Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990 TAG: 9006060291
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 6-foot-5, 195-pound junior from Lynchburg was the first pitcher to reach 19 career victories. He was the first to have 234 career strikeouts. He was the first to have a career earned-run average of 3.63. He was the first to set 21 school records.
He was the first to be scouted. He was the first Radford player to be drafted. For that matter, he was the first Radford athlete to be drafted.
Now it appears he will be the first to sign a professional baseball contract.
"I'm relieved, as much as anything," he said. "I'm glad it's over, but I'm excited, too. I can't wait to get out there."
Leftwich was one of several players from around the area known to have been taken in the draft. Aside from him, perhaps the most prominent draftee was Castlewood High catcher Mitch House, taken in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
House, who has signed a letter-of-intent with Virginia Tech, met with the Pirates on Tuesday, but no agreement was reached, his older brother, DeWitt House, said.
DeWitt House is the former baseball coach at Lord Botetourt and now is an assistant principal at Liberty High.
Other players drafted included Ferrum College right-hander Darren Hodges, taken in the 10th round by the New York Yankees, and Virginia Tech pitcher Mike Williams, chosen in the 14th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
VMI catcher Andy Beasley also was believed to have been drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Williams, who played at Giles High and was the Hokies' top pitcher the past two years, will discuss a contract with the Pirates tonight at the family home in Newport.
"If the deal's right, I'll sign," he said. "I've been thinking about the pros a lot more the past year or so. I never thought about it until I got to Tech. Once I started playing here, it opened my eyes to the fact that I might be able to make a career out of it."
Hodges, who went to Franklin County High School, was expected to sign with the Yankees at a ceremony in Rocky Mount on Tuesday night.
Leftwich was a second-round choice and the first pick by the California Angels in the amateur free-agent draft Monday. He was the 64th pick overall.
It is expected Leftwich will receive a signing bonus in the $100,000 range. Additionally, he said he planned to ask the Angels to pay for the 1 1/2 years of college he still has left.
Leftwich met with Angels representatives Tuesday, but no agreement was reached.
Leftwich was scouted by the Angels' Bobby Myrick, who lives in Roanoke.
"There were a few teams that I would have rather not gone with," Leftwich said. "But I'm not unhappy at all with the Angels. As a matter of fact, I'm kind of surprised they took me."
When Leftwich came to Radford, he gave the then-infant Highlanders program instant credibility. In his senior year at Brookville High, Leftwich pitched the Bees to the Group AA state championship.
by CNB