Long Beach State University Athletics
Quiet Draft Day
6/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Seniors Lead Quiet Draft for the Dirtbags LONG BEACH, CA-- Long Beach State had a quiet Major League Draft on June 7 and 8, as senior outfielder Robert Perry, a first team All-Big West selection, was selected in the 16th round and senior second baseman Matt Cline, a second team all-conference selection, went in the 22nd round. Senior LHP Omar Arif was drafted in the 29th round by the Diamondbacks, sophomore RHP Andre Lamontange was drafted in the 32nd round by the White Sox, and junior catcher Travis Howell was drafted in the 43rd round by the Indians. Redshirt outfielder Zach Barger went in the 44th round to the Twins. Perry was the 507th overall selection, going to the Padres and joining just a few former Dirtbags in Major Leaguers Terrmel Sledge and Paul McAnulty and 2005 draftees, Cesar Ramos and Neil Jamison in the system. This past year, Perry led the Dirtbags in average (.335), runs (50), triples (4) and RBIs (52) in 2007, batted .323 in two seasons at The Beach and .317 in four Division-I seasons. He was named all-conference three times, earning first team accolades in 2007, following second team honors as a junior and honorable mention All-West Coast Conference honors while at Santa Clara in 2004. He also played for the Broncos in 2005. Cline, who was listed as a shortstop, despite not playing there in two seasons as the Dirtbag starting second baseman, was the 671st selction by the Brewers. He played the position while at Orange Coast College. Cline batted .311 in two seasons, with 63 career runs and 39 runs over 102 games. He batted .312 with 37 runs and 25 RBIs as a senior. Arif, the team's long reliever and part-time Sunday Starter, went 5-0 over the six weeks of the season to finish at 6-5 on the season with a 2.99 ERA. Arif won his final start in the Regionals against Illinois-Chicago, finishing with 19 games pitched and 15 starts over 78.1 innings. Lamontagne was 1-0 with a 4.46 ERA over 23 career appearances and two starts over two seasons. He was 1-0 in 16 appearances and one start with a 4.88 ERA in 2007. Howell, after being a reserve in two seasons at Cal, was the team's starting catcher, batting .283 with 20 runs and 24 RBIs, earning first team All-Big West honors. LBSU has had a player drafted in each draft since 1989, producing a first round pick in four of the last seven drafts. Twenty-two players since 1989 have reached the Major Leagues. This past year the team had nearly half of its roster filled with underclassmen, but still managed to go 39-20 and reach the Regional Championship game. Players at Division-I schools and under the age of 21 are 'protected' from Major League Baseball for three seasons. LBSU DRAFTEES |
