2005 Cincinnati Reds Draft Selections [Archive] - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:29 PM

Jay Bruce from MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1079556&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

CINCINNATI -- Pitching is a priority for the Reds in the first-year player draft, but the team couldn't pass up on what it deemed to be a five-tool outfielder.
The Reds made center fielder Jay Bruce from West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas, the 12th overall pick in the draft. It marks the first time the Reds have taken a position player with their first pick since 2000, when they selected shortstop David Espinosa.

Bruce, a National High School Player of the Year candidate who bats and throws left-handed, hit .538 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases during his senior season.

"He was the best athlete and best player [available] on the board for us," said Terry Anderson, the Reds' director of amateur scouting. "We had him real high. He's a guy we had targeted going into the day. We're really happy to get him."

Anderson was happy because he said Bruce, 18, has all five tools, meaning he is skilled at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning, throwing and fielding.

"[Five-tool players] are kind of rare," Reynolds said. "All five [of Bruce's] tools are average to above. And we're projecting that by the time he's 21, they'll all be above."

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Bruce signed to play at Tulane next year, but he said he is going to forego the college route to begin his professional career.

"I'm definitely signing," he said. "I'm a first-round pick. You can't ask for much more than that."

Bruce is the second high school player drafted by the Reds with their first pick in as many years. Homer Bailey was taken out of LaGrange (Texas) High School in 2004.

"We've got a few Texas guys," Bruce said. "Maybe we can bring the 'Big Red Machine' back."

Complete coverage >The Reds aren't quite sure where Bruce would fit into said "Machine." He played center field in high school, but his size might require a move to one of the corner outfield spots at some point.

"We're going to put him in center field, and that's where he'll start, but we'll just have to see what nature does here," Reynolds said.

Once signed, Bruce is expected to join the Reds' Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota, Fla.

Reportedly once linked to agent Scott Boras, Bruce is now hooked up with Matt Sosnick. That should help the Reds' chances of locking him up rather quickly.

"I'm going to make [the signing] fairly quick," Bruce said. "I'm not going to be in any huge rush, but I'm not going to draw it out for any huge amount of time."

Bruce said the Reds were the first professional team he ever tried out for last May.

The Reds compare Bruce to the Cardinals' Jim Edmonds. It's a comparison that sat just fine with Bruce.

"I hope one day I'm as good as Jim Edmonds," he said. "I think it's a feasible task. I love defense. It's a big part of my game, so that's a great comparison."

But Bruce's greatest asset is his bat.

"We think he has a chance to hit .300 or better with 30 home runs," Anderson said. "Time will tell."

With projected numbers like those, the Reds felt they had no choice but to take Bruce, even if he doesn't call the mound his place of work.

"We just had this guy higher on the board than anybody else," Anderson said.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:32 PM

Jay Bruce from BBA-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/2005draft/firstround.html

Bruce has been compared by scouts to Larry Walker. Though he has average to plus tools across the board and enough athleticism to play center field, Bruce profiles better in right field. His swing can get a little long at times, but Bruce is a polished high school hitter. He centers the ball well and already understands the importance of using the entire field. He also has the strength and skill to eventually hit 30-plus homers annually in the majors. His average speed is probably his worst tool, but he plays quicker than his stopwatch readings on the bases and in the outfield. He has more than enough arm to handle the move to right field in pro ball.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:36 PM

Travis Wood-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_arkansas.html#nat98

1. TRAVIS WOOD, lhp (National rank: 98)
School: Bryant HS.
Hometown: Alexander, Ark.
B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 170. Birthdate: Feb. 6, 1987.
College Commitment: Arkansas.
Scouting Report: Wood is a long-term project, albeit an intriguing one because there aren't many lefthanders who can reach 95 mph. His fastball sat at 88-91 mph for much of the spring, but he started making more frequent forays into the mid-90s as the draft drew closer. Wood isn't tall, but he generates his velocity with a quick arm and athleticism. Scouts aren't crazy about his delivery, as he throws with a lot of effort and with some recoil. Wood hasn't shown much aptitude for spinning a breaking ball, and his curveball ranges from below-average to decent. For the most part, he just rears back and blows fastballs by inferior competition, so he'll have to make adjustments at the next level. Wood is considered a tough but not impossible sign. If teams decide he can't be steered away from Arkansas, the state may not have a player drafted in the first 10 rounds.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:38 PM

Zach Ward

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/college/050217ward.html

Lightly Recruited Ward Increases Draft Stock
by Will Kimmey
March 17, 2005

Gardner-Webb coach Rusty Strouppe and his wife Karen were driving north on Interstate 85 toward her hometown in Salisbury, N.C., when he noticed the shining lights of an American Legion field just off the highway. Strouppe remembered hearing a tip about a player on the Concord team and asked his wife to drop him off to watch the game.

Three years later, Strouppe can’t remember the name of the player he stopped to see. But he can clearly recall Zach Ward pitching for Kannapolis, throwing some sort of 78-80 mph slider that the Concord batters couldn’t hit. Strouppe asked Kannapolis’ first-base coach what Division I school the righthander planned to attend that fall and found out he only had one scholarship offer, from North Carolina A&T.

Ward visited Gardner-Webb’s campus two weeks later and signed with the Bulldogs. He has developed into their top pitcher, and opened his junior year with 161/3 hitless innings, which included a nine-inning no-hitter against Akron. Ward’s combination of a low-90s sinking fastball, mid-80s power curveball and improved changeup helped him to a 3-0, 1.11 overall record with 31 strikeouts, 12 walks and seven hits allowed in 24 innings.

Ward sees it simply as a continuation of a summer in which he allowed three earned runs and struck out 57 batters in 43 Cape Cod League innings. That came after he ranked eighth nationally with 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings as a sophomore at Gardner-Webb, where he went 5-1, 1.95 in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

“For me, it’s a confidence thing,” Ward said. “I definitely have more confidence now after the summer in the Cape.

“I always wanted to be a major leaguer—when I was a mediocre high school pitcher, when I was a legit Division I college pitcher. Everybody talks about that their whole life, but this summer in the Cape is when I believed I could do it.”

Ward’s transition from getting overlooked in high school to ranking as the Cape’s No. 13 prospect started with a leap of faith. He threw his breaking ball about 75 percent of the time as a prep because he didn’t have confidence in or command of his low-80s fastball. Still, Ward and Strouppe were both surprised when Gardner-Webb pitching coach Dan Roszel banned the pitcher from throwing his breaking ball. Roszel wanted the 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete to unleash and then build his arm strength by focusing on his fastball and some mechanical tweaks.

“I told him ‘If you make a few adjustments, you can be the best pitcher that ever came out of Gardner-Webb,’ ” Roszel said. “At the time, I kind of thought that was a line. I just wanted him to get up to 90 before he graduated. He was up to 96 by the end of his freshman year.”

Roszel called Ward a quick study, crediting the pupil with nightly work on drills in his dorm room. He also quickly developed a feel for a hard curveball to go with his new fastball.

Ward took his new arsenal to the mound, producing a 5-1, 4.14 record with 51 strikeouts in 50 innings. He spent the summer back on his Kannapolis Post 501 Legion team and drew interest from a handful of larger Division I schools, who wanted to add Ward as a transfer. These were some of the same schools that told Ward the previous summer that he’d never be good enough to play for them. The roles reversed, he opted to remain loyal to the coach and school that took the original chance on him.

“He’s never thought he was above us,” Strouppe said. “He had his dad out there telling people he liked being at Gardner-Webb and not to even try.”

That’s part of the humble persona Ward maintains. He takes pride in playing at Gardner-Webb and being a part of the nearby community, where he has become something of a local celebrity. He has joined Strouppe on visits to nearby Spring More Elementary School to speak with the students. Ward patiently fielded autograph requests at the school, around town and even after a recent start at North Carolina. Nonetheless, he remains grounded.

“He tries as much as he can not to draw attention to himself,” Strouppe said. “He’s just another guy on the bus. He’s very appreciative of where he’s come from and what he has been able to do. He’s been very careful not to put himself on the same pedestal other people try to put him on.”

Ward’s celebrity has spread to scouts this year. He’s attracting 15 to 20 at each start. Ward is a lock to become the third Gardner-Webb player drafted since 1985 and will become the highest-drafted player in school history if he comes off the board before round three.

Some scouts feel Ward’s short arm action, which looks a bit like that of Red Sox closer Keith Foulke, could lead to a career in relief, but they all agree he should be selected in the first two rounds.

“Sometimes with a smaller school, you don’t get the recognition you want,” Ward said. “But I’m starting to get it now by proving that I belong with the elite players.”

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:38 PM

Zach Ward-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_ncarolina.html#nat117

4. ZACH WARD, rhp (National rank: 117)
School: Gardner-Webb.
Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 235. Birthdate: Jan. 14, 1984.
Previously Drafted: Never.
Scouting Report: Ward was unheralded out of high school and began to emerge as a prospect while pitching in American Legion ball the summer after his freshman year in college. Ward first attracted attention for his slider, but he has since earned attention and outs with two potential plus pitches. His fastball reaches the low 90s with good sink, and his breaking ball has morphed from his high school slider to a power curveball. Add in a show-me change, and Ward has a chance to throw three pitches for strikes from a durable, innings-eating body. He was dominant in the Cape Cod League last summer, striking out 57 in 43 innings, yet failed to dominate the Atlantic Sun Conference this spring. Ward was used heavily (five of his 15 starts were complete games) and at times lacked command of his fastball, leading to 49 walks in 109 innings and 19 wild pitches. He has a short-arm delivery reminiscent of the late Darryl Kile, and some scouts think it will lead to an arm injury unless Ward moves to the bullpen, where he could concentrate on his fastball and curve.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:42 PM

Sam LeCure(and not a good article)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050203lecure.html

Junior righthander Sam LeCure, the likely Friday starter for Texas, will not play this season.

LeCure was dismissed from the university for violating his academic probation during the fall semester. A federal judge on Wednesday ruled against forcing Texas to re-admit him for this semester.

"I let a lot of people down, my teammates and my family for the most part," LeCure told the Austin American-Statesman. "My career is not over; I hope to pitch in orange and white again someday."

LeCure went 14-3 in his Longhorns career, including 9-3, 2.34 in 2004, serving as the Saturday starter on a team that advanced to the championship round of the College World Series.

"Sam has made tremendous contributions to the baseball program here at the University of Texas both through his performance and the spirit he brought to his team," coach Augie Garrido said in a statement. "He will be missed by his teammates and our entire staff.

"We are confident that Sam's character will help him overcome the adversity he is facing and profit from the difficult experience that has come into his life because of these recent events. Hopefully, he will find that his future is still at the university, but whatever he and his family determine is best, is what we want for Sam."

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound LeCure ranks as the No. 51 college prospect for the draft, meaning he could be selected in the first five rounds in June.

Senior lefthander Buck Cody will replace LeCure in the rotation, joining sophomore righthanders Kyle McCulloch and Randy Boone.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:44 PM

James Avery

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_newyork.html#nat152

4. JAMES AVERY, rhp (National rank: 152)
School: Niagara.
Hometown: Moose Jaw, Sask.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 200. Birthdate: June 10, 1984.
Previously Drafted: Twins 2002 (29)
Scouting Report: Mike McRae, who has since moved on to Canisius, was the only Division I coach from Canada when he was at Niagara and tapped heavily into his homeland for talent, getting Avery from Saskatchewan. Avery’s fastball has been clocked between 90-94 mph, but he has never approached his full potential because he hasn’t developed a serviceable breaking pitch. He also has been bothered by nagging injuries the last two years. He has a decent split-fingered changeup, but scouts project him as a short reliever because of his limited pitch selection. A loosening of visa restrictions means Avery should have an opportunity to begin his minor league career this summer.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:45 PM

Jeff Stevens

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_california.html#62

Elsewhere in the West Coast Conference, Loyola Marymount junior RHP Jeff Stevens (62) outpitched Stephen Kahn, his more celebrated teammate, though he went just 6-7, 3.97 himself with 76 strikeouts in 100 innings. He has good stuff, gets good deception on a 90-91 mph fastball and improved breaking ball, and demonstrated better command and competitiveness than Kahn.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:49 PM

Brandon Roberts-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_california.html#51

OF Brandon Roberts (51) is a third Cal Poly player who could be drafted in the top seven or eight rounds. Speed and hitting for average are his best tools. A slap hitter who makes regular contact, he led the Alaska League with a .373 average last summer. He’s been clocked in the 60-yard dash in 6.41 seconds and from the left side of the plate to first in 4.0. But his speed is often wasted in the outfield because he doesn’t get good enough reads on balls to play center, and his arm is better suited for left. His poor instincts have often relegated him to DH, which creates a problem for scouts because he lacks the raw power to play anywhere but center.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:50 PM

Milton Loo-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_arizona.html#nat176

10. MILTON LOO, ss (National rank: 176)
School: Yavapai (Ariz.) CC.
Hometown: Molokai, Hawaii.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Birthdate: April 2, 1986.
Previously Drafted: Reds 2004 (17).
Scouting Report: Loo created little buzz as Hawaii's first high school draft pick in 2004. He chose not to sign with the Reds in favor of attending junior college in Arizona, though he remains under Reds control. Yavapai coach Sky Smeltzer agreed to take Loo sight unseen, and after one year says Loo is the best player he’s ever had in the 11 years he’s been at the school. Loo was the top position talent in the Arizona juco ranks this spring, hitting .404 while ranking third in the state with 21 stolen bases. He showed five-tool potential, with power being the only tool still in the undeveloped stage. He played third base instead of shortstop in deference to a returning player but would take over the position a year from now—if he doesn’t sign. The Reds were expected to make a serious run at him before the draft, and if he goes back into this year’s pool he could go in the first five rounds.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:54 PM

Carlos Fisher-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_rockies.html#3

RHPs Kyle Wright (2) and Carlos Fisher (3) are the top starters on a Lewis-Clark State pitching staff that entered this year’s NAIA World Series with a 44-7 record and 2.37 ERA. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Wright has an 88-91 mph fastball and an effective split-finger pitch that he throws nearly 50 percent of the time. Fisher, who was drafted by the Padres as an outfielder in 2001, has touched 93 with his fastball but his secondary stuff is questionable.

WVRed

06-07-2005, 06:55 PM

Adam Rosales-

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/2005draft/sr_michigan.html#11

Scouts love SS Adam Rosales (11) as a senior sign because he's a gamer with plus speed and above-average arm strength. They do question his stiff swing, however, and wonder if he'll be able to hit with wood. His arm and agility have some wondering if he'd take well to catching.

DoogMinAmo

06-08-2005, 01:01 AM

A summary per MLB.com

Reds Go for Arms on Day 1 (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1080370&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin)

Reds go for arms on Day 1
Texas prep outfielder followed by five pitchers
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- The pitching pool in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft is considered to be a bit more shallow than in recent years, but that didn't stop the Reds from diving right in.
Pitchers accounted for 10 of the Reds' 18 picks on Tuesday, the draft's first day.
Though the team took center fielder Jay Bruce from West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas, with the 12th overall pick, and the pitchers came fast and furious from that point.

"Overall, we got some quality arms," said Terry Reynolds, the Reds' director of amateur scouting. "The arms we got are all good, and from the preliminary conversations we've had with the players and the agents, they're all looking forward to coming out and playing. So far, so good."

The Reds made five consecutive selections of pitchers by nabbing left-hander Travis Wood (Bryant (Ark.) High School) in the second round, right-hander Zach Ward (Gardner-Webb University) in the third, right-hander Sam LeCure (formerly of the University of Texas) in the fourth, right-hander James Avery (Niagara University) in the fifth and right-hander Jeff Stevens (Loyola Marymount University) in the sixth.

"All these guys, with the exception of Jeff Stevens, are 90-94 mph guys," Reynolds said. "Stevens is more of a control guy. Even as we got down a little further, those guys are good-armed guys, too."

The Reds drafted just three high school players -- Bruce, Wood and shortstops Mike Jones from Wayne County (Jesup, Ga.) High School and Kevyn Feiner from Sun Prairie (Wis.) High School.

"That wasn't by design," Reynolds said. "It just seemed like any time I had a card in my hand with a high school name on it, someone plucked it right in front of us."

As far as position players are concerned, the Reds selected six infielders and two outfielders, with particular emphasis on the middle infield.

"You always try to look up the middle, if you can," Reynolds said. "The place we didn't come up with anybody [on the first day] was at catcher. The list of high catchers was very short. They went quick. So that's one of the places we'll have to shore up [on day two]."

The Reds, who already have a handful of big leaguers from the Lone Star State, continued their Texas connection with the selections of Bruce, right-hander Logan Ondrusek (Shiner), second baseman Michael Griffin (Dallas) and right-hander Jason Vecchio (Pearland).

Here's a look at the Reds' picks on day one:

Travis Wood, LHP, Bryant (Ark.) High School, Pick #60: Wood, 18, signed a letter of intent to play for Arkansas. He's the No. 1 ranked pitcher in the state, and throws an 89-92 mph fastball, as well as a changeup and curve.

"His second-best pitch is a changeup, and it's a real good one," Reynolds said. "He has work to do on his breaking ball. If that comes, you'll have a pitcher with two plus pitches and one average pitch who's left-handed."

Zachary Ward, RHP, Gardner-Webb University, Pick #92: The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Ward, a native of Kannapolis, N.C., went 7-9 with a 3.63 ERA for the Bulldogs this past season. He struck out 127 batters over 109 innings by using a four-seam fastball in the mid-90s and a sharp slider.

