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Brewers' first pick has had interesting life Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Dylan Covey, the high-school right-hander from Pasadena, Calif., selected in the first round of the June draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, already has led an interesting life. Beginning at birth. Not many 18-year-olds have brothers twice their age. Angela Covey told the Los Angeles Times that she and husband Darrell decided to stop having children after sons Brian, 37, and Nathan, 32, were born. Angela had a surgical procedure to prevent more pregnancies but years later changed her mind and had the operation reversed. "Then, one December, I thought I had the flu and it turned out to be Dylan," she said. The Coveys home-schooled Dylan until it was time for him to go to high school. They then decided to send him to Maranatha High School, a small private school that Nathan attended. There was some uncertainty because Dylan already was developing into a promising baseball player. "We struggled with the fact we would be sending him to a small school, but it was right for him," said Angela. Though Maranatha didn't always play top baseball schools, Dylan emerged as a top prospect by excelling in showcases across the country as well as in Area Code Games. "We've been on Dylan Covey for quite some time," said Brewers scouting director Bruce Seid. "He was really good in those showcases. When the lights came on, Dylan Covey performed." Darrell Covey was drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round in 1968 as a third baseman out of Pasadena City College. He did not sign a pro contract, however. "I went surfing instead," he said with a laugh. "I had some talent but I didn't have the character makeup to make it through a minor-league system." The father has been a huge factor in his son's career, spending money to send him to the showcases and attending all but two of his prep games. "It's a real strong family," said Seid. "The one thing you look for in a young man is the support that he has. We've got to know his family, and they're nice people."

New start time for the Stars is 6:15.

6th-round 3B Cody Hawn has signed.

Chad Anderson has interviews up with Chris Cody, Steffan Wilson, and Michael Bowman.

In this case, however, Satterwhite was hitting .358/.394/.507, so it's really not so bad.

Huntsville's in a rain delay. Start time TBA.

John Sickels on the Brewers' draft: "This isn't a spectacular group, but it isn't a bad one, either."

Rattler Radio: Game notes Tonight's starting pitchers Starting lineup (game one)

Arnett: $1,197,000Miller: $889,200 Skaggs: $1,000,000 Richards: $802,800 Boxberger: $857,000 Scheppers: $1,250,000 Belfiore: $725,000 Heckathorn: $776,000 Arnett's teammate, Matt Bashore, was taken with the pick before Heckathorn, but has thrown only two professional innings, which is presumably why sveumrules excluded him; Bashore signed for $751,500.

My interview with 30th-rounder Eric Marzec is up.

Three More Elon Players Taken on Final Day of MLB Draft ElonPhoenix.com Mike Melillo became the fourth member of the Elon Phoenix baseball team to be selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when the Milwaukee Brewers selected the senior catcher in the 31st round on Wednesday. Melillo was the 939th overall selection. ... "I can't really thank the coaches at Elon enough for all the extra time they put in to help me get this opportunity," said Melillo. "They worked with me and helped me develop to put me in this position. As a senior, you don't have a lot of leverage and I was just hoping to have the chance to keep playing." Melillo hit .310 and led the team with 58 runs scored and five triples in his senior season. A first-team All-Southern Conference selection, he also drove in 56 runs, hit 12 doubles and belted 11 home runs. Melillo finished the year with 23 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI performances. Melillo leaves Elon as the program's all-time home run king, hitting 39 homers in his four seasons in the maroon and gold. He also ranks among the school's all-time career leaders in hits (ninth with 207), runs (fifth with 166), doubles (tied for 10th with 41), RBI (sixth with 163), at bats (tied for ninth with 652) and games played (10th with 206). He was a career .317 hitter for the Phoenix. "I'm going to remember the relationships I was able to build with my teammates and coaches at Elon," added Melillo. "Being a part of a winning program and advancing to the Regionals three times in a row is very special."

