Navy pitcher sets sail for big leagues

There was no way Oliver Drake could turn down this offer.

A month away from entering his junior year at Navy, Drake signed with the Baltimore Orioles and withdrew from the Naval Academy on Monday to focus on his professional career.

"It was real difficult," said Drake, a 43rd-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft on June 5. "I loved the academy and my time there. But this is an opportunity to achieve a goal of mine since I was a little kid."

Drake, Navy's No. 2 pitcher behind Mitch Harris - drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round - was certain to be the staff's ace if he...