Sam LeCure, RHP, No school, Pick #122: LeCure was ruled academically ineligible to play for the Texas Longhorns this season. He went 9-3 with a 2.34 ERA for an '04 Texas team that advanced to the championship round of the College World Series.

"His advisor put him into the wrong core classes, so he was one class short and couldn't play," Reynolds said. "We saw him through a number of workouts, and currently he's pitching for the North Woods League, which is a summer collegiate league. We've seen him in a lot of different environments."

James Avery, RHP, Niagara University, Pick #152: The 21-year-old Avery went 5-5 with a 3.42 ERA for the Purple Eagles this season. He is a native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Though he has a fastball in the low 90s, he is seen as a reliever because of his limited pitch selection.

Jeffrey Stevens, RHP, Loyola Marymount University, Pick #182: The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Stevens went 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA in his junior season, earning him All-West Coast Conference honors for the second straight year.

Brandon Roberts, CF, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Pick #212: Roberts was Cal Poly's left fielder and designated hitter before moving to center this season. Known more for speed than power, he hit .339 with 32 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

Michael Jones, SS, Wayne County (Ga.) High School, Pick #242: Jones attended a workout at Great American Ball Park last week. Reynolds said the team isn't sure if Jones will stay at shortstop or move out to center field.

"The thing we really like is his bat and his athleticism," Reynolds said. "There are questions whether his arm is strong enough to play short."

Milton Loo, 3B, Yavapai (Col.) College, Pick #272: The 19-year-old Loo hit .404 with five homers and 38 RBIs at Yavapai. The Reds actually drafted him last year as well. The team will follow Loo, who will most likely convert to shortstop, through another season of junior college before signing him, Reynolds said.

Bo Lanier, RHP, University of Georgia, Pick #302: In three years with the Bulldogs, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound Lanier has gone 10-4 with two saves and a 5.69 ERA in 56 relief appearances.

Carlos Fisher, RHP, Lewis & Clark (Ca.) State College, Pick #332: Fisher went 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 appearances, including 11 starts, in his senior season at Lewis & Clark.

Adam Rosales, SS, Western Michigan University, Pick #362: Rosales, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior, hit .309 with six homers and 31 RBIs for the Broncos this season.

Logan Ondrusek, RHP, McClennan (Texas) Community College, Pick #392: At 6-foot-8, 205 pounds, Ondrusek is the tallest of the Reds' draftees. He just completed his sophomore season at McClennan.

Michael Griffin, 2B, Baylor University, Pick #422: As a senior starter on a Baylor team that has advanced to the NCAA Super Regional, Griffin has hit .289 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs this season.

Michael DeJesus, 2B, Coastal Carolina University, Pick #452: DeJesus is the brother of David DeJesus of the Royals. The junior appeared in all 66 games for Coastal Carolina this season, batting .346 with nine homers and 72 RBIs. He was a first-team All-Big South selection.

Jason Vecchio, RHP, University of Texas-San Antonio, Pick #482: In 20 appearances this season, mostly in relief, Vecchio, a junior, went 2-4 with a 6.12 ERA and seven saves.

David Wilson, LHP, Lander University, Pick #512: The senior from Gray Court, S.C., went 9-4 with a 3.84 ERA this season. He had 70 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 84 1/3 innings.

Kevyn Feiner, SS, Sun Prairie (Wis.) High School, Pick #542:The 6-foot, 170-pound Feiner, 17, signed a letter of intent to play at Illinois.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Some Notes:
1. Anthony needs to learn how to count. :rolleyes:
2. According to Terry, Wood has two pitches.
3. LeCure didn't flunk out, or let his team down. His advisor did not do his job.
4. Loo was drafted again to pitch one more year in JUCO and then sign.
5. There is no way I could go 18 rounds+ even if it was my job. I give them props for sitting it out, and I seriously hope they found what needed to be found.

KronoRed

06-08-2005, 03:14 AM

Thanks WvRed..Doog :)

DoogMinAmo

06-08-2005, 04:07 AM

Thanks WvRed..Doog :)

Any time :thumbup:

Ravenlord

06-08-2005, 05:26 AM

the Reds first five rounds look nothing like the one i grabbed in UC's computer lab this afternoon...but with the exception of Wood and LeCure, i like the Reds first 5-rounds.

RHP Cesar Carillo-i've been pimping him for awhile as the Reds' pick. with the injury to Hansen, it made it easier to take Carillo.

RF Brian Pettway-thought about taking Maiques before him, but the weight loss and training he did put him above Maiques for me.

RHP Kenny Maiques-see above. i didn't think he'd make it to the fourth round though. i had Justin Sellers marked here orignally, but Billy Beane happens. then i had James Avery here. but Maiques is far superior to him IMO.

SS Reese Havens-the A's took my SS who i was going to take in round 3. wanting to draft a MI, i took Havens as i think he'll be emerging as FeLo becomes too expensive.

1B Justin Smoak-i like him as a LF more than a 1B, i think. i was going to take Slayden in the 5th round, but his injuries scared me off. i doubt Smoak will/would sign though, which is probably why he made it to this point

traderumor

06-08-2005, 09:25 AM

Bo Lanier and Jason Vecchio are two great mysteries on how a scout sold these two. Look at Vecchio in the prior two years:

http://www.sports-wired.com/profiles/VE/tbc41702.asp

Year Team Lg. Ag Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP BK H9 W9 K9 whip
2003 UT-SA NCAA NCAA 0 2 13.20 12 2 0 0 0 15 22 26 22 3 21 9 5 13.2 12.6 5.4 2.87
2004 UT-SA NCAA NCAA 1 2 9.60 12 3 0 0 0 30 45 34 32 6 13 13 7 13.5 3.9 3.9 1.93

Lanier's ERA is over 6 this year, seems like he might be able to get some Ks, but my gosh, how could he get drafted?

Year Team Lg. Ag Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SH GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP BK H9 W9 K9 whip
2002 UG NCAA NCAA 2 1 11.25 12 0 0 0 0 16 26 22 20 0 13 9 8 14.6 7.3 5.1 2.44
2003 UG NCAA NCAA 0 0 10.12 3 0 0 0 0 3 4 3 3 0 3 2 0 13.5 10.1 6.8 2.62
2004 4 1 24 0 0 0 2 46 44 19 16 4 19 42 7 -- -- --

TRF

06-08-2005, 11:05 AM

"His advisor put him into the wrong core classes, so he was one class short and couldn't play," Reynolds said. "We saw him through a number of workouts, and currently he's pitching for the North Woods League, which is a summer collegiate league. We've seen him in a lot of different environments."

He's going to be the sleeper of this draft. Texas is a pretty good baseball school, and this guy was going to be the ace of the staff. He fell off the map due to an advisor mistake. Bad for him as far as 2005 and the College World Series goes, good for the Reds if he signs.

TRF

06-08-2005, 11:10 AM

LeCure's current stats in the North Woods League:

1 GS 3 runs, 0 earned 2BB's 5 K's

traderumor

06-08-2005, 12:22 PM

He's going to be the sleeper of this draft. Texas is a pretty good baseball school, and this guy was going to be the ace of the staff. He fell off the map due to an advisor mistake. Bad for him as far as 2005 and the College World Series goes, good for the Reds if he signs.If he signs? Unless he's also being advised by Mark Harrington's adviser, what could he possibly hold out for?

Falls City Beer

06-08-2005, 12:29 PM

He's going to be the sleeper of this draft. Texas is a pretty good baseball school, and this guy was going to be the ace of the staff. He fell off the map due to an advisor mistake. Bad for him as far as 2005 and the College World Series goes, good for the Reds if he signs.

It is looking like a pretty smart pick, I agree. There is nothing wrong with picking up bullpen arms in the 4th or 5th round.

Chip R

06-08-2005, 12:33 PM

He's going to be the sleeper of this draft. Texas is a pretty good baseball school, and this guy was going to be the ace of the staff. He fell off the map due to an advisor mistake. Bad for him as far as 2005 and the College World Series goes, good for the Reds if he signs.Advisor mistake, huh? I guess he can't figure out how to fill out his own schedules. Oh well, no one says you have to be an intellectual giant to play baseball.

Red Leader

06-08-2005, 12:41 PM

Reds 19th round pick and first pick of Day 2 was:

SS Eric Eymann. Kansas St. University.

Eric Eymann: Large frame. Lean, rangy body. Occasional line drive alley power. Arm strength near avg. enough for routine play. Proper techniques for defensive infield actions. Will catch the ball. Aggressive, competitive makeup.

.303/.358/.460 4 homeruns 39 RBI 13 BB 5 for 7 in stolen bases

savafan

06-08-2005, 12:47 PM

I'm really liking 15th rounder Michael DeJesus. Teamone has him ranked as the 9th best high school 2ndbaseman in the country.

Red Leader

06-08-2005, 12:51 PM

Pick 602 for the Reds, Round 20.

Benjamin Mummy, 1B, U of Nevada-Reno

R/R

6'3" 205lbs.

savafan

06-08-2005, 12:57 PM

Ben Mummy:

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unv/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/112661.jpeg

2003:

.256 4 homeruns 17 RBI 12 BB

2004:

.367 8 homeruns 41 RBI 23 BB

2005:

.297 18 homeruns 52 RBI 25 BB

NEVADA: Returns at first base after missing the final 22 games of last season after breaking his wrist in a nonbaseball related accident...selected as the 2005 All-WAC preseason first baseman by the league coaches and Baseball America...teams top hitter a year ago at .367 he is expected to provide the offensive punch in the middle of the lineup that he showed prior to his injury last season... enters the 2005 season with a 9-game hit streak in which he is batting .457(16-for-35) with 16 runs scored, 20 RBI, 3 doubles, and 6 home runs...the streak is the second longest for any player in the WAC heading into the 2005 campaign.

2004(Jr.): Started the first 37 games of the season before breaking his wrist in a nonbaseball accident which forced him to miss the final 22 games of the year...posted the top batting average on the squad at .367...earned WAC Player of the Week honors twice on February 8 when he hit .500 with 5 runs scored, 7 RBI, 2 doubles and a home run then again on April 19 after batting .500 with 6 runs scored, 2 doubles, a home run and 7 RBI...began the season with a 12 game hit streak, the final 2 games of the 2003 season and the first 10 of the 2004 year...the 12 game streak tied for the 8th longest in the WAC...collected hit in his final 9 games of 2004 before the injury...hit safely in 31 of 37 games played...hit a career single game high 2 home runs vs. SMC(4/6)...came off the bench vs. SJSU(3/26) and drove in the winning run as Nevada won 7-6...twice drove in a career high 5 runs at Louisiana Tech(4/9) and vs. Fresno State(4/16)...the 2 five RBI performances were within a 3 game span...16 multiple hit games ranked fifth on the squad and 11 multiple RBI games was fourth on the team...batted fourth in the lineup 13 times and fifth 12 times.

2003(So.): Began the season as the Pack's first baseman starting 25 games before Erick Streelman took over the position...made five starts at designated hitter...nine multiple hit(8-2hit, and 1-3hit) games and four multiple RBI(2-2RBI and 2-3RBI) games...batted .286 with two runs scored, a double, 2 home runs, and 5 RBI during his season high five game hit streak...three run homer at Hawai`i on March 21 tied for his top RBI game of the season as the Pack won 5-1...top offensive game was his 3-for-5, 3RBI game at Sacramento State that included a solo home run.

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year baseball letterwinner playing for coach Ron Martin at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Wash....all-state, all-area, and All-Wesco South baseball selection...Washington State MVP...batted .470 with seven home runs, 45 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and a 1.420 slugging percentage as a senior.

PERSONAL: Business Marketing major...born Aug. 14, 1984...son of Pam and Greg Mummy...enjoys working on cars...father played baseball at Stanford...likes to golf in his free time.

TRF

06-08-2005, 03:26 PM

Advisor mistake, huh? I guess he can't figure out how to fill out his own schedules. Oh well, no one says you have to be an intellectual giant to play baseball.

Kid has a form of ADD, and it is the Advisor's JOB to make sure he gets the required credits so he remains elligible. He was going to have a tough time in school regardless. On the mound he was regarded as the Longhorns ace. The same Longhorns heading to the Super Regionals to face #5 Mississippi.

This was a smart pick. In fact I think it was sneaky smart.

How very Bowden-like.

REDREAD

06-08-2005, 04:30 PM

Advisor mistake, huh? I guess he can't figure out how to fill out his own schedules. Oh well, no one says you have to be an intellectual giant to play baseball.

That was my initial thought too. But I guess if you're an athlete, you shouldn't have any personal responsiblity :rolleyes: Funny how all the other athletes at that school didn't have a problem.

Well, let's hope he pans out for the Reds.

Kid has a form of ADD, and it is the Advisor's JOB to make sure he gets the required credits so he remains elligible. .

With all due respect, faulty advisors have tons of students to "advise". If the kid can't even keep track of what classes he needs to take to stay eligible, he doesn't belong in college. It's highly possible that he dropped or flunked a class and fell behind.

TRF

06-08-2005, 04:43 PM

That was my initial thought too. But I guess if you're an athlete, you shouldn't have any personal responsiblity :rolleyes: Funny how all the other athletes at that school didn't have a problem.

Well, let's hope he pans out for the Reds.

With all due respect, faulty advisors have tons of students to "advise". If the kid can't even keep track of what classes he needs to take to stay eligible, he doesn't belong in college. It's highly possible that he dropped or flunked a class and fell behind.

See the part where he has ADD. See the part where his parents considered suing.

A mistake was made, and added to that he was likely struggling in school due to ADD.

The part I like is where he was considered the staff ace at a pretty good baseball school.

Falls City Beer

06-08-2005, 05:02 PM

Joseph

06-08-2005, 05:22 PM

I'm with FCB here, if the kid can pitch, I don't care if he can spell. Not with the state this organization is in at present.

06-08-2005, 05:38 PM

It's highly possible that he dropped or flunked a class and fell behind.

One night he woke up in a cold sweat. He remembered he had signed up for a class but he never found the lecture hall or started his research project or studied for the final.

What? Huh? That was my nightmare?

(nevermind)

Chip R

06-08-2005, 06:03 PM

I'm actually shocked at the degree of criticism this kid Lecure is getting for "failure" in academics. The immediate circuitry being built between academic sticktoitness and athletic sticktoitness is borderline absurd.

My thinking is that many of those criticizing have never taught a class in their lives.Hey, I don't care if he's dumb as a rock if he can pitch well. But I do worry about the ADD thing, though. Is this something that's going to affect him while he's pitching? Is he going to be able to concentrate on the hitters and remember to back up 3rd or home when necessary? Is he going to be able to remember how he got someone out before? Is his mind going to wander when the bases are loaded and he has a 3-2 count on a batter? It may not be a big deal and he's probably not going to cost the Reds a bunch of money and we'll find out if this ADD problem is going to hamper him while he's in the minors.

Since I have taught before and I work with students and advisors, I don't think I'm exactly standing on shaky ground here.

06-08-2005, 06:26 PM

Hey, I don't care if he's dumb as a rock if he can pitch well. But I do worry about the ADD thing, though. Is this something that's going to affect him while he's pitching? Is he going to be able to concentrate on the hitters...

OTOH, he may forget whatever Gullett told him to do before the Sheriff is back in the dugout... ;)

RedlegJake

06-08-2005, 07:14 PM

You're on shaky ground Chip. Trust me on that. The ADD you see in teens and younger students is NOT the same as Adult ADD, its not some spastic kid unable to remember from moment to moment or hyperactive and unable to sit still. Most people with adult ADHD are highly creative, sensitive and intelligent. They are often found in creative type jobs, and in research sciences, where their rapid fire minds are an asset. There are definitely downsides, such as being very disorganized, seeming "spacey" or "absent minded" even though their mind IS working - at hyper speed. The mental health community has only become really aware of AADHD in the last 10 years or so. Before that adults with this dosorder were simply considered disorganized but bright in the best cases and "dreamers, irresponsible or flakes" in the worst cases. The concern over the ability to concentrate on the game at hand is so silly I almost had to laugh - none of you obviously have ADHD. One of the very curious, contradictory elements of an AAHD person is the ability to concentrate so extremely well that ohers feel they have "gone away". Reading, for instance, I become so exclusively concentrated on what I am reading I wouldn't hear you talking if you were standing right next to me - you'd have to nudge me or shake the paper in my hand to get my attention. It can ruin lives - and has, especially before it was better understand and clinician's began to study ways to help. Severe cases can require medications like Welbutrin on up to Ritalin etc. but most ADHD can greatly enrich their lives by simply earning about the disorder and making necessary adjustments. A secretary may take over the minute details of a salesman's day so that he can simply go out and sell, a field where ADHD adults also excel - many ADHD are very gregarious. In fact we tend to talk TOO much - as our brains race along. I've learned to listen for the sound of my own voice and now know when I'm beginning to talk too fast. Much of the problems associated with ADHD are controllable by the awareness of it and a concentrated effort to reign it in. It's often gentic and there are different tendencies among ADHD. Some are inward, the "loners" among us and others, like me, and probably Sam LeClure are outward - often too open with people for our own good. He needed an advisor who knew something about ADHD, but yes, with hundreds of students, it may have been difficult but seeing how much universities do for student athletes who DON'T have a clue and who don't have ADHD - like, as someone suggested, enrolling them in "golf 101" I find it incredulous Texas U didn't have people familiar with the needs of an ADHD student. As for his pitching ability - I GUARANTEE it won't affect his ability on the field. And yes, he better have coaches who keep on him about where to be, when to be there, etc. It's off the field LeClure will be frustrated and need help. I bit my tongue, or keyboard, if you will, throughout this discussion about LeClure but I can;t keep it in any longer. ADHD made my early life, in the twenties and thirties a shambles. I take full responsiblity for not learning how to handle it better then but I now really enjoy life and have become reasonably successful at controlling the negative things about ADHD (okay I may talk your ear off if you ever met me). The positives, empathy for others, ability to deeply concentrate on things I enjoy (btw, a person with ADHD's ability to hyper-concentrate is highly dependent on their enjoyment of what they are involved in, for instance I can;t suddenly begin concentrating on higher math or something like that because I don't enjoy it much - makes my mind begin to go all over the place). In terms of Sam LeCure and baseball I think his greatest trouble may come when he has several rough outings - ADHD also tend toward depression, some have cycles of highs and lows. This is usually when a drug like Welbutrin is prescribed - a mood controlling substance as opposed to the more powerful drugs used to dampen the overall activity of the brain. I see no reason really, with the knowledge about AADHD available to LeCure and the Reds, why it shouldn't actually be an enhancement to his abilities on the field.