DSL Brewers 5, DSL Cardinals 4DSL Brewers box score Hey, a walk-off win for the D-Crew. Rolando Pascual managed five shutout innings despite walking five and hitting a batter, allowing just two hits and striking out six. 16-year-old righty Osmel Perez, the youngest player in the Brewers system, had a rough pro debut, allowing three runs without recording an out. He won't turn 17 for six weeks, though, so to say he has time to turn it around is an understatement. 2B Yonki Hernandez was 1-3 with a walk, already his 12th free pass in only ten games. SS Andres Martinez entered as a pinch hitter and went 0-1 with a walk; though not as patient as Hernandez, he's still walked six times and is on pace to dwarf last year's walk total of 19. RF Jose R. Garcia and 1B Hitaniel Arias were both 0-3, though they reached on a HBP and walk, respectively. CF Ruben Sanchez and 3B Juan de Leon, both 18, were each 2-3 with a walk. De Leon, already 6'4" and 217 pounds, may grow into a truly massive human being. For me, the story early on is 17-year-old backstop Carlos Pena, whose 2-3 effort pushed his batting average to an even .500, though of course it bears noting that that's only in 14 at-bats over 7 games. Still, his 6/2 BB/K is precocious--who knows, maybe they've got something there. Anyway, one of Pena's hits was a triple, and he was also hit by a pitch. Last year's bonus baby Jose Pena did not play. DSL Brewers play-by-play The winning rally: DSL Brewers Bottom 9th Ruben Sanchez walks. Erickson Salaya hits a sacrifice bunt. Ruben Sanchez to 2nd. Erickson Salaya to 1st. Yonki Hernandez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Ariel Gonzalez to first baseman Jorge Lopez. Ruben Sanchez to 3rd. Ariel Gonzalez intentionally walks Andres Martinez. Erickson Salaya to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Edouard Estalis replaces Ariel Gonzalez. Jose R. Garcia hit by pitch. Ruben Sanchez scores. Erickson Salaya to 3rd. Andres Martinez to 2nd. Way to take one for the team, Jose!

Brew Crew Ball reports that third-rounder Tyler Thornburg has signed.

Final: Omaha 5, Nashville 0Sounds blanked by Royals, 5-0 Nashville Sounds OMAHA, Neb. - Three Omaha pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout of the Nashville Sounds in the Royals' 5-0 victory on Friday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha right-hander Luis Mendoza (4-4) allowed five hits over seven scoreless innings to earn the victory for the Royals. Bryan Bullington and Blaine Hardy followed with one scoreless frame apiece to close out the win. The loss was the fourth shutout defeat suffered by Nashville (33-27) this season and the club's sixth loss in its last eight contests overall. Left fielder Trent Oeltjen went 3-for-4 on the evening to account for half of the Sounds' hit total in the contest. A pair of first-inning walks came back to haunt Sounds starter Chase Wright as Omaha grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Kila Ka'aihue's sacrifice fly. The Nashville left-hander labored through 30 pitches in the contest's opening frame but escaped a bases-loaded jam with only one run crossing the plate. The Royals extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a four-run frame against Wright, highlighted by a three-run Kurt Mertins homer to left. Control issues continued to plague the left-hander as two players who drew walks in the frame scored on the Mertins blast, the infielder's third of the year. Wright (4-3) lasted only three innings for the Sounds, taking the loss after giving up five runs on three hits and walking five batters. He threw 69 pitches but only 34 for strikes in the game. Mike Jones followed Wright with three scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.71 through eight relief outings for Nashville this season. The teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday evening. Right-hander Mike McClendon (2-1, 3.86) makes his third start of the season for the Sounds and will face Omaha right-hander Gaby Hernandez (4-4, 5.72). Nashville box score The only other Sounds to reach base were Erick Almonte, Luis Cruz, and Johnny Raburn, each of whom had singles. Mat Gamel was 0-3. Jones allowed no hits, walked two, and struck out none. Nashville play-by-play The Sounds' best chance to score came in the 7th, the only time they put a runner in scoring position: Nashville Top 7th Trent Oeltjen singles on a pop up to shortstop Irving Falu. Brendan Katin pops out to third baseman Ed Lucas. Erick Almonte singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jai Miller. Trent Oeltjen to 2nd. Mat Gamel grounds into double play, second baseman Kurt Mertins to shortstop Irving Falu to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Erick Almonte out at 2nd.

