

It actually got a little bit better for him this week when he learned that he’d been selected to the 80th annual Texas League South All-Star Game, which will be played on June 28 in Springfield, Missouri. Walter and five of his teammmates will represent the Midland Rockhounds, which is the Class AA affiliate of the A’s.

“If you look at the rosters (in the big leagues), there’s a ton of talent that came through this league and a lot of recognizable names,” Walter said during a recent phone interview. “Follow that up with the people chosen for the all-star game and you’ll probably be seeing a lot of these guys in the big leagues one day, too. So, it’s a big honor.”

Walter, who has been in the process of transitioning from a reliever to a starter, hopes his name is one day on that list of Texas League alumni to reach MLB, but he knows that won’t happen without continued work and success.

Whether or not Walter appears in the all-star game remains to be seen, but, regardless, he’s happy to be there.

“It’s just an honor to be chosen and playing in the game would be a bonus,” Walter explained. “There are a lot of good pitchers on the team.”

Part of the decision on whether or not Walter appears will be determined by when he gets his final start before the all-star break. He’s currently scheduled to start two days prior to the game, which should make him available.

“I’ll have to talk it over with my pitching coordinator and see what the plan is,” Walter said.

Currently, Walter is just 1-2 on the season. His win total isn’t anything he, nor the Athletics’ brass are worried about since he’s on an innings limit and doesn’t work beyond the fourth or fifth inning too often, meaning he doesn’t always qualify for a victory.

“It’s looking like I am going to be limited to 100 innings for the year because (the organization) is building me up to start again next year to have a normal, full season of work,” Walter noted. “They’re doing it for my protection, so it’s definitely a good thing.”

Since he often times won’t qualify for a win, no decisions are perfectly okay for Walter.

“Not being the pitcher of record is better than a loss,” Walter said. “I’ve had some good outings and I got to where I wanted be this year, which was starting in Double A. I just have to keep working.”

Walter currently has worked 52 innings this season and made nine starts. He’s struck out 29 and allowed just one home run this season. He’s posted a 2.77 earned run average.

“My season has been kind of weird,” Walter admitted. “It started out rough for about the first month and then I moved into a starting role, which isn’t typical. I had hoped to be picked for the all-star game, but I thought I was on the fence for being chosen.”

Walter, who was chosen by the Athletics in the 28th round of the 2014 draft, last pitched on Wednesday. He worked four scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out two. He issued nary a walk.

“The only real difference between starting and coming out of the bullpen is that you know when you’re going to throw,” Walter explained. “It’s nice to know exactly how much throwing I can do every week and work on my stuff in my (side) sessions. I just want to stack innings on top of each other.”

COLLEGE NUMBERS ISSUED

As Division I athletes start to report to school to begin summer workouts and classes, players are getting their jersey numbers.

West Virginia University announced its updated roster for football and basketball, both of which feature local flavor.

St. Clairsville graduate Brendan Ferns, who is embarking on his freshman season with the Mountaineers, was issued jersey No. 7. Meadowbrook grad Josh Sills, who is also a freshman with the Mountaineers, will wear No. 73 this season.

For the Mountaineer basketball team, Wheeling Central grad Chase Harler will wear his familiar No. 14 this winter.

PIONEER VALLEY CONFERENCE

I received a hand-written letter from Pioneer Valley Conference President Don Ullman last week, informing me that the PVC will remain with six teams for the 2016-17 school year, but after that season Buckeye Trail will be withdrawing and joining the new-look Inter-Valley Conference.

According to Ullman, the PVC reached out to eight schools about the possibility of joining the league, but all eight declined … at least for the time being.

So, the membership for next school year will continue as Buckeye Trail, Caldwell, Fort Frye, Frontier, Monroe Central and Shenandoah.

Ullman wrote, “I am sure that the PVC will continue to explore their options next year.”

SETH’S SCOOPS

A PAIR of Ohio Valley products were recognized by the Valley Baseball League in Virginia after a strong performance by the Staunton Braves, who are coached by Buckeye Local product George Laase. St. Clairsville graduate Sam Vincenzo had a strong outing, throwing a complete game, one hitter in earning the win. He was named ‘Pitcher of the Night’ in the Valley Baseball League. Wheeling Park grad Andrew Kowalo, who plays collegiately at Liberty University, was named hitter of the night after going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and six total RBIs.

AREA UMPIRES Donnie Madzia and Lance Jacob worked the Division III state baseball semifinal between Applecreek Waynedale and Bellville Clearfork played at Huntington Park in Columbus earlier this month.

TIARA WIGGINS, who was a track standout at Zanesville High School during her prep days, recently earned Division II All-American accolades, competing for Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Wiggins is the daughter of 1992 Barnesville High School graduate Chris Drake-Wiggins. Tiara placed seventh in the 100 meter high hurdles, running a 13.83. Many of Tiara’s relatives, on her mom’s side of the family, still reside in Barnesville.

Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com or at twitter.com/TLSportsSeth