Sorry for the rant. I live in LeCure's world.

Chip R

06-08-2005, 07:20 PM

OTOH, he may forget whatever Gullett told him to do before the Sheriff is back in the dugout... ;)That may not be a bad thing. ;)

Redleg Jake, if it isn't going to cause him problems on the field, that's terrific. I'm not too worried about it because on the off chance it does give him trouble, it'll be on minor league time.

wheels

06-08-2005, 07:40 PM

Redmachine2003

06-08-2005, 07:59 PM

Wow according to MLB.com the Reds got a Larry Walker, a mini Maddux and a Mini Clemens. That has to be one of the best drafts ever.

Falls City Beer

06-08-2005, 09:31 PM

06-08-2005, 11:14 PM

Huge props to RedlegJake for his post.

LD is tricky business, the various iterations of ADD in particular. It's simultaneously overdiagnosed and mishandled. There's a lot of kids who've got a touch of something like it. I probably would be slapped with the ADD tag if I went through school today. I was a hyper kid and my doctors urged my mother to stick me on Ritalin, mostly because they found active, talkative kids an annoyance 30+ years ago. Really all I needed was to lay off the Apple Jacks and get plenty of running around time. It didn't really affect me in terms of schooling, I did pretty well.

There's a lot of kids in that boat. Is Johnny a little hyper? Sure, but in a lot of cases it's not preventing him from learning things.

Then there's kids for whom it's a real problem. The sad fact is that far too many schools consider it something that ought to be handled with medication and do a lousy job of supporting the kids who most need the help. Those kids are often viewed as an annoyance by the school system and their parents are treated like dangerous reactionaries when they point out that the system is failing their kids. The attitude of many teachers and school officials (even special ed coordinators) is something like, "Well, some pills and a homework sheet worked for Sally Smith. It'd work for your child too if you were a better parent."

I know this stuff because I've got a sister who has some serious ADHD issues and my parents had to fight a war the entire time she was in school just to get the school system to enact the things that it put in her individual education plan. And this was in what a lot of people consider a pretty good school district (though it's eerily straight out of "Pump Up the Volume")

On the character issue, I wouldn't ever assume a kid with LD issues lacked character because he/she had struggled in school. You never know how severe the LD issues are or how well the school is equipped to handle them (and it's easy to get lost at a megasized state university). That said, let's not be naive. Not everyone with LD issues has sterling character. I brought up my cousin in the draft thread. He's a gifted basketball player, might have the best three-point shot of anyone in eastern Pennsylvania this year. Pitt wanted him bad and was willing to redshirt him his freshman year and give him nearly unlimited tutoring and support. Then the assistant coach got to know him better. The kid's got severe learning disabilities which shouldn't be minimized (he may even be illiterate - for instance, he refuses to get a driver's license and the working suspicion is that's because he knows he can't pass the written test), but he also doesn't give a rip about overcoming them. He's scared off pretty much every basketball program in the mid-Atlantic and he may or may not graduate next week and he really doesn't care. If ever there was a kid who needed to join the military, it's him.

So I think it's fair to say that we really don't know what Lecure's academic problems mean. I don't think they should be held against him and I don't think they should be ignored. Hopefully it turns into a non-issue as time passes.

Falls City Beer

06-09-2005, 12:12 AM

06-09-2005, 12:24 AM

"That said, let's not be naive. Not everyone with LD issues has sterling character."

This is either an iteration of the obvious, or a reasonably uninformed jab at people with learning disabilities. I'm guessing former. :confused:

Iteration of the obvious. I mentioned it because there'd been lots of talk about Lecure's character.

As for the second, I've got a sister with ADHD, a mother who consults on LD issues professionally and a son on the autism spectrum, I don't jab at people with LD issues and I'm far from uninformed.

Falls City Beer

06-09-2005, 12:34 AM

I'm far from uninformed.

That's good. Virtually everyone is. Or they think aren't but they are. Because you're right, the problem wavers precariously between efficacy of medication and the persistence and participation of parents/guardians, teachers, counselors. It's such an overdetermined problem, and every wiseacre's got a quick fix.

When you've been in the business of teaching of some of the most intrasigently screwed up students you could imagine for 20 years, you don't hear stories, you become the stories; you're acting in the story, and the complexity is so rich it would be beautiful if it weren't so painful.

savafan

06-09-2005, 12:43 AM

22nd round pick Robert Nickols, LHP Pima CC AZ

3.48 ERA in 44 IP 6-2 64 K

savafan

06-09-2005, 12:47 AM

23rd Round pick LHP James Morris, U Illinois Champaign

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/74419.jpeg

AT ILLINOIS
2004 Redshirt Sophomore: Made 14 appearances out of the bullpen in 2004 • Threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief against Mississippi State, striking out three • Struck out a career-high five in three innings of work against Western Michigan • Picked up a save and win over the Michigan series, saving game three of the series after allowing one run in two innings of work before turning around to win game four, throwing the final four innings.

2003 Sophomore: Redshirted the season with a back injury • Made a comeback over the summer, pitching for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League.

2002 Freshman: Made Illini debut in season-opening series at Texas-Pan American - allowed two runs on one hit in 2/3 of an inning of work • Made Big Ten debut against Indiana in Conference's opening weekend • Threw a scoreless two innings against Illinois College near the end of April • Followed that up with two more scoreless innings against Blackburn College in the middle of May • Struck out a career-high two against Blackburn • Played for the Wausau Woodchucks of the Northwoods League over the summer.

HIGH SCHOOL
Earned 11 varsity letters at Eldorado: four in both baseball and football and three in basketball • Struck out 116 in 61 innings as a senior while posting a 2.67 ERA • Selected to participate in the Southern Illinois Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game • Hit .462 with seven home runs and 28 RBI as a first baseman • Earned All-South honors as a junior and senior in baseball, football (defensive end) and basketball (center) • Honorable mention All-State selection in basketball as a senior • Team finished fourth in the state in baseball his junior season • An excellent student, was on the High Honor Roll all four years of high school, earned Student of the Quarter honors three times, received the Lt. Governor Academic Award as a junior and senior, earned Army ROTC Scholar-Athlete honors as a senior and was the recipient of the First State Bank Scholarship.

PERSONAL
Born June 3, 1983 • Parents are James and the late Barbara Morris • Majoring in kinesiology • Selected in the 37th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Anaheim Angels • Lists biggest thrill in sports as going to state in baseball and finishing fourth • Favorite athlete is Randy Johnson because he is a winner, has a good work ethic and is a big lefthander • Past summer jobs include working as a youth league umpire • Plans after finishing school include playing professional baseball as far as it will take him and then becoming a sports agent • Active in church youth activities • Lists his father, his high school coach, Greg Goodley, and the Eldorado fans "who offered continuous support and guidance throughout my elementary, middle school and high school career" as the biggest influences on his athletic career • Would like to thank the Illinois coaching staff for giving him the opportunity to play baseball in the Big Ten and study at the University of Illinois.

savafan

06-09-2005, 12:53 AM

25th round pick CF Taylor Johnson U of Washington

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/wash/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/Johnson_Taylor_03mug.jpg

Personal
Born July 25, 1983, in Vancouver, Wash. ... son of Charles and Terri Johnson ... has a younger sister, Kelsey, a standout soccer player at Bellevue Community College ... majoring in sociology.

Washington
2004 (Junior) - Started a total of 44 games for the Huskies, 25 in center field and 19 in right ... was the most regular starter in right the last month of the season after Lillibridge's move to center ... one of three Huskies with double-digit stolen bases, with a career-best 10 in 13 attempts ... had a hot stretch over 13 games in late April and the first half of May, going 17-for-37 (.459) with 12 runs and 15 RBI ... drove in winning run in the 10th May 14 at USC as UW came back from 6-0 down to win, 8-6 ... 5-for-7, three doubles May 11-12 vs. Portland ... started all three vs. No. 1 Stanford, batting 3-for-9 for the weekend ... 3-for-7 with two homers and six runs batted in at Oregon State ... grand slam May 2 at OSU ... 2-for-4 with a triple at Georgia Tech ... homered in ninth Mar. 23 at Gonzaga ... had a good opening weekend vs. Gonzaga ... provided game-winning RBI in Feb. 21 win, singling to drive in Lillibridge in the eighth ... two-run HR Feb. 23 in 3-0 win ... played summer ball for the Seattle Studs, making second-team all-league after batting .314 with four homers and 24 RBI in 29 league starts ... went to the National Baseball Congress World Series with the Studs, starting all four of their games there ... named the No. 8 prospect in the Pacific International League by Baseball America ... 2003 (Sophomore) - Started 44 of 60 games in right field and 45 total ... slumped a bit at the plate in the late-going, and only started two of the season's final 13 games ... started, walked and scored in the May 31 game vs. Long Beach State at the NCAA Regional ... 2-for-3 vs. Lewis-Clark State ... 2-for-4 Apr. 25 vs. Cal ... went 6-for-7 with a grand slam and five RBIs in Apr. 21 doubleheader vs. Hawaii-Hilo ... had a hit in seven straight ABs, dating back to previous game ... hit fifth homer of the year in Mar. 16 win over Cal State Northridge ... two homers in final two ABs in Mar. 7 win over Washington State ... followed that with a homer in his first at bat at Oregon State ... four hits in the Mar. 11 win at OSU ... 5-for-10 with four runs in OSU series March 11-12 ... 3-for-12 with six RBIs in WSU series ... homer and four RBI Mar. 1 vs. CSUN ... played summer ball for Bourne (Mass) in the Cape Cod League ... 2002 (Freshman) - Finished the season as the regular starter in right field against right-handed starters ... started 21 of the last 33 in right field, usually as the leadoff hitter ... also started four in CF ... Huskies went 15-6 in games in which he started in right field ... started all five games at the NCAA Regional ... 3-for-5 May 18 at Oregon State ... 2-for-6 with a two-run homer in game two May 14 vs. Gonzaga ... 2-for-3 May 10 at USC ... hit three homers in his last nine regular-season starts ... homered in both games (May 7-8) vs. Portland and went 4-for-9 in the two games ... 2-for-3 May 5 in lone UCLA start that weekend ... started all three in RF and leadoff vs. Cal, going 3-for-12 with two RBI and two assists ... got a start April 16 vs. Lewis-Clark State (2-for-5 with a double) and then started in right field and in the leadoff spot in both of the wins over Stanford ... first career hit was a solo homer Feb. 26 at Portland ... played summer ball for Bend (Ore.) in the Pacific International League, batting .326 with a wood bat in 15 league games ... also walked 11 times and stole eight bases in league play for the Elks.

Skyview High School
Earned three varsity baseball letters at Skyview ... also earned three letters each in football and basketball ... first-team all-league in baseball all three seasons ... also a first-team all-leaguer in basketball and second-team in football as a senior ... batted .408 as a sophomore, .508 as a junior and .378 as a senior ... named team's offensive MVP his junior and senior years and played in the Area Code Games in 2000 ... all-state and a member of the Washington state all-star team that swept Oregon's all-stars ... drafted in the 39th round by Pittsburgh in the June, 2001 draft ... team captain as a junior and senior ... also team captain as a junior and senior in basketball ... team captain and offensive MVP of his football team as a senior ... graduated with a 3.6 GPA and was nominated for a National Football Foundation scholarship.

TAYLOR JOHNSON'S CAREER BATTING STATISTICS:
Year Avg. G/GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Slg% BB HBP SO OB% SF SH SB/A
2002 .278 34/26 108 23 30 6 0 4 13 .444 11 3 19 .361 0 3 6/10
2003 .264 47/45 163 38 43 6 0 6 25 .411 19 4 36 .349 3 5 6/10
2004 .265 53/44 148 28 38 9 1 5 27 .432 23 7 43 .374 4 4 10/13
Totals .265 134/115 419 89 111 21 1 15 65 .427 53 14 98 .361 7 12 22/33

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002226858_uwbase01.html

By Terry Wood

Special to The Seattle Times

t wasn't the South Beach Diet, a new yoga posture, the conjunction of Venus and Neptune or an intervention orchestrated by Dr. Phil.

But something has flipped the switch for Washington senior right fielder Taylor Johnson. And after three relatively modest, though respectable, collegiate seasons, he's now putting up numbers that are borderline bodacious.

Johnson, a left-handed hitter from Skyview High School in Vancouver who boasts a career .265 average, leads the Huskies with a .350 average and is tops in hits (35), walks (18), on-base percentage (.467) and steals (11 in 14 attempts). He is second in runs batted in (25).

He'll be the leadoff hitter when Washington hosts USC (15-8, 1-2) in its conference home opener at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Husky Ballpark, where UW is 10-0 this season. The two teams meet again tomorrow and Sunday for 1 p.m. games.

Johnson's consistent stroke prompted Huskies coach Ken Knutson earlier this season to elevate Johnson from the No. 2 slot to the top of the order, and UW is 13-3 in games with Johnson batting leadoff.

"It's nice to get off to a good start this year," said Johnson, a former all-state high-school star who batted .508 in his junior year as a prep. "Until now I haven't had the level of success that I've wanted in college. I put a little too much pressure on myself these last few years."

Mechanically, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Johnson says he has shortened his swing this season without sacrificing his ability to hit for power to any field. He's tied for the team lead in home runs, with six.

It's a new mental outlook, though, that Johnson credits most for sustaining his consistency.

"I'm a lot more confident this year," he said. "I have a better attitude, too. I've never been a guy who throws his helmet around after an out, but in the past if I make an out, I'd really get down on myself and it would show.

"Now I realize that I'm a good player and I can get it done. If I make an out, it's not the end of the world. It just took me four years to figure it out."
A few tips from Frank Bartenetti, a UW fan and motivational speaker (and Knutson's former Little League coach), helped Johnson strengthen his mental game.

"He says success is all about having a good attitude, making good things happen for yourself," Johnson said. "I'm using that this year. I don't take batting practice as seriously as I used to do. I'm trying to be a little more laid back and have a good, positive approach.

"Baseball is a negative game. We fail more times than we succeed at the plate. So you start talking to yourself, getting down on yourself. But you've got to tell yourself that you'll get another at-bat, have another game. You've just got to try and stay positive."

Knutson, in his 13th season at UW, understands the mind-set.

"All baseball players want to be good, and they get in trouble when they try too hard," he said. "Maturity comes when they understand the ups and downs of the game so they don't lose their big-picture mentality.

"Taylor's been a real good player for us for four years, and he now knows more about his swing and has learned not to get frustrated."

Johnson spent the summer of 2003 playing in the Cape Cod League, a semipro showcase for top prospects, but found himself at odds with his team's coach.

"I don't think he liked West Coast guys," Johnson said.

So he stayed local last summer, joining UW teammates Tim Lincecum and Nick Batkoski on the Seattle Studs of the Pacific International League. Johnson batted .314 and was a second-team all-league pick.

"I don't know when it happened, but last summer something just clicked with my swing," he said. "Summer ball is nice. Coaches give us suggestions but not a lot of instruction. We make our own adjustments and just feel the game out, like we did when we were younger. You have a bad game, you just go play another game and work things out."

Johnson, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 39th round after his senior year in high school, went undrafted after his junior year at UW, the time when most top college players jump to the pros. He's hoping his productive senior year will put him on scouts' radar again.

"We all want to be All-Americans and top-round draft choices," he said. "But I have no regrets about going to college. I've had a lot of fun playing at UW. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to play professionally next year."

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:01 AM

28th round pick Judsen Smith, RHP Phoenix College

http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/athletics/images/Baseball/2005/headshots/judsen-smith.jpg

4-3 5.38 ERA 77 IP 85 hits 54 K 49 BB .280 AvgA

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:06 AM

29th round pick RHP Kevin Haltiwanger Newberry College, SC

http://newberryindians.athleticsite.com/images/russellhaltiwanger.jpg

Pos.: P Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 170
Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C.
Previous School: Hillcrest HS
Eligibility: Sr. Major: Sports Management

2004: 2004 preseason First Team All-South Atlantic Conference Selection … went 4-6 on the season … finished the season with the team lead in K’s with 58 … struck out 22 batters looking … recorded an outstanding 8.37 K’s per game … made 15 appearances in 2004 … finished the season with a 6.24 ERA … held opponents to a .272 BA … gave up only one HR in 2004 … led staff in innings pitched with 62.1 … pitched three complete games … picked off two runners during the season … had a 2.0 K/BB ratio … didn’t hold runners very well in 2004, as all 28 SB attempts with Haltiwanger on the hill reached safely … recorded a season high 10 K’s vs. SAC-rival Wingate on 4/3 … also went for a complete game in that contest … struck out nine vs. Lenoir-Rhyne in a complete game performance on 3/6. High School: Attended Hillcrest High School, played two years of varsity baseball … coached by David Davenport … 2002 All-State selection … named to 2002 All-Region as a senior … MVP of S.C. State All-Star game … played on one Region Championship team. Personal: Born April 21, 1984 … son of Roddy and Wanda Haltiwanger … also played on season of varsity golf while at Hillcrest … member of Newberry College’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes … is a serious Atlanta Brave fan … favorite food is crab legs … favorite athlete of all-time is Cal Ripken Jr. … father Roddy played baseball at Augusta State University and father’s cousin played baseball in the Chicago Cubs farm system.