Final: Huntsville 2, Carolina 1Pitchers Duel Tilts Toward Stars Connor Shreve The Hunstville Stars (29-33) won a second consecutive road game Friday night 2-1 over the Carolina Mudcats (25-36) in Zebulon. Huntsville has used strong first innings in both victories so far against North Division rival Carolina this season. Brett Lawrie needed no time to get comfortable against Matt Klinker. On the first pitch of the game Lawrie launched his fifth home run this season to left center field but Huntsville could not take advantage of the base runners that followed him. Caleb Gindl, Zelous Wheeler and Taylor Green all reached with one out but Steffan Wilson flew out and Lee Haydel was retired on strikes to end the inning. A Wilson home run in the fourth added to the Stars' run total and was the winning hit. After leaving seven runners on base in game one, Huntsville took a game two win on Friday despite continuing the trend with six runners left on base. If the LOB stat is an area of concern for the Stars, it’s something that likely feels more like a lasting illness for those in the Mudcats dugout. Carolina left seven runners on base but was the victim of impressive Huntsville defense. Though the hurlers took center stage, Gindl managed to steal some glory by flashing the leather in the sixth. With a sinking liner off the bat off Dave Sappelt threatening to give the Mudcats their best scoring chance, Gindl made a diving catch running towards the infield on the foul line to retire the Carolina center fielder. Two groundouts ensued to end the inning. A pitcher’s duel followed the first inning with Huntsville’s Michael Bowman (6-4 5.03) throwing arguably his best game in the 2010 campaign. His biggest spot of trouble came in the seventh; It was the second time in the game Bowman faced a Carolina runner on third with nobody out. Only this time Carolina only trailed by one run after Daniel Yarbrough singled and was brought home thanks to a Denis Phipps triple, his second this year. But the bottom of the lineup could not get a good look at any of Bowman’s next and final pitches. A pop foul, strikeout and groundout ended the threat and preserved a one run lead for the Stars bullpen to hold. Bowman pitched seven innings, his longest outing this season, allowed only one run and struck out two on six hits. His six wins leads the team. Huntsville is undefeated over Bowman’s last four starts. First pitch in game three is scheduled for 5:15 (CDT) at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC followed by a matinee 1 p.m. start Sunday. Huntsville would guarantee a series victory with a win Saturday. Game three can be heard on the Huntsville Stars Radio Network (AM 1450/FM 92.9 WTKI, Huntsville) and online at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville box score Lawrie also was hit by a pitch; he and Wheeler (1-3, BB) were the only Stars to reach more than once. Lorenzo Cain and Taylor Green each had a single in four trips, Haydel doubled, and Gindl was 0-4. Huntsville play-by-play

Chad Jones signed...with the Giants.

Two Holyoke Blue Sox chosen in MLB draft Bill Wells/MassLive.com [Derrick] Shaw said if negotiations go as planned, he’ll sign with the Brewers in a week or two. “It was a dream come true,” said Shaw, 21, who finished his sophomore season at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee. “Ever since I was small, my passion was to play baseball. To have the opportunity ... most of the time it’s about money, but the money area will come. The opportunity and experience to play professional baseball and the opportunity to say I made it ... now it’s time to take it to the next level.” The Brewers told Shaw he’ll most likely be sent to their A-level [sic] short season team.

Post-draft news and notes Eduardo A. Encina/TampaBay.com Coming into the draft, the Milwaukee Brewers were very interested in Jesuit lefthander Daniel Gibson – and it will be interesting to see what kind of pitch the team will make the UF signee after drafting him in the 26th round Tuesday. Entering the draft, Gibson made his desire to go to college clear, which likely scared off some teams. The Brewers, however, were vigilant in their pursuit of Gibson, offering him a signing bonus that is believed to be in the neighborhood of $500,000 earlier in the day Tuesday. Gibson turned it down, but the Brewers still drafted him.

