 |
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
Saints baseball players recruited by D-I and D-II, drafted by Mariners
The Advocate
The baseball season has ended for the Mt. Hood Saints but several players have signed scholarships to continue their playing careers, six of whom have Division I destinations.
Sophomore pitcher Taylor Williams will be heading to Kent, Ohio, to become a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Sophomores Isaac Henslee and Nick Paxton are taking their talents further east to play for the Liberty Flames at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Vir.
Three Saints are becoming members of the Aggies of New Mexico State, including sophomore pitcher Riley Barr, sophomore shortstop Alex Foulon and sophomore outfielder Tristan Metcalf. Catcher Dane Lund is one of the Hood baseballers staying on the West Coast, attending San Jose State next year to continue his playing career as a Spartan.
Rounding out the list is sophomore closer Christian Bannister. Heading to play for the Otters of Cal State-Monterey Bay, Bannister is taking his strong left arm to the Division II level.
All these players were sought after by their respective future schools, according to head coach Bryan Donohue.
"All the players signed scholarships. They aren't walking on. Any junior college transfer is expected to come in and make an impact. They're brought in to fill a need at a certain position," said Donohue.
While these players are venturing out to a new chapter in their careers, a former Saint made his move to the place any player wishes to have a chance at: The Show. Taylor Ard, a member of MHCC's baseball team in 2009 and 2010, was drafted earlier this week by the Seattle Mariners. Taken 221st overall out of Washington State, Ard is eventually expected to make the move from college to the majors.
This is Ard's third time being selected. In 2010 the Miami Marlins took him in the 35th round; the slugger declined and chose to play at Washington State instead. Selected again in 2011 by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round, 772nd overall, he opted to stay another year in the college ranks.
Finally, with his earliest exit from the draft pool, Ard is expected to sign and work his way through the Mariners farm system.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.