The dream of playing professional baseball has taken Chris Kachmar from East 

Greenville to Teaneck, New Jersey to south Florida. Next month, Kachmar begins the next leg of his journey in Nashville, Tennesee at Lipscomb University.

            The pitcher will complete for the Bisons in the Division I Atlantic Sun League. In the spring, they posted a 28-28 overall record against opponents that included Bowling Green, Michigan, Auburn, Tennessee Tech, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

            Being selected in the Major League First Year Players Draft is the goal, according to Kachmar.  "I've got to go year by year," he said.

Kachmar has a chance to earn a starting spot as a conference starter, according to Kyle Forbes, the head coach at Palm Beach State College.  "Chris has become a very dangerous pitcher," Forbes said.

            Kachmar, who transferred to the south Florida school after his freshman season at Farleigh Dickinson University, started his sophomore season in the bullpen. However, the Upper Perkiomen product quickly worked his way into the starting rotation for the Panthers.

            In 14 appearances, the 6-foot-3 right hander posted a 3-2 record with a 3.79 earned run average and one save. He allowed just 24 earned runs in 57 innings and recorded 48 strikeouts.

"He did a great job," Forbes said.

            In the post season, Kachmar's fastball topped out at 93 miles per hour, according to the coach. Forbes described the pitcher's changeup, which he utilizes behind in the count, as a plus pitch.  "Chris gets a lot of swings and misses with it," the coach said.

            Two springs ago at Farleigh Dickinson University, Kachmar appeared in 16 games, posting a 6-3 record and a 3.57 ERA. He made 12 starts and posted 63 strikeouts in 68 innings.

Despite that success, Kachmar sought a more competitive environment. So he reached out to several coaches in the southeast.

            "I had a pretty decent year as a freshman," he said. "But I didn't feel like FDU was a great fit for me, and a wanted to do a little bit more. I wanted to get my name out there."

Forbes, who watched a video of Kachmar throwing a bullpen session, noticed a pitcher with a deceptive delivery. The coach said he met a mature pitcher when Kachmar visited the school, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

            Kachmar, who missed the entire fall season with an injury, bided his time while completing his rehabilitation, according to Forbes. He said that when the spring season began, the pitcher was "chomping at the bit" to compete.  "When Chris pitched, he looked real good," the coach said.

            After the season, Kachmar received interest from several Division I and Division II school in Florida and beyond, according to Forbes. But Kachmar settled on Lipscomb University following a visit.

            "It's a good program," Kachmar said. "I really connected with the coach and the team. Everything worked out."

            "When his body fills out, and if Chris can gain a few more miles per hour on his fastball, he can become a big-time pitcher," Forbes said. "He could pitch professionally down the road.     But he's going to have to tighten his curve ball."