Ex-Central standout Marzec drafted by Milwaukee Brewers David Harpster/Massillon Independent CANTON, OH — The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind for Eric Marzec. He doesn’t figure to get his bearings until he finds out where he’s going to begin his new career as a professional baseball player. Marzec, a former standout at Central Catholic, fulfilled his childhood dream when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him Tuesday evening on the second day of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. Marzec, a two-way standout who graduated from Youngstown State three weeks ago, was taken in the 30th round, 909th overall, by the Brewers. “I keep telling people that it really hasn’t set in yet,” Marzec said Wednesday afternoon. “I’m really excited that it did happen, but until I get on a plane I won’t realize that I’m actually a pro baseball player. This is something I’ve dreaming about since I was 6-years-old in T-ball. “All the different people throughout the years, whether it was in high school or even in college, making statements about how you have to be so, so good to do this and that, and that you’re not that good and you won’t get picked. It’s just fulfilling to show that hard work really does pay off.” Marzec had an idea his phone would ring some time during the final two days of the draft. Baseball America ranked him as the 19th-best prospect in the state in what was considered an exceptional year for amateur talent in Ohio. Still, after not being selected following his junior season, when he first became draft eligible, Marzec wasn’t obsessing so much about getting a call that could determine his immediate future. “I actually was on a plane home from Las Vegas with some of my buddies after we went out there to celebrate graduation,” Marzec said. “That was actually good because it’s sort of nerve racking to sit there and watch a computer, to see all those picks and keep wondering where you might go. “It was a stressful day, but luckily I got to miss most of that. I was home for about an hour, just playing video games, when I got the call. I really didn’t want to watch it, but I had my phone next to me and it was pretty exciting when I got that call.” Although he had high hopes entering his senior season as an outfielder/pitcher for the Penguins, Tuesday’s call from a Brewers’ scout was one Marzec didn’t know would come following a freak accident in early March that threatened his college career. Playing center field against St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia, Marzec collided with right fielder Armani Johnson while both were tracking a ball into the gap. Marzec has no recollection of the incident that knocked him out and being taken from the field in an ambulance. “It was unbelievable. I guess I was knocked unconscious while I was in the air, my body was limp and my face hit the ground on the warning track,” Marzec said. “It was a total freak thing ... I was in ICU for three days with a concussion, bleeding on the brain, all kinds of stuff. It was pretty messed up. I thought school was done for this year and I definitely thought baseball was done.” Marzec, though, managed to defy the odds and work his back to the Penguins after missing only a month. “You learn a lot and really appreciate some things after coming back from something like that,” he said. “I know in an instant that I could be done playing because it’s happened to me. Lord willing, I was able to get healthy pretty quickly and was able to come back and play. Now I have my chance and I’m pretty excited.” Marzec is even more fired up about the opportunity to become a pitcher full-time in the minor leagues. Recruited as an outfielder, Marzec finished with a .310 average, 17 home runs and 84 RBIs during his YSU career. However, he caught scouts’ attention as a late-inning reliever, where he featured a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a swing-and-miss slider. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder was 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 20 appearances this spring, 18 in coming in relief. Marzec struck out 56 in just 39 innings and finished with five saves. “I’m excited about it. I’ve learned a lot from my pitching coach here (Tom Lipare), more about the mental side of the game and about being a pitcher,” Marzec said. “Now I get to go be with some pro coaches and teachers and I think they’ll focus more with me more on the mechanical side. I know there’s more room for me to work harder physically, which is why I’m excited to see what happens.” Marzec said he expects to sign a contract by the end of the week and head to the Brewers’ spring training complex in Arizona for a short camp with other recent draftees. From there he could either stay in Arizona with Milwaukee’s team in the Arizona Rookie League, or head to Helena, Mont., to play in the rookie-level Pioneer League. Wherever he ends up, Marzec got a taste of lengthy road trips and baseball in obscure locations following a stint in a summer league last year. He can’t wait to do it again. “I played in the Northwoods League last year and some people have said it’s the closest thing to minor league ball you can do in college,” Marzec said. “You live with a host family, you play 70 games in 73 days and you’re on a bus taking trips all over the Midwest. “I think of that as my internship and this will be like a regular job. People say it’s a grind, but for me it just fit and I loved it. I’m just excited to be able to experience that again and hopefully it’s a step up from what I got to do last year.”

Yep, same left wrist injury that put him on the DL last month.

