By CRAIG PHILLIPS Derrick writer Franklin High School senior Zack Sterner was bound for baseball stardom from the beginning. He started playing organized baseball in the T-ball ranks and remembers playing it “forever.” Sterner realized a dream June 8 when he was selected by the New York Mets in the 38th round of the  baseball player draft.  “I didn't have a choice, between my father and older brothers,” Sterner said of his early involvement in the sport. His father, George Sterner, starred in the various youth programs in Oil City. And besides starting at quarterback for the 1971 Oilers, he  was a standout in  basketball and  the triple jump in track. Son Zack, who was drafted as a pitcher, completed his scholastic career June 7 when the Knights were handed a 5-2 loss by Riverside in the first round of the PIAA Class AA state playoffs. He logged onto the Internet June 8 and waited. It wasn't long before the home of George and Cinda Sterner was one of the happiest in town. When his name flashed on the screen Sterner knew he had been drafted. He was the 1,124th pick of the 50-round draft. “It was very surprised, as surprised as anyone could be,” Sterner said. “I didn't really expect to be drafted, especially by the Mets.” New York scout Matt Wondolowski contacted him at 5:30 p.m. to confirm the news. Sterner figured if he was going to be selected, it would have been by the Pittsburgh Pirates. “The Pirates had talked to me a lot since I started talking to professional scouts,” he said, although he declined to say he was a Pirates fan. “I'm a Boston fan, I like Pedro,” he said before quickly adding, “but, I'm a Mets fan now. “It will be like a draft and follow,” he said, explaining that the Mets have full control of him until a week before the 2005 draft. If they don't offer a contract that Sterner accepts before the last week prior to the draft, he will be eligible to be selected again. “The Mets would like me to add weight and a couple miles per hour on my fastball,” said Sterner, 18, who has been clocked at 91 mph. He will attend Walters State Community College  in Morristown, Tenn. The 6-2, 170-pound right-hander started the Riverside game and pitched two innings before moving to second base. He carried a 5-1 record and 2.64 earned-run average into the contest and didn't figure in the decision. He struck out 51 batters in 47 innings on the season as he helped the Knights to the District 10 Class AA Championship and a 16-6 record. Sterner, a leadoff hitter who entered the game with a .387 batting average, opened the game with a triple and scored to give Franklin a 1-0 lead. However, his concentration will be on pitching in college despite his limited experience on the mound. A two-year letterman for the Knights, he pitched only 10 innings as a junior before becoming the team's ace this season. “I'm pretty much just learning (to pitch),” Sterner said. And Franklin coach Harry Miller appreciated his senior's on-the-job training. “When we needed a win, he was the guy we sent out there,” Miller said. “He pitched against Titusville twice, Oil City, Hickory. He was the senior and the go-to guy.” Sterner's potential can be traced to his bloodlines. His brothers, Jason Fulmer and Bundy Fulmer, both played collegiate baseball. Jason began his college career at Penn State-Beaver before transferring to Cleveland State. Bundy played three seasons at Radford University before transferring to Slippery Rock for his final season. He then was a record-setting pitcher for the Johnstown Johnnies in the Frontier League. “My brothers and my dad were very big influences,” said Sterner, who also started for the Knights in basketball this season. (He elected not to go out for football in 2003 after catching 19 passes for 278 yards as a junior.) “I want to thank all my coaches throughout the years,” he said. “And especially my teammates and my family, especially my dad.” “It's great for the whole program and we're really exciting and happy for Zack, that's been his dream,” Miller said. “Over the years in our program, we talk a lot about having the dream, having the fire in your belly,” he said. “Zack exemplifies that. My boys played with Zack in Little League and even at that age he had the dream. He's proof if you work hard and really love the game, the dream really can happen.” The Mets will be watching closely.