JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Less than a week after getting a phone call from the St. Louis Cardinals organization, former University of Northwestern Ohio pitcher Zach Petrick was on the mound for the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League.

Petrick pitched the ninth inning in a 9-4 loss to the Greenville Astros, striking out three batters and hitting one. You can view the box score from Wednesday's game by following this link.

UNOH head coach Kory Hartman and associate head coach Greg Eaton made the eight-hour drive to northeastern Tennessee to see Petrick's professional debut.

"I am very happy for Zach, his family and our family here at Northwestern Ohio," Hartman said. "I had a chance to talk to him before the game and spent a lot of time getting caught up on the last few days. He received the call late last week and before I knew it, he was flying out. I never really had a chance to speak with Zach about all of the details, so it was nice to spend a few minutes with him before the game.

"To watch Zach pitch in a Cardinals uniform is priceless. I know he worked so hard to achieve this goal and to be able to share this moment with Zach is one I will never forget. I wouldn't have missed it. I couldn't have missed it; the last thing I told Zach as he left campus is, ‘I will be there when you throw your first professional pitch.'

"At the end of the game, after Zach had worked his inning of relief and struck out the side, he met us behind the Cardinals' clubhouse, and I don't know who was shaking more, Zach or myself."