4-2 3.29 ERA 52 IP 51 hits 59 K 25 BB 0 HR 11 WP

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:11 AM

30th round pick C Mark Rodriguez, U Texas Pan American

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/txpa/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/115044.jpeg

.241/.268/.306 0 HR 18 RBI 1 for 1 in stolen base attempts

http://utpabroncs.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060805aaa.html

June 8, 2005

University of Texas-Pan American senior Mark Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/Howard J.C.) was selected in 30th round by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Wednesday (June 8).

"It really hasn't hit me yet," said Rodriguez. "I went to a couple of tryouts for them and performed pretty well, but it's still hard to believe that they were on the other line when I picked up the phone. It's been a long journey to get to this point, but it's a new beginning for me so hopefully I can make a career out of this."

"We are definitely excited for Mark and his family. He really worked hard and improved his skills during his time here. With the schedule that we played this past season, he was able to showcase his skills in front of a lot of scouts. Mark should be very proud of himself, and we wish him in the best of luck at the next level," said head baseball coach Willie Gawlik.

Rodriguez saw action at various positions, including first base, pitcher, catcher and designated hitter, during the 2005 campaign, but will primarily looked upon as a catcher in the Reds' organization. During the season, Rodriguez batted .241 in 32 games, collecting 27 hits in 112 plate appearances. He drove in 18 runs for the Broncs, which ranked him fourth on the squad, while plating 11 runs.

Rodriguez becomes the first UTPA player since Omar Ortiz in 1999 in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Ortiz was the only UTPA player to ever get drafted in the first round when he was selected by San Diego that year. Rodriguez will report to Billings, MT, in the Rookie League with the Billings Mustangs.

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:14 AM

31st round pick RHP Abraham Woody Baylor U.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/bay/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/p-WoodyAbe2004mug.jpg

Career Honors
• 2004 Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Waco Tribune-Herald)
• 2004 Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Big12Baseball.com)
• 2004 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches)
• 2003 Freshman All-America (Collegiate Baseball)
• 2003 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches)

Baylor Career Records Book
• 7th in relief appearances (53)
• 6th in saves (8)
• 9th in Big 12 appearances (23)
• t-6th in Big 12 relief appearances (21)
• 4th in Big 12 saves (4)
• 3rd in Big 12 opponents' batting average (.240)

Summer 2004
Appeared in four games for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League before returning to Baylor for rehabilitation.

2004 (Sophomore)
Started season as primary set-up man before taking over closer duties in early March ... Posted a 4-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and three saves in 22.2 innings in Big 12 play ... Big 12 ERA ranked eighth among relievers at Baylor ... Appeared in 14 Big 12 games, fifth in school history ... Big 12 saves total tied for fifth at Baylor ... Allowed 7.97 hits and 3.98 walks per nine innings in Big 12 play, sixth and eighth, respectively, among relievers in Baylor history ... Was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA under the lights ... Did not allow an earned run in first six appearances ... Pitched 2.0 no-hit innings with a walk and one strikeout Feb. 14 against LMU ... Tossed 2.0 scoreless innings and allowed two hits with four consecutive strikeouts Feb. 17 against UTSA ... Allowed one hit and faced the minimum in 2.0 relief innings Feb. 21 doubleheader at Long Beach State ... Extended scoreless-innings streak to 7.1 with 2.0 innings March 6 against UC Irvine ... Entered game with two on and one out in bottom of ninth in Baylor's 8-7 victory at Texas A&M and induced a game-ending double play from only batter he faced to record first save of season ... Allowed two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings March 28 at Oklahoma ... Tossed 4.1 one-hit scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts April 4 at Missouri to earn the win ... Earned the save April 13 against Sam Houston State ... Faced five batters in that game, inducing an eighth-inning-ending double play and striking out the side in the ninth ... Tossed 3.0 innings of no-hit relief with one strikeout to earn the win April 17 at top-ranked Texas ... Earned the victory in relief April 23 against Kansas ... Earned a save with 1.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts April 27 at TCU ... Moved to 10-0 on Baylor career with a win in relief May 4 against Dallas Baptist with 2.0 one-hit innings ... Closed out all three games of the Nebraska series to pick up a win and a pair of saves.

Summer 2003
Went 1-0 with an 0.77 ERA in 17 games for the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod League ... Struck out 28 batters against 10 walks in 23.1 innings as Orleans finished second in the Eastern Division and won the Cape Cod championship.

2003 (Freshman)
Threw 3.0 scoreless innings Feb. 4 against Texas State in his collegiate debut ... Earned first collegiate victory Feb. 8 at Arizona, pitching the final 4.0 innings of a 12-10, 10-inning win ... Hurled 4.1 shutout innings Feb. 15 against then-No. 2 Rice at the Minute Maid Park College Classic ... Earned a win Feb. 22 against then-No. 7 USC by pitching the final 2.0 innings of a 2-1, 12-inning victory ... Struck out six with one walk in 2.0 no-hit innings in closing out a 4-0 win Feb. 28 at UC Irvine ... Earned first save by tossing 2.0 shutout innings March 4 against UTA ... Pitched the final 2.0 innings and struck out the side in the ninth to earn a win March 7 against then-No. 8 Long Beach State ... Recorded a save in the Bears' conference opener March 14 against Texas Tech, striking out two in 2.0 shutout innings ... Earned the win March 21 against Oklahoma after entering a 5-5 game with no outs in the eighth and runners on second and third, and pitching out of the jam without allowing a run ... Pitched 4.0 innings in relief March 30 at Texas A&M, allowing just one run on one hit ... Went a career-long 5.2 innings in relief and tied his career high in strikeouts with six April 5 against Texas ... Made first career start April 12 at Oklahoma State ... Lasted 6.0 innings against OSU, giving up five earned runs but striking out five and earning a no-decision in a 16-11 Baylor win ... Improved record to 5-0 with 3.2 innings of relief April 27 against Kansas ... Held the Jayhawks to two unearned runs on two hits ... Picked up sixth win with 3.0 innings of relief April 30 against Houston ... Pitched the final 2.0 innings of a 6-2 Big 12 Tournament win May 24 against Nebraska that knocked the Huskers from the tournament ... Did not allow a hit or run in the game and earned the save ... Finished tied for sixth in the Big 12 in appearances.

Summer 2002
Went 3-2 with five saves and a 1.50 ERA as the closer for Jayhawk League champion Hays ... Struck out 30 in 24.0 innings and held opponents to a .159 batting average.

2002 (Redshirt)
Sat out season as a non-medical redshirt.

High School
Played for coach John Langerhans at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas ... Named all-state and first-team all-district as a senior and was team MVP ... In 2001, played in the all-state game and the Sun Belt Classic ... Honorable mention all-state selection as a designated hitter in 2000 ... Played for the Slam Senators during the summer of 2000, notching a 1-0 record with one save and a 1.68 ERA in 8.1 innings; the Senators went on to a fifth-place finish in the AAU National Tournament.

Personal
Full name is Abe Sterling Woody ... Born Nov. 9, 1982, in Tulsa, Okla. ... Son of Sterling and Leigh Woody ... Cousin Chad Elsey earned two letters at Baylor on the men's basketball team ... Both parents and two of his grandparents also attended Baylor ... Majoring in sports management ... Lists Nolan Ryan as his favorite player.

Career Bests
Innings: 6.0 at Oklahoma State (4/12/03)
Long Start: 6.0 at Oklahoma State (4/12/03)
Short Start: 1.0 vs. Missouri (4/19/03)
Long Relief: 5.2 vs. Texas (4/5/03)
Hits Allowed: 8 at Oklahoma State (4/12/03)
Strikeouts: 6, twice
Walks: 3 at Oklahoma State (4/12/03)
Runs Allowed: 6, twice
ER Allowed: 6 vs. Missouri (4/19/03)
HR Allowed: 2 at Oklahoma State (4/12/03)

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:18 AM

32nd round pick Catcher Christopher Denove UC Los Angeles

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/98212.jpeg

On Deck -- One of two team captains... Will handle UCLA's pitching staff as the Bruins' starting catcher. "We look for Chris to bring his experience and leadership to the core of our team," Savage said. "He's going to be one of our mainstays - if he goes, we go."

2004 (Summer) -- Won Northwoods League championship with the St. Cloud Riverbats, along with new teammate Eric Taylor... Hit three home runs.

2004 -- Appeared in 61 games, including starting 58 behind the plate... Pac-10 All-Academic selection... Appeared on Johnny Bench Award watch list... Pac-10 Honorable Mention... Named to the Oklahoma City All-Regional Team... Tied for team-high with 47 RBI... Third on the team with seven home runs... Posted 18 multiple hit games, along with 11 multiple RBI contests... Skilled defensively, allowed only 39 stolen bases on 76 attempts... Tied a career-high with four RBI in UCLA's third game of the season against Fresno State... Hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning against UC Santa Barbara on March 2 for his first homer of the year... Knocked in three runs at USC, going 2-for-5 in the UCLA win on March 28... Provided the game-winning run with a two-run home run at Pepperdine on April 6... Had a tremendous weekend at California with two home runs and five RBI in the three-game series... Drove in the game-winning run against USC as UCLA completed a six-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning on May 2... Was 3-for-5 on the day against the Trojans... Went 3-for-4 with three RBI against Arizona on May 7... Hit his seventh home run of the season on Friday night in Seattle as UCLA defeated 14th-ranked Washington 3-1... Set a career-high with four hits at Oregon State on May 29, going 4-for-4 with two RBI, a home run and three runs scored... Went 3-for-3 with four RBI in UCLA's 17-7 win over Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional. 2003 (Summer) -- Played for the St. Cloud Riverbats of the Northwoods League... Helped lead the Riverbats to the league championship series... Was named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team... Hit a team-high .362 with 15 RBI and two home runs in 30 games of action.

2003 -- Appeared in 39 games from January 31 - April 17, starting all of them behind the plate... Missed the remainder of the season due to a broken collarbone suffered against Arizona State... Hit .319, which ranked fourth on the team, with six home runs and six doubles... Named to the All Pac-10 Academic Second Team... Honored by team with second-year academic award... Led UCLA to a 13-2 win over defending national champion Texas in the Kia Baseball Bash on February 28, going 3-for-5 with two runs and a career-high four RBI... Hit .538 (7-for-13) in the Bruins' opening series against Cal State Northridge, with five RBI, five runs scored and his first collegiate home run... Was 5-for-12 (.416) with two doubles against Hawaii, driving in six runs over three games... Posted a seven-game hitting streak from March 28 - April 11... Had 13 multiple hit games and seven multiple RBI contests.

2002 (Summer) -- Played for the St. Cloud Riverbats of the Northwoods League... Hit .288 with 14 RBI and one home run... Led St. Cloud to a second-place finish in the Northwoods North Division.

2002 -- Redshirted.

2001 (Summer) -- Helped Agoura American Legion team to runner-up finish at Northwest Regional tournament... Hit home runs in each of the tournament's five games... Finished the summer hitting a torrid .485 with 19 homers and 62 RBI.

Agoura HS (Agoura Hills) -- Four-year letterwinner in baseball and two-year letterwinner in football for head coaches Zack Miller and Charlie Wegher, respectively... Had an outstanding career in both sports... All-league catcher in sophomore and senior seasons, and team captain senior year... 2001 stats: hit .384 with six homers and 30 RBI, only allowed eight stolen bases on 33 attempts... Was a record-setting quarterback in his final two years for the football team... Earned numerous team awards, including Captain (all four years), Outstanding Leader (three times), and Offensive MVP senior season... Led Agoura Hills to CIF semifinals in fall 2000, breaking all of the school's single-season passing marks... Selected to Los Angeles Times all-area team, and also earned all-CIF and all-league first-team selections.

Personal -- Full Name: Christopher Scott Denove... Born on December 9, 1982 in Westlake... Parents are Thomas and Beverly Denove... Has a brother, Bryan and a sister, Holly... Father and aunt attended UCLA... Chose to come to UCLA because of the great academics and great baseball program... Favorite UCLA road trip memory is beating Oklahoma at Oklahoma in front of 8,000 Sooner fans... Roots for the Atlanta Braves... Mathematics of Computation major.

.227/.278/.289 0 HR 22 RBI 15 BB

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:23 AM

34th round pick LHP Brandon Camardese U of Miami (FL)

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/mifl/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/134097.jpeg

At Miami
Brandon Camardese has started more games for Miami over the past two seasons than any other pitcher with 35 ... known as "Dice" to his teammates, the left-hander has a fastball that touches 90 mph to compliment an excellent cutter and an effective changeup ... is expected to be one of Miami's three weekend starters ... has filled the Sunday role in the rotation for the past two seasons ... went 6-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 90 innings of work in 2004 ... posted a 9-2 record and a 5.00 ERA in 88 innings in 2003 ... made 13 appearances with one start in his first collegiate season in 2002 ... had a 7.18 ERA and an 0-3 record in 26.1 innings pitched ... was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft ... his first collegiate appearance, as well as first start, came at FIU on Feb. 6, 2002 ... did not play summer ball in 2004 ... pitched in the Cape Cod League for the Orleans Cardinals in the summer of 2003 ... went 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA for the Cardinals in six starts over 33.1 innings, striking out 26 ... should compete for All-America and All-ACC honors in 2005.

Junior (2004)
Camardese finished the season with a 6-3 record and a 4.20 ERA in 90 innings ... opponents batted .239 against the left-hander who issued 42 walks while striking out 63 ... started 17 games ... struggled to throw strikes with four walks in just over two innings in his first start of the season ... pitched 2.0 official innings, allowing four hits and two runs ... took a no decision as the Hurricanes bats exploded for 19 runs and 23 hits ... Camardese came out much more aggressive against Tennessee, controlling the game from the start ... scattered six hits and two runs over six innings, while striking out three and walking only one ... shut down LaSalle on Feb. 28 in Homestead, scattering three hits over five innings and holding the Explorers scoreless ... pitched four ineffective innings in a no decision against Elon on March 7 ... allowed three runs on five hits, but walked three, hit two batters and uncorked one wild pitch ... earned a no decision with four innings of work against Rutgers ... allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out four ... turned in an outstanding performace against Penn State on March 27 in the second game of a double header ... three seven innings allowing only one hit and no runs while striking out three ... pitched just 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits at Georgia Tech ... produced maybe the best performance of his career by pitching seven innings at Florida State on April 11 and allowing only one hit ... took a no-hitter into the seventh inning versus the Seminoles ... lasted only 2.2 innings at home against FSU ... gave up five runs on five hits to absorb his first loss of the season ... gave up only two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out a season-best six ... pitched 6.1 innings against Virginia ... tied his career high with five walks ... lasted five innings against Coastal Carolina and allowed five runs on six hits ... earned the win against Jacksonville with 5.1 innings ... allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six ... took the loss but pitched extremely well against North Carolina on May 16 ... surrendered six runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking one ... allowed only one run on four hits in 7.2 innings ... went seven innings against Ball State ... held the Cardinals to one run on six hits and struck out three ... lasted only five innings against Long Beach State. 2004 NCAA Coral Gables Regional: Camardese pitched a career best 8.2 innings with a season-high seven strike outs against St. Bonaventure on June 4 ... named to the All-Tournament team for his performance. Did not pitch in the Coral Gables Super Regional after the Hurricanes swept the first to games to advance. 2004 College World Series: Camardese struggled in 1.1 innings of work against South Carolina ... allowed four runs on two hits but walked three after facing just nine hitters.

Sophomore (2003)
Camardese finished the 2003 season with a 9-2 record and a 5.01 ERA in 88 innings of work ... struck out 64 batters on the season ... he went over a year between losses (May 12, 2002 at Georgia Tech through June 1, 2003 vs. Florida) ... won his first career game in a Miami uniform against Campbell on Feb. 7 ... pitched five inning and allowed only two hits and one run, while striking out eight ... earned a no decision against San Diego State with 5.1 innings and only one run on five hits ... won his second game of the season with five innings of four-hit baseball ... he allowed only one run for his third straight start ... picked up the first road win of his career at Tennessee to move to 3-0 on the season, throwing a career-high 6.1 innings ... won his third straight game (4-0 on the season), allowing two hits and one run over five innings ... started and pitched two innings against Harvard ... turned in his worst outing of the season, allowing four hits and eight runs (seven earned) in one inning of work ... continued to struggle with his control in 4.2 innings against Oral Roberts on Sunday, April 6, giving up six runs on seven hits, while striking out two and walking two ... bounced back with a career-high 6.2 innings against Virginia on Saturday, April 12th, giving up seven hits and one earned run (two runs) ... pitched 5.2 innings at Florida State, allowing three runs on seven hits to move to 6-0 on the season ... continued to dominate, throwing five innings and allowing only three hits and no runs ... lasted only three innings, while surrendering seven runs on seven hits ... pitched the first complete game of his career, allowing seven hits and two runs, while tying a career high with eight strikeouts ... turned in the best performance of his career at fourth-ranked Long Beach State on May 23rd ... pitched a career-high eight innings and held the Dirtbags to one run on eight hits, while striking out six and walking only one to improve to 9-0 on the season. 2003 NCAA Coral Gables Regional: Allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 3.1 innings against Florida ... walked three and struck out only one to pick up his first loss of the season. 2003 NCAA Coral Gables Super Regional: Pitched brilliantly against North Carolina State, allowing two runs on one hit in five innings, but failed to earn a decision. 2003 College World Series: Suffered his second loss of the season as the Hurricanes were eliminated from the CWS, 5-1, by Texas ... lasted 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking four.

