The College of Southern Nevada has more to be proud of after a successful 2013 baseball season.
For the first time since a whopping nine players were chosen in 2010, the Major League Baseball first-year player amateur draft selected three CSN baseball players in this year's draft.
Freshman second baseman
Evan Van Hoosier went in the eighth round to the Texas Rangers as the 250th overall selection. Van Hoosier, a local product from Green Valley High School, batted .369 this season with five home runs and 16 stolen bases for CSN. He smashed the school's single-season triples record with 11 -- three more than the previous record -- which propelled him to finish with a .608 slugging percentage.
Not far behind in the selection order was freshman
Thomas Pannone, who was drafted as a left-handed pitcher in the ninth round (No. 261 overall) by the Cleveland Indians. Pannone played both ways for the Coyotes this season, seeing significant playing time in the outfield as well. On the mound, Pannone was 6-2 with a 1.84 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. He stifled opponents all season too, as they batted only .182 against him.
The final day of the draft came through for sophomore right-handed pitcher
Will Morris, as he was selected 721st overall in the 24th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Morris, another local product out of Durango High School, went 7-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 75.2 innings for the Coyotes this season. Both Morris and Pannone accounted for eight of the nine complete games thrown by CSN pitching in 2013 with four apiece. Morris is presently committed to play at Div. II Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, next season.
Three other players in the competitive Scenic West Athletic Conference were also selected in the draft. Southern Idaho right-handed pitcher Isaac Anderson was selected in the 34th round by the Kansas City Royals. Salt Lake third baseman J.C. Snyder was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 36th round, and Western Nevada right fielder Conor Harber was selected in the 38th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
