Local resident, Nate Zettler, inducted into Union College Athletic Hall of Fame

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BARBOURVILLE, KY (10/11/2013)(readMedia)--  A starting pitcher sets the tone for a baseball game, and very few did that any better for Union College, Ky., than Nate Zettler.

Zettler, who graduated from Union in 2002, was recently inducted in the Union College Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held Saturday, Oct. 5 on Union's campus as part of Union College's annual homecoming weekend. Zettler was joined by 7 individuals and 2 teams who were also recognized.

From the day he set foot on campus, Zettler was force on the mound. From1999-2002, he compiled impressive numbers and still holds 10 program records, including most career wins (27), most games started (45), most complete games (28) and most innings pitched (286.0).

Zettler's best season came in 2001 when he rocked a 9-2 record with a 2.37 earned-run average. The Bulldogs won a then-program best 41 games in 2001. This was the first time Union recorded a 40-win season. He followed that with another 9-2 record as he struck out a career-high 77 batters. For his efforts, Zettler w as named First Team All-Mid-South Conference in 2001 and 2002.

After his collegiate career, Zettler made his mark professionally as he was picked by the Kansas City Royals, becoming the first Bulldog to be selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Zettler was much more than an athlete. He served four years as director of Bulldog Buddies and was active in Repair Affair events. In 2000-01, he was the treasurer of the Student Government Association and was elected SGA President ad served as student trustee in 2001-02. In the classroom, Zettler also excelled as he was named to the Academic All-Conference Team in 2001 and 2002.

Since graduating, Zettler played professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals' farm system and for the Florence Freedom, and independent baseball team. He was a police officer for the City of Hamilton, Ohio, for five years, and currently woks for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals as a sales specialist in Cincinnati, Ohio. Zettler is a true winner on and off the field.