Freshman (2002)
Allowed 40 hits, 22 runs (21 earned), 12 walks and 20 strikeouts...allowed one or zero runs in seven of his 13 appearances...had one inning of scoreless relief in his last appearance of the regular season in game No. 3 vs. New York Tech...threw a season-high 4.2 innings and six strikeouts in UM's 9-7 loss to FIU on 5/2...went 0.2 innings in game No. 3 at North Carolina allowing no runs with one hit...in 4.0 innings of game No. 3 vs. Long Beach State allowed seven hits, two earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts...in game No. 1 vs. Florida State in Coral Gables, pitched 3.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts...pitched 2.1 innings in game No. 1 at FSU allowing five hits, four earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts...allowed an earned run on two hits in 2.0 innings of game No. 2 vs. Elon...his lone start came in his debut at FIU on 2/6...took the loss vs. the Golden Panthers after going 4.0 innings with four runs allowed...did not play in the NCAA Regional. 2002 NCAA Columbia Super Regional: Saw 3.0 innings of relief in game No. 1 vs. South Carolina, allowing five hits and three earned runs with three walks and one strikeout.

Chaminade-Madonna Prep
Coached by Matt Aker...three-year varsity letterwinner...drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round...finished his high school career by being named to the All-County team, as well as third-team All-State...was an honorable mention All-American...has toured several Caribbean countries playing in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico...attended the same school as UM teammate Vince Vazquez. Senior year, 2001: Named team MVP...went 8-3 with a 0.97 ERA in 77 innings...had 79 strikeouts...was a first-team All-Dade pick by the Miami Herald. Junior year, 2000: Went 5-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 60 innings with 55 strikeouts. Sophomore year, 1999: Went 4-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 49 innings with 50 strikeouts.

Personal
Born July 2, 1983...full name is Brandon William Camardese...son of MaryAnn and David Camardese...has two brothers Jason, (19) and Kevin, (15)...plans on majoring in finance.

Camardese's Career Bests
Innings Pitched: 8.2 vs. St. Bonaventure, 6/8/04
Hits: 9 vs. Long Beach State, 5/29/04
Earned Runs: 7 (three), last vs. Georgia Tech, 4/4/04
Walks: 5 (twice), last at Florida State, 4/26/03
Strikeouts: 8 (twice), last vs. Savannah State, 5/16/03

6-0 5.17 ERA 55.2 IP 61 hits 20 BB 42 K .272 AvgA

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:27 AM

35th round pick 3B Angel Colon Iowa Wesleyan College

.250/.413/.339 3 HR 21 RBI 11 BB 3 for 3 stolen bases

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:36 AM

41st round pick Justin Tordi SS University of Florida

http://www.gatorzone.com/baseball/images/bioimg2005/Tordi_Justin.jpg

AS A SOPHOMORE (2004): The Gators' starting shortstop, he joined first baseman C.J. Smith as the only UF players to start all 65 games…Batted .302 with 41 runs batted in, 36 runs, 14 doubles and four homers…Produced 18 multiple-hit games and had five multiple-RBI outings…Led the Southeastern Conference with 235 assists and was part of 54 double plays…The assist total was the third-highest in school history…Established Florida sophomore records for assists, double plays and sacrifice bunts (nine)…Did not commit an error over the final 23 games of the season, handling a total of 121 chances…Rated second in the SEC behind Vanderbilt's Ryan Klosterman (.975) with a .963 fielding percentage after being charged with 13 errors in 355 chances…Hit by a pitch nine times to finish one plunking behind classmate Stephen Barton for the team lead…Batted .265 in SEC play and was fourth on UF with 19 RBI against conference opponents…Ranked second on the squad with a .339 clip in non-league games and drove in 22 runs…Contributed at least one hit in seven of UF's nine postseason contests…Plated two runs with a two-bagger in the opener of the NCAA Super Regional at Miami (Fla.) on June 12…Turned in a .375 (3-for-8) showing at the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional, scored three times and drew three walks…Doubled and came across during 12-1 romp over Central Connecticut State to begin the event…Poked an RBI double and scored during the 7-0 win over Georgia in Birmingham, Ala…Went 2-for-4 versus No. 5 LSU in the Gators' 5-4 upset of the Bayou Bengals to begin the SEC Tournament…Delivered a pair of hits and contributed an RBI and run in the 3-2 edging of Florida State on May 12…Helped the Orange and Blue take two of three games at Alabama by going 5-for-11 (.455)…Matched a season-high with four RBI in 22-8 conquest of Auburn on May 2…Went 2-for-4 and scored in game two of the Vanderbilt series…Ripped a pair of hits in victory over Mississippi State on April 17…Socked a homer and was 2-for-3 in setback at No. 7 South Carolina on April 11, two days after recording the second-most assists (10) in school history…Put together a career-best 13-game hitting streak between March 13-April 4, which was the third-longest on the team in 2004…Batted .340 (18-for-53) during the skein…Belted a solo shot against Georgia and was walked intentionally by the Dawgs on April 3…Launched a double in the 7-6 thriller over FSU on the final day of March…Hit .375 (6-for-16) during the road sweep at Kentucky over March 26-28 and managed two hits in every game…Totaled four RBI and three doubles against the Wildcats…Stroked game-winning single to defeat Arkansas, 7-6, on March 21 to take the rubber match of the series…Opened the set with the Razorbacks by going 2-for-4 and scoring twice…Roped three hits in four at bats during 8-7 squeaker over Purdue on March 5…Socked first dinger of the campaign in 3-for-5, three-RBI outing at Stetson…Drove in four runs and had three hits against Michigan on Feb. 25…Drew two walks and scored twice in one-run loss to Miami (Ohio)…Chipped in with three hits, two runs and an RBI versus Gardner-Webb on Feb. 8…Singled and scored in UF's season opener, a 14-0 mauling of G-W.

AS A FRESHMAN (2003): Played in 53 games and made 52 starts…Drew 49 starts at shortstop and three at third base…Batted .269 overall as a rookie, scored 34 runs and tallied 23 RBI…Compiled a slugging percentage of .401…His 10 doubles ranked sixth on the Gators…Launched four home runs…Recorded 11 multiple-hit games and knocked in two or more runs five times…Hit by a pitch nine times, the second-highest total behind Brian Rose (18)…Registered a .955 fielding percentage, with 11 errors in 246 chances…Did not commit a miscue in his first 11 games as a collegian, covering 43 chances…Season-best hitting streak was five games, between March 8-14…Scored a run in six-consecutive games from Feb. 19-March 1…Came across the plate twice or more in a game eight times…Turned in a .244 ledger in SEC play, but had a hit in 13 of his 24 league games…Collected three runs batted in during series win at home versus Kentucky over May 16-18 and laced his first triple…Credited with a team-high nine assists in 5-4 decision over Siena to complete a two-game sweep…Delivered three hits and drove in a couple of runs in 11-1 rout of the Saints…Certainly did his part in 14-inning epic against South Florida on Feb. 25, as Tordi was 5-for-8 during the 13-12 Gator triumph…Scored three runs, smacked two doubles and had two RBI…His 10 total bases against the Bulls were the second-most of any player…Cranked first homer in 10-9 win over Charleston Southern on Feb. 12 and finished 3-for-5 with three runs…Went 1-for-4, scored and had an RBI in his collegiate debut against Mercer on Feb. 7.

SUMMER: Competed in the prestigious Cape Cod League for the Hyannis (Mass.) Mets in 2004…Saw time in 21 games and batted .160 (12-for-75) with eight RBI and a couple of doubles…Joined former Gator teammates Ben Harrison and Jonathan Tucker on the Mets in '03…Helped lead Hyannis to a 21-19-4 record by starting 43 games, the second-most on the team…Batted .184, scored 13 runs, had 11 RBI…Also poked four doubles and was 4-of-5 on the basepaths…Fielded .957 with just eight errors in 188 chances, mostly at shortstop…Led the team with eight sacrifice bunts…Member of Junior National USA Team that won bronze medal at the World Championships in 2002…Batted .371 at the event and tied for second-most doubles in the tournament's history with six…Played for Team Florida USA in the Perfect Game Showcase…Squad took home the USA Junior Olympic National Championship and was ranked No. 1 by Baseball America…Played in the All-American Showcase…Member of 2001 Team Florida USA which was the USA Baseball Junior Olympic National Champion and the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) High School World Series winner…Selected to play for the 2000 USA Baseball Youth Junior National Team that claimed the gold medal at the CABA World Series.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2002 graduate of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla., where he was a four-year letterwinner for head coach Mike Barefoot…Ranked as one of the nation's top-200 recruits by Team One Baseball…Named all-state in Class 6A and collected all-metro and all-conference accolades…Set Dr. Phillips' single-season home run record with eight taters as a junior…Named as the team's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year…Selected to the state high school all-tournament team…Also earned varsity letters in basketball and volleyball.

.242/.342/.314 4 HR 31 RBI 15 BB 54 K

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:41 AM

42nd round pick John Axford RHP University of Notre Dame

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/p-axford.jpg http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-basebl/auto_action/136589.jpeg

Fireballing senior hoping for return to action after missing all of '04 season while recovering from "Tommy John" reconstructive elbow surgery (Dec., 2003) ... showed tremendous attitude and work ethic during rehabilitation ... expected to make full recovery for '05 season ... will have the option of applying for a fifth year of eligibility in '06 ... tireless worker who leads by example and is expected to be key veteran for '05 staff ... made big strides in his delivery and throwing from a more controlled arm-slot during limited '04 fall and winter workouts ... hoping to follow success stories of recent ND pitchers Danny Tamayo and Grant Johnson, who both returned from injury with a high level of production and success ... Tamayo missed sophomore season in '99 (elbow) before returning in '00 and then having a 1st team all-BIG EAST season in '01 (when he was a 10th-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals) ... Johnson also missed his sophomore season ('03; shoulder surgery) and was eased back into action during impressive '04 season (1st team all-BIG EAST) before signing with Chicago Cubs as 2nd-round pick ... rated by Baseball America/Perfect Game as No. 145 draft-eligible college prospect for '05 season ... BA's season preview for the '05 season listed him as the BIG EAST's No. 6 overall prospect (4th among draft-eligible players), behind St. John's closer Craig Hansen, Pittsburgh 2B Jim Negrych ('06 draft-eligible), ND sophomore RHP Jeff Manship ('06), St. John's RHP Anthony Varvaro and Rutgers OF Johnny Defendis ... two ND juniors - OF Craig Cooper (60th) and closer Ryan Doherty (90th) - also were on the Sept. '04 PG/BA prospect list (they were not included on BA preview list of league's top-10 prospects) ... made some major progress in mechanics and command during '03 fall workouts, prior to injury ... known for electric set of pitches, with a fastball that has pushed into high-90s and hard-breaking curveball ... has classic pitcher's body (6-6, 190 pounds) ... compiled strong freshman season (3.95 ERA, 5-2 record, 64 strikeouts in 70.2 innings) that was overshadowed by huge postseason wins from his classmates Johnson and Chris Niesel - before starting 9-0 in '03 ... able to induce timely double-play groundballs ... opted to join Notre Dame program, despite being selected by Seattle Mariners in 7th round of '01 Major League draft ... projectable pitcher whose talent ceiling played large part in high draft status ... first two seasons with the Irish included 4.13 ERA and 14-5 record in 31 appearance (25 starts, 133 Ks, 109 walks, 122 hits, .238 opp. batting, 21 wild pitches, 11 hit batters in 141.2 IP) ... one of five Notre Dame '02 freshmen invited to play in prestigious Cape Cod League ... had challenging '02 summer with Hyannis Mets (7.17, 0-3, 12 GP/2 GS, SV, 21.1 IP, 21 H, 30 BB, 25 Ks) but went on to be rated by BA as No. 29 prospect in '03 CCL ... trained with Canadian National Team in summer of '03 before joining CCL's Cotuit Kettleers (1-0, 9.00, 7 GP, 9 IP, 4 H, 16 BB, 8 Ks) ... winning pitcher for Gold in decisive third game (3-2) of '01 Blue-Gold fall intrasquad series (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, BB, 2 WP, 5 Ks) ... 17th Notre Dame pitcher ever to post 12-plus Ks in a game (12, vs. Western Michigan in '03) and 4th to do so since 1980, joining Darin Schmalz (`96) and current Major Leaguers Brad Lidge (`98) and Aaron Heilman (three times, '00-'01) - with Niesel and Tom Thornton adding 12-K games in '04 ... joined fellow RHP Tyler Jones as ND's two signees in '01 spring period ... latest in string of talented "late signees" for the Irish, with that group including pitchers Lidge and Tim Kalita and position players Jeff Wagner and Brant Ust ... made up for lack of varsity baseball at his high school by playing with Port Dover club, Team Ontario and Team Canada ... gained valuable experience playing throughout Canada, the U.S. and Dominican Republic ... third player from outside the 50 states (second Ontario native) among 800-plus all-time ND baseball monogram winners ... 2B and Ottawa native Robert Hoag lettered with the '39 Irish team while CF Joseph Ridge (Margarita, Canal Zone) lettered from '51-'53 ... posted 3.28 GPA in '04 spring semester (3.20 in fall of `04).

AS A JUNIOR: Missed entire 2004 season after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery in December of 2003.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Turned in impressive start to 2003 season, posting 9-0 record and 2.21 ERA before late struggles ... tied Niesel for team lead in victories (9-3), 2nd in strikeouts (69) and games started (13), 3rd in innings (71.0) ... slipped to 4.31 final ERA (50 BB, 63 H, .245 opp. batting, 14 WP, 5 HB in 15 GP) ... his average of 8.75 Ks per 9 IP ranked 2nd on staff ... tied Niesel for team lead with 26 Ks "looking" ... ranked 4th on staff for lowest opp. batting with runners on (.238) while his average of 8.0 hits allowed per 9 IP was 5th-best ... opened with win over Newman, at ASU (6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, K; 15-5) ... followed with strong no-decision vs. Wake Forest at Minnesota Metrodome (7 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 4 Ks, 2 DPs; 2-1 in 13) ... posted wins in Jacksonville over Navy (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R/2 ER, BB, 7 Ks; 7-3) and Creighton (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 Ks; 10-3) ... continued string of eight straight winning starts at Villanova (5 IP, 2 H, R, 4 BB, 7 Ks; 3-2) and at home vs. Georgetown (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R/1 ER, 5 BB, 8 Ks; 13-3) ... set Eck Stadium record for strikeouts by an ND pitcher, punching out 12 Western Michigan batters in 12-1 win (7 IP, R, 6 H, 104 pitches) ... kept rolling with home wins over Central Michigan (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 4 Ks; 8-3), Seton Hall (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 2 Ks; 9-3) and UConn (6 IP, 4 H, R, 6 BB, 6 Ks; 11-4), before losses to potent West Virginia squad and other top BIG EAST squads Virginia Tech and Rutgers ... pitched in relief at BIG EAST Tournament, vs. Rutgers (2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R/4 ER, 7 BB, 3 Ks; 11-15).

AS A FRESHMAN: Rode rollercoaster 2002 season that ended with 3.95 ERA and 5-2 record in 17 appearances ... five of 12 starts came as No. 1 starter of a tournament or series ... totaled 64 Ks (third on staff) in 70.2 innings (59 BB, 59 H, 7 WP, 6 HB) ... held opponents to .231 batting, best among Irish pitchers with 25-plus innings ... touched for just one home run (324 batters) ... served up 18 double-play balls (most on staff), with 1.53 ratio of groundouts to flyouts (second-best) ... averaged 8.15 Ks and allowed just 7.01 hits (second-best on staff) per 9 IP ... made first appearance in relief at New Orleans (4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 BB, K; 7-8) ... had six Ks to beat Creighton in first start, as all-tournament pick at Irish Baseball Classic in San Antonio (6-2; 7 IP, 4 H, 2 UER) ... racked up 9 Ks to win 12-3 game at Georgetown (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB) ... added another BIG EAST win vs. St. John's (6.1 IP, 3 H, R, 6 BB, 5 Ks; 4-1), followed by no-decision vs. Pittsburgh (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks; 12-2) and 9-4 win at Seton Hall (7.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 7 Ks) ...overcame 5 walks, 3 hit batters and poor defense (3 UER) for solid start vs. Arizona State (4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 Ks; 9-4) ... picked up key 8-1 win over Villanova (4.2 IP, 3 H, R, 7 BB, K) ...logged 3.0 innings as starter in decisive 3-2 win over Rutgers at BIG EAST Tournament (3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 Ks) ... had impressive 4.2-inning stint to keep Irish in game during 12-5 loss at Florida State in game-2 of NCAA Super Regional (3 H, R, 4 BB, 5 Ks) ... FSU's famous fan section, "The Animals," unknowingly serenaded him with their customary rendition of "Oh, Canada" in 7th inning ... pitched in season-ending 5-3 loss to Stanford at College World Series (1.1 IP, 2 BB, K).

