Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 9, 1990 TAG: 9006090219
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Radford University's Phil Leftwich was the most prominent of this week's draftees. The right-hander agreed to a contract with the California Angels after being chosen in the second round.
Leftwich signed for a bonus that is believed to approach six figures, and the Angels also agreed to pay for his remaining 1 1/2 years of college. He departs Tuesday for a three-day rookie camp in Mesa, Ariz. From there, Leftwich will report to the Angels' Class A Northwest League team in Boise, Idaho.
"I'm relieved," said Leftwich, who holds 21 Radford records and throws a fastball that was clocked this year at 92 mph.
In other draft developments, pitcher Mark Craft of VMI, who went 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA his senior year, was taken in the 11th round by the Oakland Athletics. He signed a contract and was assigned to Medford, Ore., of the Northwest League.
Craft, who is 6-foot-7, also was the Keydets' starting center in basketball for three seasons.
Also bound for Medford is Virginia left-hander Doug Johns, a 16th-round pick. Johns won his last four decisions to go 4-4 with a 5.43 ERA. He struck out 49 in 59 innings.
Left-hander Keith Seiler of Virginia (2-5, 6.16 ERA, school-record seven saves) went in the 21st round to the the New York Yankees, the same team that chose him in the 19th round last year. Seiler signed Friday and will report either to Oneonta (N.Y.) of the Class A New York-Penn League or to the Yankees' rookie league team in Tampa, Fla.
Andy Beasley, the VMI catcher who was a fourth-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals, was expected to sign Friday afternoon at his lawyer's office in Waynesboro. Beasley, who had a .709 slugging percentage, batted .351 with 13 homers and 36 RBI for the Keydets.
Beasley is expected to be assigned to Hamilton (Ontario) of the New York-Penn League.
Mike Williams, the Virginia Tech right-hander and a 14th-round choice of the Philadelphia Phillies, was meeting with team officials Friday night to discuss a contract.
Williams, a former All-Timesland player from Giles High, said he still was considering returning to Tech for his senior season. As a junior, Williams tied the Tech single-season record for victories for the second consecutive year by going 11-4.
Another Phillies draftee was East Tennessee State right-hander Mike Montgomery, a 37th-round pick. A former All-Timesland choice at Carroll County High, Montgomery signed and was sent to the Phillies' minor-league complex at Clearwater, Fla., said his father, Jay.
Mike Montgomery was told he could expect to be assigned to the Phillies' Batavia (N.Y.) farm team in the New York-Penn League or Martinsville of the Rookie level Appalachian League.
Montgomery was an All Southern Conference pick at ETSU, going 7-4 with a 4.25 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 79 innings. Among the Buccaneers' 10 victories was a Montgomery-pitched win over The Citadel. That was the Bulldogs' only conference loss on their way to the College World Series.
Right-hander Doug Harris of James Madison, who was chosen in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals, has signed and will be sent to Eugene (Ore.) of the Northwest League. Harris went 7-4 with a 2.21 ERA for the Dukes this season. Opponents batted .211 against him.
Radford University catcher Phil Haney was selected in the 45th round by the San Diego Padres but declined a contract offer and will return to the Highlanders for his senior season, Radford coach Scott Gines said.
by CNB