POCATELLO – Sean Persky didn’t know it then, but when he helped guide Gate City to its second consecutive Northern Utah League title, it may have marked the last time he will represent the Grays.

Not because he has quit the sport he loves.

Rather, he signed a one-year contract Wednesday at New Day Products to play for the Alpine Cowboys, a Texas baseball team that is a member of the Pecos League. Plenty of supporters attended the signing, including those affiliated with the semipro team he is departing, from the owner to boosters.

“Being presented an opportunity with the Grays organization to play this last year was very special and I’m going to always be grateful for them and the city of Pocatello,” Persky said. “It feels pretty special being able to move on with my career in the baseball world.”

Persky said he will live with a host family and receive a couple hundred dollars a month from Alpine, which is unaffiliated with MLB. A lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches await, he joked. It is all worth it for the 26-year-old baseball player who has not set limits on what he can achieve.

The 6-foot-5 shortstop had a .356 batting average, plus 21 hits and 13 RBIs in 59 at-bats in his lone season with the Grays. Gate City owner Terry Fredrickson spotted the Nipomo, California, native playing for the Idaho State club baseball team and envisioned him wearing his team’s colors. Grays manager Trent Seamons said he could see why another squad also became drawn in.

“He certainly has the body type. He’s tall, long,” Seamons said. “He’s got a great swing, hits the ball hard. He’s one of those guys where he hits the ball, it sounds different.

“He’s got good bat speed. In the field, you watch him, he always stands out because he’s smooth. He looks comfortable fielding the ball.”

Despite his high ability, Persky said the new experience ahead is “nerve-racking.” It is a long way from Pocatello — where his girlfriend calls home — to Alpine, Texas, where he begins spring training on May 15.

Plus, he will miss playing for the Grays.

“I loved every minute of every inning of every game this last summer,” Persky said. “It’s going to be different not having that, not knowing the faces in the crowd, not knowing the guys on the team.”

But between the higher level of play to getting to paid to do what he loves, the opportunity to play with the Cowboys was not something he could pass up. Persky went to a tryout in Dallas for the Texas Airhogs, a team in a different league, on Feb. 18-19. Scouts from the Pecos League, including Alpine, were present. About two weeks later, a contract was presented.

“It’s definitely knocked my socks off,” Persky said. “I went down to try out to experience it and see where I stood talent-wise. And I guess I stood out to get an offer. It’s a whirlwind. It’s brought a smile to my face.”