PREP & PERSONAL: One of Canada's top prospects while playing for club and national teams (Assumption College Prep does not sponsor baseball) ... ranked by BA and Toronto Star as Canada's top prep prospect for '01 Major League draft, before being selected in 7th round by Seattle Mariners ... his four-year career stats with Port Dover, Team Ontario and Team Canada: 37-12, 1.88 ERA in 278 IP (432 Ks, 173 BB; 14 Ks, 5.6 BB per 9 IP; 2.5 K-to-BB ratio) ... combined '01 stats: 11-2, 1.31, 124 Ks, 42 BB in 75.6 IP ... went 10-1 in '00 with Port Dover Midgets and Team Ontario (1.46, 68 IP, 118 Ks, 45 BB) ... posted 10-3 combined record and 1.24 ERA in '99 with Port Dover and Team Ontario Jr.'s (65 IP, 101 Ks, 46 BB) ... split 12 decisions with Port Dover Bantams in '98 (3.52, 69 IP, 89 Ks, 40 BB) ... invited to Team Canada Spring Training ('01) ... member of '01 Team Canada Youth Team ... posted save with Team Canada ('01) at Disney Sports Center in Orlando, for games vs. pro rookie-level teams ... won decision vs. Team USA during summer of '01 (Joplin, Mo.) ... competed in Dominican Republic vs. teams from Dominican Summer League, posting 1-1 record ... member of Team Ontario 18 that placed 5th at '01 NABF World Series ... played on 2000 Team Ontario squad that claimed bronze at Canadian National Championships and silver at NABF World Series ... closing pitcher for Team Ontario in wins that clinched '99 and '00 Provincial Championships ... participated in Chicago White Sox Area Code tryouts ... invited to 2000 Team One Showcase (at ND) ... helped lead Port Dover to three Provincial titles ... member of 2000 Port Dover team that was named "Team of the Year" by Baseball Ontario ... four-time all-star at Southern Counties All-Star Game ... Port Dover's '98 minor player of the year ... participated in high school volleyball, badminton and track and field ... set school high jump record as a junior ... played hockey for 12 years as a defenseman (until sophomore year) ... honor student and member of student government cabinet ... born April 1, 1983, in Simcoe, Ontario ... son of Brian and Vera Axford ... full name is John Berton Axford ... a film, television and theatre major, enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters.

http://und.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060805aab.html

June 8, 2005

Notre Dame senior righthanded pitcher John Axford (Port Dover, Ontario) was selected in Wednesday's second and final day of the 2005 Major League draft, as a 42nd-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds. Axford joins senior first baseman Matt Edwards - a 16th-round selection of the Philadelphia Phillies - as the latest members of Notre Dame's top-ranked 2002 freshman class who have been selected in the MLB draft (three others were drafted and signed as juniors, in 2004).

The 11-year Paul Mainieri era at Notre Dame now has produced 42 players who have been drafted or signed free-agent contracts.

Axford was a 7th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2001 MLB draft before opting to play for Notre Dame. He ranked among the top Irish pitchers in the 2002 and '03 seasons but was sidelined by an elbow injury for the entire 2004 season. The 6-foot-6, 190-pounder was eased back into action this season but suffered a midseason setback due to a shoulder injury, ultimately logging just 3.0 innings in five appearances during the 2005 season.

The Canadian National Team product owns a 4.48 career ERA and 14-6 record in three seasons of action with the Irish, totaling 137 strikeouts, 118 walks and 125 hits allowed (.238 opponent batting average) in 144.2 innings and 36 appearances, with 26 starts. He won his first nine decisions of the 2003 season and owned a 2.21 season ERA at that point before finishing '03 as the staff's co-leader in victories (9-3), also ranking second on the team in strikeouts (69) and third in innings pitched (71.0; plus a 4.31 final ERA, 50 BB and 63 H/.245).

Axford also was a key member of the Irish staff during the 2002 College World Series season, posting a 3.95 ERA and 5-2 record while making 12 starts in his 17 appearances (70.2 IP, 64 Ks, 59 BB, 59 H/.231). Current major-leaguer Aaron Heilman (.198, in '98) and Larry Mohs (.201, in '94) are the only Notre Dame freshmen to compile a better opponent batting average than Axford's .231 (since '91) while his 70.2 innings rank as the 6th-most ever by an ND freshman.

His junior season in 2003 included a 12-strikeout game vs. Western Michigan, setting the Eck Stadium record for most Ks by a Notre Dame pitcher.

Axford pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod League during the summers of 2002 (Hyannis Mets) and 2003 (Cotuit Kettleers), when he also trained with the Canadian National Team.

Edwards - who missed most of the '02 season due to a broken leg - and Axford both have a year of eligibility remaining, due to their respective seasons lost to injury.

Three of their classmates were drafted and signed following the 2004 season: RHP Grant Johnson (2nd round, Chicago Cubs), third baseman Matt Macri (5th round, Colorado Rockies) and RHP Chris Niesel (9th round, Cleveland Indians).

Johnson is slated to make his professional debut on Thursday for the Peoria Chiefs of the single-A Midwest League. That game will be played at Peoria's O'Brien Field versus a Benoit Snappers team that features one of Johnson's former Notre Dame teammates, catcher Javi Sanchez, who recently was named to the Midwest League all-star team.

Axford is the first Notre Dame player in more than 35 years to be drafted by the Reds, dating back to the 1969 season when RHP Nick Furlong was Cincinnati's 5th-round selection. Three years earlier, the Reds had picked Notre Dame LHP Dan McGinn in the 1st round of the 1966 January secondary phase draft. Former ND catcher Mark Mapes was a 50th-round pick of the Reds out of high school while former Irish football quarterback Carlyle Holiday was Cincinnati's 44th-round pick in 2003 (he never played baseball at ND and never signed with the Reds).

Edwards is the first active Notre Dame baseball player to be selected by the Phillies, in the 41-year history of the MLB draft. Incoming shortstop Steve Verduzco was a 5th-round pick of the Phillies in 1991 before joining the Notre Dame program.

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:52 AM

47th round pick Matt Garrett CF Grand Rapids Community College

.353/.480/.472 2 homeruns 17 RBI 17 BB 17 K 20 for 21 in stolen bases

savafan

06-09-2005, 01:56 AM

17th round pick David Wilson LHP Lander University

http://www.lander.edu/athletics/2005David_Wilson.jpg

GREENWOOD----Left-handed pitcher David Wilson became the first-ever Lander University baseball player to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft when he was taken Tuesday in the seventeenth round by the Cincinnati Reds.

Wilson, who was one of 10 pitchers selected by the Reds on the first day of the draft, will sign with Reds' representatives next week in Greenwood. Then he will learn whether he will be assigned to the GCL Reds in Sarasota, Fla. or the Billings Mustangs in Billings, Mont.

During his senior year, Wilson, Lander’s 2003-04 Male Athlete of the Year, had a 9-6 record. He struck out 77 batters and posted a 3.83 ERA in 101 innings pitched.

Wilson is a two-time All-Peach Belt Conference and All-South selection.

During his four-year career, Wilson had a 27-17 record. In 323.2 innings, he struck out 297 batters.

Wilson holds Lander school career records for wins, strikeouts and complete games.

*Kyle Fernandes, a 6-0, 185-pound left-handed pitcher who signed a National Letter of Intent with Lander during the spring, was drafted in the 12th round by the Boston Red Sox. Fernandes played at Massasoit Community College in Massachusetts.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:04 AM

16th round pick Jason Vecchio RHP Texas San Antonio

http://www.goutsa.com/images/baseball/2005mugs/vecchio_jason_mugw.jpg

2004
Made 12 appearances for the Roadrunners, starting three contests...Picked up first collegiate win with five solid innings against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 28...Scattered four hits in the outing, allowing just one run and fanning two...Tossed 2.1 scoreless innings against Army on Feb. 22...Posted a season-long 5.2 inning outing against Sam Houston State on May 15...Finished the season 1-2 with a 9.60 ERA in 30 innings of work.

2003
Made 12 appearances on the mound as a true freshman including two starts...Was 0-2 on the season with a 12.00 ERA...Pitched a season-best 3.1 innings in his first start against then defending national champion Texas...Recorded a season-high three strikeouts against the Longhorns on Feb. 18...Also notched three K’s against Texas-Pan American on April 23.

High School
A two-year letterman from Pearland High School...Went 11-1 with a 0.98 ERA during his senior season...Garnered all-district, all-greater area and all-state honors...Led the Oilers to a 30-9 finish in his final year.

Personal
Full name is Jason Thomas Vecchio...Born April 7, 1984...Son of Judy and Bob Vecchio...Major is kinesiology.

2-4 6.12 ERA 7 saves 32.1 IP 29 hits 17 BB 29 K

SAN ANTONIO – Jason Vecchio found out on Tuesday afternoon that a mid-90's mph fastball just might be the ticket to a career in professional baseball. Vecchio, a junior right-hander on The University of Texas at San Antonio baseball team, was selected in the 16th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball first-year player draft by the Cincinnati Reds organization.

"It was a little surprising to be picked in the 16th round. I got called in the seventh and eighth rounds, but it wasn't until the 16th when I was picked. I am still excited though, and I like the Reds a lot," he said. "I didn't really care which team picked me."

Vecchio, a product of Pearland (Texas) High School, becomes the 12th Roadrunner player since 1994 to be drafted, with several other Roadrunners also in the professional ranks via free agent deals. With another day left in the draft tomorrow, UTSA head coach Sherman Corbett was happy to see interest in the Roadrunner program, which just recently competed in its first NCAA Regional since 1994, and looks for a few players names to pop up tomorrow.

"We are all definitely excited for Jason, and we'll see now what he decides to do. I think he was hoping maybe he would be drafted somewhere in the first 10 rounds or so," said Corbett. "It's nice to see that there is some interest in our players and our program, and hopefully we'll see a few more players drafted tomorrow."

Vecchio was the 12th pick of the 16th round and the 482nd overall pick as action in the draft concluded after the 18th round today. He becomes the fifth Roadrunner player selected by the Reds in the draft since 2000 and the seventh UTSA player to be drafted or signed by the Queen City team since 1994 when Paul Runyon signed as a free agent.

On the year, Vecchio produced a 2-4 record with a 6.14 ERA along with 29 punch-outs in 32.1 innings of work. He also tallied a team-high seven saves and now ranks third in career saves at UTSA.

Vecchio began the season as a starter, making three mound appearances in the first month as a starter, but he quickly found a role as the Roadrunners' closer. Entering his third year after spending the first two as a spot reliever, Vecchio recorded his first career save on March as the Roadrunners knocked off Oral Roberts in the Alamo City Irish Baseball Classic at Wolff Stadium.

He began the year with an 0-3 record but picked up his first win in a 11-10 comeback win at Texas State on March 25. He also picked up saves in conference wins over Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, Sam Houston, Nicholls State. In helping UTSA claim its first Southland Conference Tournament title since 1994, he recorded saves against Texas State and Lamar on consecutive days.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:08 AM

14th round pick Michael Griffin 2B Baylor

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/bay/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/124736.jpeg

Career Honors
• 2005 Preseason Third-Team All-America (Collegiate Baseball)
• 2004 Larry Isbell Baylor Most Valuable Player Award
• 2004 First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI
• 2004 First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference
• 2004 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches)
• 2004 Preseason First-Team All-America (NCBWA)
• 2004 Preseason Third-Team All-America (Baseball America)
• 2003 USA National Team Selection
• 2003 First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (coaches)
• 2003 First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Austin American-Statesman)
• 2003 First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Waco Tribune-Herald)
• 2003 Verizon Academic All-District VI Second Team
• 2003 First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference
• 2003 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional All-Tournament Team
• 2003 Minute Maid Park College Classic Most Outstanding Player
• 2003 Minute Maid Park College Classic All-Tournament Team
• 2002 Freshman All-America Honorable Mention (Collegiate Baseball)
• 2002 Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Dallas Morning News)
• 2002 Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Waco Tribune-Herald)
• 2002 Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team (coaches)
• Big 12 Conference Player of the Week -- April 5, 2004

Baylor Career Records Book
• 7th in at bats (782)
• 5th in hits (243)
• t-8th in doubles (50)
• t-9th in home runs (28)
• 7th in RBI (166)
• 7th in extra-base hits (90)
• 7th in total bases (401)
• t-10th in hit by pitch (17)
• t-8th in Big 12 games played (78)
• 7th in Big 12 games started (78)
• 6th in Big 12 at bats (335)
• 7th in Big 12 hits (102)
• 6th in Big 12 doubles (24)
• t-3rd in Big 12 triples (5)
• t-9th in Big 12 home runs (12)
• 7th in Big 12 RBI (72)
• t-6th in Big 12 total bases (172)
• 8th in Big 12 assists (99)

Summer 2004
Did not play competitively.

2004 (Junior)
Started every game at 3B ... Hit .307 with nine home runs, 25 RBI and eight doubles in Big 12 play ... Shared conference lead in home runs in Big 12 games with teammate Josh Ford ... Home run total tied for second-best single-season Big 12 total ever by a Baylor player ... Also tallied 70 total bases in Big 12 play, 10th in school history ... Second on team with 11 multiple-hit games and tied for team lead with six multiple-RBI games in Big 12 play ... Enjoyed a team-best 12-game hitting streak in conference action ... Hit safely in each of final eight Big 12 contests and in 22 of 25 league games on the season ... Ranked eighth in Big 12 in hits in league play with 35, tied for fifth in runs (23), tied for sixth in RBI (25), tied for fourth in doubles (8), second in total bases (80) ... Tied for third on team with 13 two-out RBI ... Led team with 22 multiple-hit games on the season ... Hit .351 with eight home runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles and a .691 slugging percentage in road games ... Reached safely in 53 of 60 games and did not go more than nine at bats without a hit ... Seventh in Big 12 with 17 stolen bases on the season ... Had the game-winning hit, an RBI single up the middle, in Baylor's Feb. 15 1-0 victory over LMU ... Was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in first game of Feb. 21 doubleheader at Long Beach State ... Homered and went 2-for-4 March 2 against UC Irvine ... Went 2-for-4 March 9 at UT-Arlington ... Tied Baylor and Big 12 records March 12 against Vanderbilt, getting hit by a pitch three times ... Also went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI in that game ... Went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI double March 19 at Texas A&M ... Went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored March 23 against Northwestern State ... Went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI March 26 at Oklahoma, followed by a 2-for-5 performance with an RBI and two runs scored the next day ... Had three RBI on two hits with two runs scored March 30 against TCU ... Second hit on the night was career hit No. 200; first hit was career double No. 40 ... Went 6-for-15 with four runs, a double, three home runs and nine RBI in Missouri series ... Was 3-for-6 April 3 against Missouri with two home runs ... Went 2-for-5 with five RBI and a game-winning grand slam in series finale ... Earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honors following Missouri series ... Went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles April 13 against Sam Houston State ... Hit a leadoff, game-winning home run in the top of the 10th inning April 17 as Baylor upset top-ranked Texas ... Also homered in the series finale ... April 18 game at Texas was the last game of a 16-game hitting streak and a stretch of 32 consecutive games reaching base safely ... Doubled twice and drove in game's first run April 25 against Kansas ... Went 1-for-4 with a walks and two runs scored April 27 at TCU ... Scored twice and went 2-for-5 April 28 against Texas Southern ... Smashed a two-run, first-inning home run May 2 at Kansas State ... Went 3-for-4 with two runs and a double May 12 against Texas State ... Went 2-for-3, walked and scored twice May 19 against Texas Southern ... Was 2-for-4 with a home run May 21 at Texas Tech ... Went 2-for-6 with a double and two runs May 22 at Texas Tech.

Summer 2003
Earned a spot on the USA National Team that represented the United States in the Pan-American Games ... Hit .211 in 21 games (nine starts) with one double and two RBI ... Scored eight runs as the Red, White and Blue went 27-2 and earned the silver medal at the Pan-Am Games.

2003 (Sophomore)
Established a Baylor record with six hits in a game Feb. 9 at Arizona, an 11-9, 11-inning win; also drove in six runs in the game (including the winning run in the 11th) with five singles and a home run ... Had four hits on the day, including a home run, and threw out a runner at second for his first outfield assist against Feb. 14 against Houston at the Minute Maid Park College Classic ... Drove in three runs on two doubles Feb. 22 in a 9-8 win over then-No. 7 USC ... Hit safely in the Bears' first 10 games of the season ... Had a bases-loaded triple March 15 against Texas Tech ... Two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth March 21 drove in the winning run to beat Oklahoma ... Two days later, was 3-for-4 with a solo homer in a 10-3 Baylor win over the Sooners ... Had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in two in a 9-1 win March 29 at Texas A&M ... Recorded his first career two-homer game in a 10-3 April 1 over UT-San Antonio ... Went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, four RBI and three runs scored April 11 at Oklahoma State ... Again recorded three hits the next day, extending his hitting streak to 12 games before going hitless in the OSU series finale ... Singled, doubled and tripled, driving in three, April 18 in the Missouri series opener ... Recorded three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs two days later against the Tigers ... Became the first Bear to hit for the cycle since Shane Nolen in 1978, going 4-for-5 with a single, double, triple and home run May 6 against Centenary ... Also scored three times and tied his career high with six RBI against the Gents ... Extended his season-long hitting streak to 13 games with an infield single May 25 against Nebraska before going 0-for-6 in the Big 12 Tournament title game ... Solo homer in the seventh gave Baylor the lead for good in a May 31 win over Southern at the NCAA Regional ... Recorded his 26th double of the season June 8 in game three of the Super Regional at LSU, setting a single-season school record ... His 103 hits and 45 extra-base hits were each the second-best season totals in school history ... Also set single-season at-bats record and finished among the top five in the school single-season records in triples, RBI and total bases ... Ranked 25th nationally in triples per game, 46th in doubles per game and 51st in RBI per game ... Finished second in the Big 12 in doubles, triples and RBI ... Also among the league leaders in hits (3rd), total bases (3rd), slugging percentage (10th), home runs (t-10th) and batting (17th) ... In conference games only, was among the best in the Big 12 in doubles (t-2nd), triples (t-3rd), RBI (t-6th), hits (t-8th) and batting (24th) ... Fall 2002 winner of the Baylor Baseball Award for Academic Excellence.

