FL Florence Y'alls

Northern Kentucky Native Curley Hot to Start Freedom Season

Published on May 29, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


FLORENCE, Ky. - Chris Curley, a former Beechwood High School baseball and football star, has gotten off to a red-hot start through the first eight games of the Freedom's season. With his local family and friends in the area for support, Curley is ready to lead the Freedom to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Curley had a fantastic high school career and as a senior, was a member of the Beachwood baseball team that finished number two in the state. He hit .524 with 49 RBI's and pitched to a 6-2, 0.98 line. As a running back his senior year for the Tigers, he ran for over 1,000 yards 20 touchdowns. Curley couldn't continue football however, as he broke his leg during the season.

Curley attended Campbellsville University and played three years of baseball there. He chose to forego his senior year and signed with the Atlanta Braves organization. "It is still one of the most exciting days of my life," Curley said. "I mean, it is what I worked for my whole life, so it was awesome."

Now with the Florence Freedom, Curley has led the team to a 4-4 record. He helped the team break out of a three-game losing streak earlier in the week by driving in two key RBI's in the Freedom's 5-4 win. "It's huge [to take it game-by-game] because it's a long season. You are going to win some, and you are going to lose some. You have to take it one game at a time," he said.

Curley has been hitting early and often and has led Florence to the second-best team batting average in the league. He is tied for third in the league in the home runs category with two, tied for first in RBI's, is second in at-bats, and tied for second in runs scored. With him seeing the ball well, Curley knows what is working for him. "I'm just letting the ball get deep on me and trying to work the other way. I think that has helped me a lot with recognizing pitches," he said.

The power swing is something Curley would like to regain, as he was that type of hitter in high school and college. But while he was with the Braves organization in 2010, he hit only three home runs. With two this season already, that kind of power might earn Curley another look at affiliated baseball. "Yeah, I would hope so," Curley said when asked if teams could see him hit for both average and power as his career progresses. "I didn't do much with the Braves power-wise, but I've been relaxed here and also switched to a bigger bat, so that probably has something to do with it."

The goal for every player on the Freedom is to get back to affiliated ball, and it is something Curley wants a second shot at. "I'm going to do whatever I can. This is why I am doing this now, so hopefully it will happen," he said. With his family and friends support only a few minutes away, that second shot could come. "That was probably the biggest part of me signing here," Curley said when asked about being close to his Ft. Mitchell hometown. "[My friends and family] get to see me play a little more and that was a big thing for me." Curley's biggest influence is his father, William Curley, who has already been out to a couple of games this season. "He has always been there for me no matter what happens. He pushes me to get better but is not too hard on me."

For now, Curley is with the Freedom, and the clubhouse culture is perfect for him. "The team gets along great. Sometimes in pro ball, it is yourself first, team later. I don't see that here." And has Curley participated in any FIFA '11 video games that the players participate in during their free time' "I'm not a FIFA player," Curley laughs.

Curley sure won't mind sticking to baseball, especially if he gets a second shot to make it to the big show.

Check out the Florence Y'alls Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Frontier League Stories from May 29, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central