Kearney, Neb. - Former Nebraska-Kearney pitcher Ryan Sheldon is finding his groove as a member of the professional Normal (Ill.) CornBelters.

The two-time RMAC Pitcher of the Year has won three straight starts to be among the Frontier League leaders in strikeouts (62) and ERA (2.51).

The 6-6, 220 lbs. right hander has thrown at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, tossing nine inning complete games in his last two efforts.

And on July 18th in a 9-2 win over the Southern Illinois Miners, Sheldon struck out 15 batters while walking none. Improving to 3-2 for the year, Sheldon allowed just five hits in the decisive performance.

After the game, Sheldon told the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph, “I threw all my off-speed for strikes whenever I wanted to and I made some big pitches when I needed to. Everything worked out."

Last summer, he pitched for the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Canaries of the American Association. Both the CornBelters and Canaries play in independent pro leagues (no Major League team affiliation). At the end of this season, Sheldon is hoping to sign on with a Major League team and play in the minor leagues in 2011.

A Kearney High graduate, Sheldon pitched two years at Barton County C.C. in Kansas before throwing for the Lopers in 2008 and 2009.

Over those two springs, he went 17-9 with 201 strikeouts in 204.0 inning pitched. He also set school records for wins in a season (nine), strikeouts in a season (105) and strikeouts in a game (17). 

The 17 K's came in an April 2009 win over Colorado State-Pueblo and in just eight innings.