Summer 2002
Hit .285 with six doubles, nine RBI and eight runs scored in his first season in the Cape Cod League, playing with Hyannis.

2002 (Freshman)
Was not expected to contribute heavily but forced his way into the line-up with a strong bat and solid defense ... Started the Bears' final 55 games at third base ... Led the Bears in home runs for much of the year before finishing second on the team with seven ... Second on the team with 50 RBI ... Hit his first collegiate home run Feb. 9 at Enron Field against TCU, a two-run, ninth-inning shot that brought the Bears within a run in an eventual 6-5 loss ... Went 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI March 6 against Winthrop ... Drove in four runs March 12 against Texas State ... Three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth finished off a tie-breaking, six-run inning March 16 as the Bears beat Kansas 15-9 ... Finished the game with a career-best six RBI ... Went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI, narrowly missing the cycle after knocking out a single, a double and a triple in his first three at-bats Sunday March 24 at Missouri ... Knocked his first career grand slam April 2 at TCU, his fifth home run of the year ... Added a bases-loaded walk to finish the day with five RBI ... Hit his sixth home run of the year as the latter half of back-to-back shots in the fourth inning of a 6-5 win April 12 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ... Hit safely in 16 straight games (3/20-4/14), the longest streak on the team in 2002 and the eighth-longest streak in program history ... Went 3-for-4 and scored a run in a 4-1 win May 4 over Dallas Baptist ... Finished tied for seventh in the Big 12 in triples (4).

High School
Three-time letterwinner at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, where he played for coach Randy Bush ... Named newcomer of the year in 1999 and earned all-district honors in 2000 ... As a senior, hit .537 with four home runs ... Ranked in top 10 in batting average in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (5A) ... Graduated fourth out of 350 students with a 3.93 GPA ... National Achievement Commended Scholar ... Member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and Health Occupation Students of America (vice-president).

Personal
Full name is Michael Jason Griffin ... Born Oct. 1, 1983, in Corpus Christi, Texas ... Son of Greg Griffin and Debbie Griffin ... Father played pro baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization ... Brother Gregory Griffin Jr. played collegiate baseball at Northlake Junior College ... Chose Baylor over Texas, Houston and Louisiana Tech ... Majoring in international business ... Is a year ahead of his age in school ... Says his best non-athletic talent is dancing ... Craziest ambition is to join the Professional Bowlers Association.

Career Bests
Hits: 6 at Arizona (2/9/03)
Runs: 3, twice
Doubles: 2, six times
Triples: 1, 12 times
Home Runs: 2, twice
RBI: 6, three times
Stolen Bases: 2 vs. Texas Southern (4/28/04)
Walks: 2 vs. Oklahoma State (4/5/02)
Hitting Streak: 16 games (3/20/02 through 4/14/02)
16 games (3/21/04 through 4/18/04)

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:15 AM

13th round pick Logan Ondrusek RHP McLennan CC

http://www.mclennan.edu/athletics/baseball/roster/l_ondrusek.jpg

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:21 AM

12th round pick Adam Rosales SS Western Michigan

.309/.511/.407 6 HR 31 RBI 25 BB 22 K 12 for 17 stolen bases

http://www.wmubroncos.com/sports/baseball/images/01.jpg

http://www.wmubroncos.com/images/main.jpg

Senior shortstop Adam Rosales (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South HS) of the Western Michigan University baseball team was chosen in the 12th round, 362nd overall, by the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday in the First-Year Player Draft conducted by Major League Baseball. Rosales will soon be assigned to a minor league team in the Reds organization. Rosales was recently named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team for the second time in his career, becoming the 18th Bronco in the program’s storied history to accomplish that feat * and the first in 15 seasons. The 6-1, 195-pound Rosales finished second in team batting (.309) this season while pacing the club with a .333 average in league contests.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:25 AM

11th round pick Carlos Fisher RHP Lewis & Clark State

http://www.lcsc.edu/athletics/Baseball/2005/Playerprofiles05/CarlosFisherweb.jpg

2004: Started Game 1 of the NAIA World Series, throwing a complete game shutout to beat Mount Vernon, striking out 8 batters, while only giving up three hits in the win...led the Warriors in wins with an 8-1 record...sported a 2.55 ERA and held opponents to a .219 average...struck out 63 batters in 74 innings.

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Named first team All-Western State Conference in 2003.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played for head coach Mike Simms at Ovarte High School...Kinesiology major at LCSC.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:33 AM

10th round pick Thomas "Bo" Lanier RHP University of Georgia

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/geo/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/p-Lanier_03.jpg

2005 (Junior): Made 17 appearances, all in relief...Went 4-2 with a 6.43 ERA overall and 0-0, 8.44 ERA in the SEC (5.1 IP)...Tossed 28 innings overall with 32 hits, 23 runs, 20 earned runs, 16 walks and 30 strikeouts...Opponents batted .294 against him...Picked up wins over Ga. Southern, Ga. State, Furman and #6 Ga. Tech at Turner Field...Career-high six strikeouts in 3.2 IP versus Elon in the season opener...Tied career-high with six strikeouts in 3.0 IP versus Ga. State...Tossed 2.2 inning with four hits, one run, one walk and one strikeout in win over #6 Ga. Tech at Turner Field.

2004 (RS-Sophomore): 2004: One of the top relievers going 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA and two saves in 24 appearances...Recorded 42 strikeouts and 19 walks in 46 innings pitched...Opponents batted .251 against him...Went 1-0 with a 2.49 ERA and two saves in SEC action...Made two appearances a the College World Series against second-ranked Texas...Notched the win in the NCAA Super Regional in Atlanta over third-ranked Georgia Tech that sent the Bulldogs to the College World Series (1.1 IP, 2H, 1R, 0BB)...Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 35th round.

2003 (Sophomore): Appeared in only three games for a total of 2.2 innings, all in relief going 0-0, 10.12 ERA with three walks and two strikeouts...Saw action against Gardner-Webb, Austin Peay and College of Charleston...Possible medical redshirt.

2002 (Freshman):
A 2-1 mark, 10.80 ERA in 12 appearances covering a span of 16.2 IP overall and 0-1, 13.50 in 7.1 IP of SEC games...Got a win in 16-3 victory over Ga. Southern on May 9, 2.2 IP, 1H, 1R, 2BB, 0 K...Got the loss in series finale versus Arkansas 16-12(10), 1.1 IP, 5H, 5R and had a chance for a save...Picked up first collegiate win vs. Gardner-Webb on March 6 after a 2-run flare to center cost him a save...Made debut vs. UCONN on Feb. 23, 3 Ks in 2 IP...Took the loss vs. Atlanta Braves, 1 IP, 3H, 4R, 4BB...Opp. BA .382.

High School: Clarke Central where he played for Eric McCraine...Also played football through his sophomore year...As a senior, posted a 5-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and 63 strikeouts...Helped lead the Gladiators to the Region 8 title and fifth place finish in the state as they recorded a 20-6 mark...Named a team captain...As a junior, posted a 4-1 record with a 1.67 ERA...Also had two saves and recorded 33 strikeouts...Competed with the Athens Gladiators Travel Team in summer league competition.

Personal: Born Nov. 20, 1982...Son of Tom and Jan Lanier...His Father, Tom, was a collegiate tennis player...Major: Marketing

Lanier's UGA Career Highs
Innings: 3.2 vs. Kentucky (5/1/04)
Strikeouts: 3 on several occasions, last vs. Georgia State (4/21/04)

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:41 AM

9th round pick Milton Loo 3B Yavapai (AZ) College

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jun/05/sp/sp01p.html

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's highest high school draft pick from a year ago is projected to be the first player with ties to the state picked in this week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Moloka'i's Milton Loo, who earned junior college All-America honorable mention at Yavapai College in Arizona this season, is projected to be picked within the first five rounds, scouts told The Advertiser. Baseball America Online gives him a national ranking of 176th of its top 200 projected selections.

Loo was picked in the 17th round (the 489th overall pick) last year out of Moloka'i High. He was one of five Hawai'i high school players picked last year, but the highest among the group. He went to Yavapai instead. Since he attended a JC, the Reds still had signing "control" of Loo up until last Monday. Loo said he declined an offer of $200,000, or about the amount of a third- or fourth-round pick. He has indicated a desire to return to Yavapai.

"I decided on my own I needed one more year of college before I can become a pro player," Loo said.

But he hasn't totally ruled out signing.

"If they meet or exceed what I'm looking for, I just might sign," said Loo, who did not reveal what amount would sway his decision to sign.

Loo helped his stock with an impressive season at Yavapai, a member of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, an all-wood bat league.

A shortstop all his life, Loo played primarily at third base at Yavapai because the Roughriders' shortstop position was filled by another Hawai'i product in Gered Mochizuki, a 2003 graduate of Baldwin. (Mochizuki was a 49th-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2003.)

Loo didn't miss a beat making the transition from aluminum to wooden bats. He batted .404 with 14 doubles, six triples and five home runs with 38 RBIs. He had 21 steals in 24 attempts. He recently earned honorable mention for the NJCAA Division I All-America team.

"He has power, speed, he hits for average and is a very good defensive player," Yavapai coach Sky Smeltzer said. "He's worked on his body to become a five-tool player."

The adjustment from aluminum to wooden bats was a key transition. It was the first time he used wood, considered harder to hit with because there is less room for error when attempting to make solid contact.

"I like wood way better than metal bats," Loo said. "I never want to go back to metal bats. It feels better. Metal bats sting. You're not using your own strength; you can mis-hit the ball and it will still go far. I like that challenge. You've got to earn your hits (with wooden bats)."

Smeltzer said Loo adjusted so well because "he's very coachable."

"He understands how to use the entire field (when hitting)," Smeltzer said. "He's strong and has a nice stroke."

Loo is one of seven players from Moloka'i who have been drafted. Four signed, but all out of junior colleges (Keith Lu'uloa in 1993, Nathan Starkey and Michael McCutcheon in 1996 and Miles Lu'uloa in 1999). Kekoa Colon did not sign out of high school. Keahi Rawlins went to the University of Hawai'i after Philadelphia picked him in the 36th round in 2002.

With a population of about 7,000, everyone knows just about everyone on the Friendly Isle, Loo said. So it was easy to find role models, such as those drafted before him.

"I really looked up to them as role models," Loo said of previous Moloka'i players who were drafted. "The Lu'uloa brothers, Miles and Keith, they were shortstops. We always used to hear the stories about how they played. Miles used to come to our practices (at Moloka'i High) and he would help us."

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:wabtBrW2YUcJ:www2.yc.edu/content/athletics/baseball/18%2520Milton%2520Loo.jpg

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:45 AM

7th round pick Brandon Roberts CF Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

http://www.calpolymustangs.com/baseball/mens/images/2005Mugs/Roberts,Brandon.jpg

2004: Cal Poly's designated hitter and left fielder a year ago, moving to center field this spring ... first-team All-Big West DH in 2004 ... after failing to get a hit in his first two games as a Mustang, put together a school Division I record 25-game hitting streak which was snapped March 21 by Sacramento State ... finished at .379 (No. 11 all-time at Cal Poly) with 13 doubles, a trio of triples, three home runs (Pepperdine, Pacific and Cal State Northridge) and 44 RBIs ... hit .407 in Big West games ... 5-for-11 with six RBIs in Cal State Northridge series ... 7-for-10 in Pacific series with five RBIs ... 20 hits in 34 at-bats (.588) before going just 2-for-13 against Long Beach State ... rebounded with 5-for-10 series against Cal State Fullerton ... played in 59 games with 58 starts, 36 in left field and 22 as designated hitter ... hit leadoff at the start of the year but finished at No. 3 ... team- and Big West-leading 30 steals in 38 attempts ... stole three bases against Santa Clara on Feb. 27 ... 27 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit games and a four-hit game against Pacific on April 17 ... played summer ball for Anchorage Bucs, hitting .369 for Alaska Baseball League batting title with five doubles, two triples and one home run ... drove in 19 runs in 36 regular-season games with 12 stolen bases ... No. 10 on Baseball America's list of the Alaska Baseball League's top professional prospects for 2005. "He is an impact player offensively and a threat on the bases," said head coach Larry Lee. "He's an excellent line drive gap hitter and has learned how to play center field."

Junior College: A .398 hitter as a freshman at Cuesta College with 15 doubles, five triples, 74 hits and 39 RBIs ... stole 23 of 25 bases en route to first-team All-Western State Conference North Division honors in the outfield ... led Cuesta to 36-10 record, a first-place finish in the Western State Conference's North Division and the first round of the state playoffs ... played summer ball for the San Luis Obispo Blues, hitting .311 with 22 RBIs in 51 games ... stole 29 bases in 33 tries ... hit .355 in fall. Prep: As a senior at Centennial High under head coach Randy Roberts, hit .500 with 14 doubles, two home runs, 23 RBIs and 15 stolen bases ... a Southwest Yosemite League co-most valuable player in 2002 ... led the Golden Hawks to a 25-4 record as the starting second baseman and the CIF-Central Section championship.

Personal: Son of Wade and Marti Roberts ... one brother, Clint ... born Nov. 9, 1984 in Bakersfield ... majors in kinesiology.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:47 AM

6th round pick Jeffrey Stevens RHP Loyola Marymount

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/loyo/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/34405.jpeg

Briefly
Jeff Stevens is in his third season with the Lions... has made himself one of the top pitchers on the staff... had a solid freshman year, a great sophomore year, and coaches are looking forward to his continued success...

At LMU
Current 2005 season... allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings and struck out eight in start against Saint Mary's on April 1... threw eight innings without a walk against Portland on April 8... picked up second save of the season against UCLA on April 12... struck out six in 6.1 innings of work against Gonzaga on March 25... 2004... An All-West Coast Conference second-team selection as a sophomore after going 6-0 on the season with an ERA of 3.73... threw a team-leading 94.0 innings in 21 appearances and 13 starts... also added four saves for the Lions... ranked third in the West Coast Conference in ERA (3.73), second in opposing batting average (.262), sixth in saves (4), and eighth in innings pitched (94.0)... threw complete game 7-0 shutout against San Francisco to lead Lions to the WCC series win on Apr. 25, 2004, and earn first career WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week selection... held tying run standing on third in both seventh and eighth innings in 8-7 win over then-No. 11 Baylor on Feb. 14... earned his first save of the season against New Mexico State, going 1.1 flawless innings and striking out one in 2-1 win on Feb. 21... 2003... finished season with a 2-3 record and a 7.58 ERA in a team-high 26 appearances... struckout 40 in 38 IP... threw two innings in collegiate debut against Cal (2/7), allowing one run on four hits, while striking out three... struck out only batter he faced in Feb. 9 game against the Bears... pitched perfect inning against Washington (2/15)... earned first win as a Lion, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five in 5-4 victory over Cal Poly (2/21)... upped his record to 2-0 throwing final 1.1 innings of a 7-6 victory over San Jose State (3/1), allowing two runs on four hits as the Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it... threw two scoreless innings against USF (3/22), allowing just one hit, while striking out two... allowed one run on one hit in 1.2 IP against USD (3/28) with two strikeouts... threw 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, in LMU's 11-6 victory over Long Beach State (4/1)... threw a perfect inning against CS Fullerton (4/8), striking out two... pitched a scoreless inning against Pepperdine (4/12)... earned first collegiate start, but did not figure into the decision, against USC (4/15), allowing two runs on four hits in three innings of work... had best outing of the season, allowing just one hit in three innings of work in the second game of a doubleheader against Gonzaga on April 19...

High School
Graduated in 2002 from Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA... a three-year letterwinner for Coach Max Luckhurst... was team captain his final two seasons... an All-Diablo Foothill Athletic League selection as a sophomore, junior and senior... an All-Contra Costa selection as senior... team MVP as a senior.. DFAL Pitcher of the Year... 2000 batting champion (.453)... team won the North Coast in 2000...

Personal
Jeffrey Allen Stevens was born on Sept. 5, 1983, in Berkeley, CA... son of William and Amy Stevens... has a brother, Mike... also recruited by Arizona, Cal, and Long Beach State... a sociology major.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:49 AM

5th round pick James Avery RHP Niagra University

http://www.purpleeagles.com/uploads/images/Avery-James.jpg

2004 Academic All-MAAC

2003 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball

2003 MAAC Freshman of the Year

2004: Made 12 appearances, starting eight…Had the second-most starts on the team…Recorded a team-low 3.86 ERA while posting a 3-1 record…Held batters to a .274 average, MAAC opponents .255…Picked up first win of the season allowing five-hits and nine strikeouts over seven innings of work vs. Saint Peter’s (Apr. 17)...Won third game by striking out eight in 8.1 innings vs. Marist (May 10)...Pitched 8.2 innings against Manhattan in the MAAC Tournament…Lone save came in three innings of work at Manhattan (Mar. 27)…MAAC All-Academic.

2003: Named MAAC Freshman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball…Started all 13 appearances…Second-most starts on the team…Led the team in wins (7) and strikeouts (63), and was second on the team in ERA (3.64), opposing batting average (.225), win-loss percentage (.778), innings pitched (81.2), and games started (13)…Ranked fourth in the MAAC in wins.

