Four Warriors are selected in Major League draft

06-06-08 

 

LEWISTON, Idaho - Fresh off winning its 16th NAIA World Series title, the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team had four members, including two underclassmen, selected in the second day of the Major League Baseball draft on Friday.

 

Lewiston product Kyle Greene was the first Warrior selected as he went in the 11th round to Arizona. Junior pitcher Matt Fitts was next in the 16th round to Oakland, while junior pitcher Blaine Hardy went in the 22nd round to Kansas City.  Shortstop Brent Wyatt went to Detroit in the 26th round.

 

LCSC has now had 109 players selected in MLB draft since 1975, including a record eight players from last season. One of those eight drafted last year was Fitts, who was selected in the 15th round by Houston.

 

Greene, a senior first baseman/third baseman, was the NAIA's Player of the Year this season. He led the Warriors in a number of offensive categories and became the ninth player in NAIA history to hit two grand slams in a game when he accomplished the feat this season.

 

Greene, who throws right but bats left, led the team in hitting at .428, home runs with 19 and RBI with 94. He also tied a school record with 30 doubles. He had 95 hits, including 51 for extra bases, and scored 30 runs. He had an .838 slugging percentage and a .509 on-base percentage.

 

He began the year playing first base, but after an injury to Ikaika Lester, he moved to third where he blossomed. When Lester came back, Lester moved to first base, allowing Greene to remain at third. He finished with a .978 field percentage.

 

Fitts, a right-hander from Santa Rosa, Calif., tied a school record by going 13-0 during the season with a 2.97 earned run average. He struggled some early in the season, but was the Warriors' solid ace down the stretch. He started 16 games and threw four complete games, including one shutout. He also combined on four of the Warriors' 12 shutouts during the season.

 

He led the team in wins, inning pitched (103) and batting average against (.189) among the regulars. He allowed 70 hits and 34 earned runs, while striking out a team-high 109 and walking just 29. He was named to NAIA All America second team.

 

Hardy, in his first year at LCSC from Shoreline, Wash., was mainly used as a reliever during the season. He posted an 8-1 record with a 2.48 ERA. He made 22 appearances, including eight starts, and helped combined on five shutouts during the season. He also picked up four saves.

 

The left-hander pitched 76.1 innings and allowed 78 hits, 21 earned runs and 12 walks, but struck out 65. He held opponents to a .268 batting average.

 

Wyatt, who is from Kittitas, Wash., was an NAIA preseason All-America selection entering his senior season. He played center field last year, but made the move to shortstop this season.

 

Wyatt finished the season with a .354 batting average, going 84-of-237 at the plate with 75 runs scored and 40 RBI. He collected 10 doubles, two triples, and three home runs, and had a .451 slugging percentage. He also was 9-of-12 in stolen base attempts, and was hit by 14 pitches during the season.

 

It's possible that all but Wyatt could be sent to minor league affiliates in the West. Oakland (Vancouver) and Arizona (Yakima) have minor league teams in the Northwest League and Arizona's rookie team is in Missoula. Kansas City has a team in the Pioneer League (Idaho Falls).