A pro career brewing? Peter Gobis/Sun Chronicle QUEENS, N.Y. - From the fields all around the town of Mansfield to the well-manicured baseball complex of Beach Field on the campus of Bishop Feehan High and down to one of the five boroughs of New York City, Greg Hopkins has been fielding grounders and belting the baseball around dozens of parks. Hopkins just may do it someday now at Miller Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers. The former Shamrock shortstop, currently a junior patrolling third base for the Big East Conference Tournament champion St. John's University Red Storm, was drafted in the 24th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Brewers on the second day of the annual player selections. "Right now, I'm just waiting to hear from Milwaukee and figure things out," said Hopkins, who was to confer with a Brewers representative by the weekend and listen to where he might fit into their future plans. Hopkins could sign with the Brewers and possibly be sent to their Class A developmental team in Arizona. Or he could spend the summer on Cape Cod, playing with Falmouth of the Cape Cod League and return to St. John's in the fall for his senior season. "It's a lot to think about and I really would like to go back to St. John's," said Hopkins. "Like every kid growing up, it's something that you dream about, playing pro baseball. I'm going to listen to what the Brewers have to say and I'll look at my options - I'm just not sure yet where I'll be playing baseball next." Hopkins was one of four St. John's players to be selected in the MLB Draft as relief pitcher Dan Buraws (12 saves) was taken in the 12th round by the Yankees, starting pitcher Bruce Kern (75 K in 86.2 innings) was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 23rd round and relief pitcher Ryan Cole (3-1 in 28 appearances) was taken in the 34th round by Houston. Hopkins becomes one of four products of the Bishop Feehan High baseball program to have been drafted as Ty Brennan was taken by the then Washington Senators, pitcher Tim Smith by the Red Sox and shortstop Brian Nelson by the Tigers. Hopkins also becomes one of a small handful of former area high school stars to be drafted - North Attleboro's Allen Ripley (Red Sox), Tom Messier (San Francisco Giants) and Brian Sankey (LA Dodgers); Seekonk High's Sean Smith (Yankees); along with King Philip High's Joe Johnson (Atlanta Braves), Jeff Plympton (Red Sox) and Mike Lyons (Yankees)all receiving calls from major league teams. "I'm honored to have been drafted," said Hopkins from New York. He had been contacted by some 18 major league teams throughout his junior season, in the form of letters and questionnaires. When the season ended two weeks ago for St. John's in the NCAA Division I World Series in Charlottesville, Va., Hopkins began receiving calls almost every day from teams, inquiring whether he would be interested in turning pro - one of them being the Red Sox. "In the fall, I started getting a bunch of letters and when the season ended, it was calls from scouts wondering whether I would be signing (a pro contract)," said Hopkins, who has not secured an agent, per NCAA eligibility rules. "I guess I had some people notice me - it is pretty exciting." Hopkins was the 729th player selected overall in the MLB Draft. He was coming off a superb third varsity season with the Red Storm, his second as a starter at third base. Hopkins was one of only three St. John's players to start all 63 games, the Red Storm setting a single-season record for wins (43). Hopkins batted .358 with 21 doubles, seven home runs and 59 runs batted in for the Red Storm, which had a terrific end of the season. St. John's beat South Florida, nationally top-20 ranked Louisville (twice) and UConn (3-0 in the title game) for the Big East Tournament championship. St. John's then entered the Southeast Regional Division I College World Series and won three games, Hopkins having a four-game hitting streak among the five games that the Red Storm played. St. John's lost an opening round game to Ole Miss, dropped into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination format and then beat Virginia Commonwealth, Ole Miss and Virginia (6-5 with Hopkins slugging a two-run homer) before losing in the consolation round finals to the Cavaliers. "We had a roller-coaster ride there for a while early in the season, losing some games, but then we came back and we beat some ranked teams," said Hopkins. "Really, we had no right winning the Big East title, but we got on a roll there at the end of the season." Hopkins entered the St. John's University single-season record books, moving into the No. 4 spot with 92 hits, No. 4 in runs scored (65) and No. 4 in doubles (21). He also ranks sixth all-time with 44 career doubles and is No. 6 with 138 career RBI. Hopkins played in the Shenandoah Valley Collegiate Baseball League last summer with the champion Haymarket, Va. Senators. If he does not sign a pro contract with the Brewers, he will play in the wooden bat Cape Cod League. "I've checked up on the Milwaukee minor league affiliates, where the teams play, I did some research," said Hopkins. In truth, he almost believes it to be best for his baseball future to be drafted by a small market, developing franchise like the Brewers as opposed to the Red Sox or Yankees. "I probably would have a better chance of moving up the ladder in an organization that hasn't had much success," said Hopkins. "The Red Sox, the Yankees, the major market teams use their (minor league) players as trade bait, they use free agency." Hopkins was not surprised when the Brewers contacted him on Wednesday. "They just called to say that they drafted me and that we'll talk about things. I'll wait and see what they have to offer and I'll take it from there." http://www.thesunchronicle.com/content/articles/2010/06/11/sports/7521513.jpg Greg Hopkins (left)