Central Collegiate High School: Selected in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins…Member of the Canadian Junior National Team which finished fourth in the 2001 World Junior games.

Personal: Born June 10, 1984, in Maple Creek, Sask….Son of Brent and Corrie Avery…Has two younger sisters, Kelly, and Sandra…Majoring in economics and finance.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:55 AM

4th round pick Sam Lecure RHP No school (formerly Texas)

http://www.texassports.com/images/baimages/2003_04/009/lecure_200_30.jpg

Sam Lecure's Texas Longhorns faced Romero's Titans in the CWS final last season, but Lecure (despite finishing fifth overall in the THT Pitcher Rankings for the season) could not manage to hold off Fullerton in the deciding game. Lecure pitched brilliantly, but Fullerton scored the decisive runs off the bullpen after he left in the seventh inning.

Lecure is not a strikeout specialist or a fireballer; he's a solidly built control artist who depends on his defense and keeping the ball in the park, which he did as well as anyone last season. His average fastball is backed up with a fine slider and he works the bottom of the strike zone. His 9-3 record could have been much better, but the colorful Lecure had many short starts in order to give work to the superb Texas bullpen. He should work longer outings in 2005.

savafan

06-09-2005, 02:59 AM

3rd round pick Zach Ward RHP Gardner-Webb

http://www.gwusports.com/images/5-ward.jpg

http://www.gwusports.com/story.asp?Region=&MarketId=&Market=&OrgId=20913&story=69971

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb junior Zach Ward got a phone call in the midst of 25 or so family and friends Tuesday afternoon, and smiled ear to ear as he learned that he had been picked early in the Major League Baseball Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound fireballer immediately informed the gathering that he knew where he was going, but wanted to keep it a surprise for just a few more minutes – as he kept everyone on edge waiting for his name to be called on the live video stream at MLB.com.

Seconds later, Ward’s secret was out – he had been chosen in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds (92nd overall).

Ward is the third Gardner-Webb player to be drafted by a Major League team in the past three seasons, but became the most heralded pick ever for a Diamond ‘Dog in the regular June phase of the first year player draft – surpassing former Bulldog David Heffner, who was tabbed in the ninth round (200th overall pick) by the Montreal Expos in 1973.

Ward was taken ahead of several notable collegiate prospects, including highly touted Matthew Maloney of Ole Miss (#97) and preseason All-Americans Taylor Teagarden of Texas (#99) and Ryan Mullins of Vanderbilt (#105).

The former Kannapolis (N.C.) A.L. Brown High standout won seven games for Gardner-Webb in 2005, finishing among the Atlantic Sun Conference’s leaders in ERA (3.63) and leading the league in strikeouts (127) and strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.5). He allowed only 18 extra base hits in 429 at bats on the season – holding opponents to a frigid .328 slugging percentage and only a .238 batting average overall, which also ranked him among the league leaders. His 127 strikeouts set a new single season mark for GWU as well.

Ward’s crowing achievement came on February 19, 2005 in Rock Hill, S.C., as he fanned 11 in a complete-game no hitter vs. Akron. That no hitter was the first for a GWU pitcher in 31 seasons.

For his three-year career, the former Freshman All-America choice finished fifth in GWU history in wins (17), first in career strikeouts (284) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.8). During his time with the Diamond ‘Dogs, Ward picked up several notable wins over major Division I opponents, including top-30 programs Georgia, UCF and Florida Atlantic as a freshman in 2003 – along with UCF and Troy this season.

“I’m extremely excited and happy going this high to the Reds,” Ward said after signing a dozen or so baseballs. “Cincinnati is a team I feel that I can help quickly and advance faster than some others that were interested. Before the draft, my advisors told me there were three teams I should be very happy to be chosen by – just because they felt I could move through the system quicker – and the Cincinnati Reds were one of those three, so I’m really happy with that and can’t wait to get started.”

Ward, who was rated the No. 13 prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod League following an outstanding summer season in 2004 by Baseball America, is confident in a hard and heavy fastball that has reached into the 95-96 mph range and a slider/power curve that was clocked as high as 87 at the recent A-Sun Tournament. He has grown tremendously since arriving at Gardner-Webb in August, 2002, without much fanfare. He was rated as high as the No. 27 college prospect available by Baseball America in its mid-season draft preview.

“My time at Gardner-Webb has been a great experience, for sure,” Ward added. “I made a great choice and am grateful to Coach (Rusty) Stroupe and (GWU pitching coach Dan) Roszel for giving me the opportunity and the chance to succeed. Coach Stroupe has been a great role model for me in terms of character and has really helped me mature as a person. Other than arm speed, which you can’t teach, Coach Roszel has taught me everything I know about pitching – and how to pitch. I came here three years ago as a thrower. With his help, now I’m a pitcher.”

Ward joins former rotation mates Jeff Long (Atlanta Braves, 12th round, 2004) and Joey Siak (St. Louis Cardinals, Free Agent) as GWU pitchers who have gone on to professional baseball since Stroupe’s arrival prior to the 2003 season. The trio made up Gardner-Webb’s weekend rotation during much of the 2004 campaign.

“It’s a thrill to see Zach have the opportunity to go on to the professional ranks in baseball,” said Stroupe – who has led GWU to three-straight finishes in the Atlantic Sun Conference’s top-5. “When you have a guy drafted this high – in the top-100 picks – it creates national exposure for our baseball program and Gardner-Webb University, in addition to Zach. We’re pulling for him to make it to the Big Leagues, and feel like he’s got a great shot to get there.

“His development as a baseball player has been fun to watch, but I’m even more proud of the great character he has shown. He’s going to be a great representative for our university and the baseball program.”

savafan

06-09-2005, 03:12 AM

1st round pick Jay Bruce CF Westbrook HS

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/images/2005/06/07/RMiIWLjv.jpg

http://images.zwire.com/local/Z/Zwire2287/zwire/images/ACF8D1C681.jpg

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14659832&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512556&rfi=6

BEAUMONT - Red. They didn't know why, but when Martha and Joe Bruce woke up Tuesday, red just felt right.

Martha slept in, something she hasn't done in quite a while. Joe got up at 6:30 a.m., his usual time. When they got dressed, each at different times, they picked out red.

It seemed like this day, the day when a Major League Baseball team selected their son Jay in the amateur draft, would never come.

The Cincinnati Reds, of course, did the favor, selecting Bruce with the No. 12 overall pick. It ended a process that had been 18 years in the making. In truth, the last 18 months alone felt like a decade or two.

Joe and Martha were expecting a big crowd at their household on Jackson Street, and honestly, they didn't have much time to spend on their attire.

So Joe threw on a red golf shirt and some black cargo shorts. A few hours later, when she woke up, Martha put on a red tank top and white Capri pants.

Hmmmm. Red, black and white. Where had they seen those colors before?

By noon, more than 75 people - coaches, teachers, teammates, friends of the family - crowded together in the Bruces' den on Jackson Street, waiting to hear a voice on the Internet speak Jay Bruce's name.

"I wasn't nervous," Joe said. "(I was) More anxious than anything. It's hard to explain. Most kids don't get to have anything like this. He's living a dream. We're all living it."

It came true at around 12:20 p.m., when the Reds' selection came up. Until then, before every pick, everyone got really quiet. They were all standing, all waiting for the name.

When the voice said "Jay Buh-ruce," the den looked more like a shootout in the World Cup final. Hands shot straight up, right toward the ceiling. A giant roar bounced off the walls, and suddenly no one could hear the voice extolling Jay Bruce's strong arm and sound base-running skills.

It was official: Jay Bruce, 12th overall selection, to the Reds.

It's not every day someone goes from West Brook High School to guaranteed millions.

"When Jay started hitting left-handed with a plastic bat in diapers," Joe said, "I knew he had something."

Joe called Tuesday the greatest of his life. Someone thought that might get him in trouble with his wife (Hel-lo-oo? Wedding day?), but Martha said the same thing, too.

The knot in her throat swelled up when she went before the cameras, saying just how proud she was of Jay and his two sisters.

"We wouldn't regret anything," Martha said later. "We've been all kinds of places. We've met tons of people. We absolutely could not have done this without the help of the community."

The Bruces, you understand, are like almost everyone else - they work hard, make ends meet and enjoy life. But enjoying life won't get you into those meat-market baseball camps, the ones that can drive up a young prospect's stock. It takes money to get to Nevada or Maryland or Florida, or wherever the next big showcase is.

So the Bruces took out loans, used the credit card and got financial help from friends. It paid off, as Jay's potential zoomed from third-round status last year to the top 20.

"There were times where we really couldn't afford to go all the places we've been," Martha said. "But we found a way. Now Jay is financially secure, and he can climb to the top of the game."

It's been a long climb already.

Jay was born April 3, 1987, just a few months before the Seattle Mariners selected Ken Griffey Jr. in the amateur draft.

Growing up, Jay loooooved Griffey.

He had a Griffey poster on his wall, a Mariners cap on his head and Griffey baseball cards in his room, where he wrote letters to the All-Star center fielder.

"I tried calling the stadium one time looking for him," Jay said. "I don't even think I had the right number."

He never did get a hold of Griffey, but it's funny how things work out sometimes. Years later, Seattle traded Griffey to the Reds, and years later, the Reds drafted a young center fielder out of high school - name of Jay Bruce, a strong-armed prospect from Beaumont, Texas.

The Reds covet Bruce as a right fielder. So it's conceivable that if Griffey's legs hold up, the kid who once idolized him might go to work in the very same clubhouse. Wouldn't that be something?

"Maybe one day," Jay said Tuesday, ear-to-ear smile on his face.

Less than an hour after word came down, teammate Justin Hoose was already in the mall. He and a few buddies walked into a store - you know, the one that specializes in lids - and walked up to the front counter.

"Give me every Cincinnati Reds hat you've got," he demanded.

"Yeah, right," said the girl behind the counter, assuming it was a joke.

"No," Hoose insisted. "I'm not kidding."

They left with a bag full of caps, all cherry red with a fancy "C" on the front. They didn't have Jay's head size (71/2), so he had to improvise. The 75/8 size still looked pretty good.

It was quite an afternoon for all the friends, all the family members, and for 18-year-old Hannah Eastham.

As Jay's girlfriend of six months, Hannah watched Jay's cell-phone directory transform from a list of buddies and coaches to an index of baseball's biggest power brokers.

According to Baseball America, some clubs were a bit timid when Jay hired super-agent Scott Boras as an adviser. He has long since replaced Boras with Matt Sosnick, and his phone has barely stopped ringing over the last few months.

"Advisers, scouts, GMs, scouting directors - they never stopped calling," Hannah said. "The good thing is (that) the Reds had been showing a lot of interest lately, so you know he means a lot to them."

Jay, too, had been more anxious than nervous the last few days. But there were moments. C'mon; they happen to everybody.

"He had trouble sleeping," Hannah said. "He didn't eat lunch the other day because of his stomach."

Hey, butterflies are just the beginning.

What was it the famous rapper said - more money, more problems? Even if they're good problems to have?

There's a press conference on Friday in Cincinnati, perhaps the best baseball town in America. Sit-down interviews with The Cincinnati Enquirer and USA Today.

Then contract negotiations.

At some point, the Reds will assign Jay Bruce somewhere to a minor league that's filled with high-round picks who never made the grade. Those guys are all pros, all gunning for the same dream Jay's had for 18 years.

And for the first time, Jay won't be home in Beaumont year-round. Whether you're 18 or 80, that's a big adjustment. It will be for Jay, for Mom, for Dad and for Hannah, too.

"I'm really not worried about it," Hannah said. "I might have worried before, but we're pretty solid. ... We just got on the same cell-phone plan with Verizon."

After the Reds made dreams come true on Jackson Street, people were leaving the Bruces' household. But Jay was still looking for a spot to settle down and let it sink in.

"Mind if I sit down?" he asked a visitor. "Man. Can't believe it. Going 90 mph to 0 here."

Just then, the madness broke out again. Hoose and his buddies came back from the mall, and the Reds caps came out of the bag.

Everyone tried them on, offering handshakes and smiles and hugs.

There was plenty of everything to go around.

savafan

06-09-2005, 03:35 AM

18th round pick Kevyn Feiner SS Sun Prairie (WI) HS

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/prep/may05/324497.asp?format=print

Feiner tossed a no-hitter for the Sun Prairie baseball team in a 9-0 victory over Madison West on April 14 and has helped the Cardinals win their last 23 Big Eight Conference games. The senior, who will play at the University of Illinois next season, was 4-0 with a 1.96 earned-run average and 24 strikeouts in 25 innings through Friday. He also was batting .444 with three doubles, a home run and 14 RBI. Also a shortstop, Feiner was a first-team all-conference utility player last season. He also was a first-team all-conference quarterback last fall.

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111604aaa.html

Notes: Led Sun Prairie H.S. to the Big Eight Conference title in 2004 • Named to the All-Big Eight Conference team as a utility player in 2004 • Hit .308 in 2004 and .328 in 2003 • Also excelled as a pitcher for Sun Prairie, leading the team with six wins while posting a 2.08 ERA and striking out 42 in 40.1 innings in 2004• Lettered in baseball and football two years apiece • Named All-Big Eight first team quarterback in 2004 • Threw for 1,385 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 588 yards and eight touchdowns in 2004 • Brothers Kasey and Korey each played collegiate baseball, Kasey at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Korey at Wisconsin-Oshkosh • Korey was signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2004 as a catcher.

Coach Jones on Feiner: "Kevin is another shortstop who we think he can play any position in the infield. He's well balanced, very athletic. He runs well and he's a very good fielder with good arm strength. As a hitter he can use all fields. The thing we really like about him is he's a high-energy player. He's very enthusiastic, very supportive and has great leadership qualities."

savafan

06-09-2005, 03:50 AM

27th round pick Ken Smalley SS St. Charles (IL) HS

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/sports/e25north.htm

By Erik Jacobsen
STAFF WRITER

ST. CHARLES — When Kenny Smalley transferred from Batavia to St. Charles North before the school year, the stage was set for quite a baseball reunion.

Five years ago, Smalley and a number of current North Star baseball players barnstormed the area, providing plenty of offensive fireworks as members of the Wasco Baseball League traveling team.

This season, with Smalley batting fourth in a loaded North batting order, the North Stars seem to be scoring runs at will.

The North Stars are tallying 7.6 runs per game and had a team on-base percentage of .443 and team batting average of .340 through last week. The offensive prowess is a big reason why North captured a share of the Upstate Eight Conference title.

The Stars now hope the run support translates into a run deep into the playoffs, which they begin today with a St. Charles East Regional semifinal game against Elgin at 4:30 p.m.

"Just like our old Wasco teams back in the day, we all can hit and we have a lot of good chemistry," Smalley said. "That is a big reason why we're having a great year."

For any opponent, the middle of North's lineup resembles a high school Murderers' Row. Batting third is Kevin Schuetz (.465, 4 home runs, 20 RBIs), then Smalley (.464, 8 HRs, 44 RBIs) and then Andrew Vycital (.406, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs) in the No. 5 spot.

Although that trio provides plenty of pop, their effectiveness wouldn't quite be the same without solid table-setters like Andrew Elke (.366, 27 walks, 11 stolen bases) at the top of the order or without clutch batters like Jason Javers (.386, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs) near the bottom.

"I think we just have a lot of hitters that complement each other really well," Vycital said. "A lot of our players know their role and fit in that role perfectly, and it seems like everyone provides timely hitting."

"One day the top of the lineup can do great and the next day the bottom of the lineup does great," added Schuetz. "It is always nice on those days when your seven, eight and nine hitters all go 3-for-4."

However, Smalley stands alone at the center of North's success. Whether it is at the plate or on the mound — where he is 6-1 this season with a 1.93 ERA and 55 strikeouts (through last Thursday) — he is consistent contributor.

A year ago, the 6-foot-2 senior was busy guiding Batavia to its first state quarterfinal in school history. That experience is one of the many positives North coach Todd Genke sees in Smalley.

"When we found out that Kenny was coming over, with his state playoff experience, I knew that was going to be a huge benefit for us because obviously we didn't have any kids that could claim that," Genke said. "But he also has a tremendous work ethic, and that rubs off on the other players.

"The best thing was that he wasn't the kind of kid that came in and thought he was better than everyone else. He almost felt like he had to prove himself all over again here."

Although it was tough leaving his friends and teammates at Batavia, Smalley said having familiar faces awaiting him at North made the transition easier.

For the North Stars, easy transitions have been the name of the game this season. In his first year as head coach, Genke — an assistant under former coach Jim Smedley the past three years — has had plenty to work with.

"This is a pretty senior-laden lineup," Genke said. "The guys have worked really hard on a daily basis to improve in all aspects, and I think our kids have really evolved and bought into what we are doing here."

The North Stars' experience certainly showed last week when Smalley, fellow senior Rob Currie and Schuetz pitched them to three straight must-win games against Larkin to capture a share of the conference crown. Now North hopes to apply the confidence it gained in winning seven of its last eight games to a lengthy postseason run.

"To win how ever many games it takes to win state, you have to have some momentum," Vycital said. "After sweeping Larkin, that was definitely a huge momentum lift, and now we just need to ride that wave."

• Waubonise Valley, several days after the season ended, has been declared co-champion of the UEC. A further reading of the bylaws regarding baseball and number of games played determined that North and Waubonsie — despite North winning one more game because of the unbalanced schedule — are co-champions. Area coaches had been under the impression that the team with the best winning percentage — regardless of number of games played — would be the champion.