Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990 TAG: 9006060461
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: EVENING
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 pro contract.
"I'm relieved, as much as anything," he said Tuesday after being signed to a contract by the California Angels. "I'm glad it's over, but I'm excited, too. I can't wait to get out there."
Leftwich was a second-round choice and the first pick by the Angels in Monday's amateur draft. 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 his remaining 1 1/2 years of college.
Leftwich met with Angels representatives Tuesday, but no agreement was reached. He was scouted by the Angels' Bobby Myrick, who lives in Roanoke.
Another 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 formerly coached baseball at Lord Botetourt and is an assistant principal at Liberty High in Bedford.
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 was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth or sixth round. Keydets pitcher Mark Craft, best known as VMI's basketball center in recent seasons, was an 11th-round pick by Oakland.
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.
Hodges, who went to Franklin County High School, signed with the Yankees Tuesday night. He will report to their instructional league team in florida, then move to Oneonta of the New York-Penn League later this month.
Meanwhile, shortstop Chipper Jones, the top pick in the draft by the Atlanta Braves who signed Monday, said the organization told him he would play for the Gulf Coast League team in Bradenton while his hand mends, then will move to the Pulaski (Va.) Braves in the Appalachian League rookie circuit.
by CNB