June 8, 2007
Draft calls on YC fivesome
By David Hirigoyen
RESCOTT - Two days, 50 rounds and 1,453 picks later, the 2007 MLB Draft came to a close on Friday afternoon.
No local high schoolers were in the mix this year, but five players from the 2007 Yavapai College team did come off the board.
YC coach Sky Smeltzer said the only one he expected to sign was Gary Gattis.
Gattis was the highest Roughrider selected, going in the 26th round to the New York Yankees. He had signed to go to Oklahoma State, but said on Friday that he intended to sign with New York.
"Absolutely," Gattis said. "Due to my age (22) and the fact that I'm not interested in attending school anymore."
Gattis said he found out he got drafted by monitoring the Internet. Shortly after he got a call from a scout.
He was still waiting to hear from the Yankees about specifics, but was planning to report to Tampa and expected to be playing in their system within three to four weeks.
"I actually expected to go a bit higher," Gattis said. "But I'm just really grateful I got drafted."
The other Yavapai sophomore drafted was Joey Rosas in the 43rd round by the Texas Rangers. Smeltzer said he still expected Rosas to attend the University of Tennessee, but a coaching change on the Knoxville campus could alter those plans.
Three freshmen had their names called on Friday: Justin Harper went in the 31st round to the Florida Marlins, Steve Cochrane in the 43rd round to the Oakland Athletics, and Dillon Baird in the 48th round to Texas.
Smeltzer expects all of them back next season. They have until August to decide if they want to sign.
However, the draft could impact the Roughrider recruiting class. Reggie Williams Jr., a shortstop from Bellflower, Calif., went in the fourth round to the Minnesota Twins.Smeltzer said Williams' options are to sign, attend Cal State Fullerton or come to Yavapai. As of Friday, it was too soon to know what he planned to do.
Five other ACCAC players were drafted on Friday, but Central Arizona freshman pitcher and conference Player of the Year Josh Spence was not among them.
Spence dominated the ACCAC with an 11-2 record, 0.72 ERA and 119 strikeouts. But he only throws in the low to mid 80's.
"He's the best pitcher I've seen (in the conference) in years," Smeltzer said. "He would kill in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
"We all know as people that saw him that he can get a lot of people out."