The Baseball Draft Report on Shea Vucinich:

Something Brewin' with Vucinich Mark Nelke/Coeur d'Alene Press Shea Vucinich said it's been a dream to play professional baseball since he was a little boy, playing Wiffle ball with his friends in a scaled-down baseball field built in the back yard of the family home in Hayden. So when the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Vucinich, the former Coeur d'Alene High standout, in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft Tuesday - the 609th pick overall - he didn't waste any time deciding what to do. "I'm actually walking over to go sign my pro contract," Vucinich said Tuesday night from the Washington State campus in Pullman. Vucinich, a junior, was a three-year starter at shortstop for the Cougars, helping them qualify for the NCAA tournament the past two seasons. "I really appreciate everything from Cougarville," Vucinich said. "I've grown a lot as an individual player and a person here. I've really enjoyed my time here, but I think I'm ready for a new chapter of life." Vucinich, who said he received a signing bonus but politely declined to disclose the sum, said he'll report to the Brewers organization next week either in Arizona or in Helena, Mont., where the team has a Rookie League team in the Pioneer League. Vucinich said Milwaukee, Texas and Colorado had shown the most interest in him prior to the draft, and he was told he would likely be selected between rounds 15-25. WSU's season ended Monday, one game short of the Super Regionals, after a loss to Arkansas on Monday night in the championship game of the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional. The Cougars finished 37-22. On Tuesday, Vucinich was out golfing with some friends at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, "trying to avoid the Internet," he said. But on the sixth hole, one of his former teammates in the summer Cape Cod League texted him with the draft news. "I really like the organization," Vucinich said of the Brewers. "I know that area scout (Brandon Newell) really well; he's done a lot of hard work for me, getting my name out. I appreciate everything he's done." Vucinich, a general studies major, said he is three semesters away from earning his degree. He said he plans to come back and finish his degree. "I am, definitely," he said. "That's very important to me, finishing school, getting my paper (diploma)." Vucinich is the first Cougar shortstop to be selected since the Milwaukee Brewers made Mike Wetmore a seventh-round selection in 1996. The 6-foot, 183-pound Vucinich made his first collegiate start in the second game of his freshman season. Two games later, he moved into the starting lineup for good. He has started the last 119 games for the Cougars and 156 of the last 159, missing three games at UCLA due to injury in his freshman season. He was the only Cougar to start all 59 games in 2010. He batted .262 with 32 RBIs and 45 runs and anchored an infield that turned 66 ground balls into double plays this season. Vucinich's WSU teammate, junior right-handed pitcher Chad Arnold, was taken in the 18th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year, WSU went 1-2 in its first trip to the NCAAs since 1990. This year, the Cougars beat Arkansas on its home field Sunday night to force a second title game, but couldn't repeat the victory on Monday. "Going into this regional, we felt a lot more confident than we did last year," Vucinich said. "Last year we were kinda going there, with a little bit of excitement, just ready to play. We really went into this one ready to win, and lay it all on the line. We didn't go in there tentative at all, we gave it all we had. We just ran out of a little mustard at the end." So with the WSU program on the rise, does that make it tougher for Vucinich to leave with one year of eligibility remaining? "Yeah, it's a hard decision, especially with all the good things that have happened along the road in the last three years," he said. "But I think I'm just ready for something new."

I interviewed 22nd-round pick Kevin Berard tonight. Should also have an interview with 30th-rounder Eric Marzec up tomorrow.

Picture of Mike Walker signing his contract: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4688236875_3d410d72ba.jpg (University of the Pacific)