Silverado’s Van leads 12 locals on Day 2

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

Tuesday's area selections in baseball's amateur draft:

After a strong showing on Day 1, it didn't take Southern Nevada long to get things going again on the second day of the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Just 16 picks into Tuesday's proceedings, the Seattle Mariners took Silverado left-handed pitcher Robbie Van, a UNLV signee, with their 21st-round choice.

From there, the selection of local players became fast and furious, with 12 area products going in rounds 21-50 to bring Southern Nevada's two-day total to a whopping 20 draftees.

"Southern Nevada has always been a good area for baseball, and obviously the growth and amount of people coming in have just made it that much better," said Craig Conklin, an area scout for the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau based in California.

"This is my first year (scouting) Vegas and I'm very impressed with what I've seen. Baseball there from the lower levels up is extremely competitive," Conklin added.

Van, a member of the Sun's 2000 All-State first team, posted a 7-4 record for the 4A state champion Skyhawks this spring with a 2.79 ERA and seven complete games. He said he will consider his options when he meets with a Mariners representative later this week.

"I told teams that I wasn't going to sign after the 10th round -- that's what it would take," Van said. "But when they come to your home, you've got to see what they say before you make any decision. They'll have to beat my college scholarship for me to sign."

One of Van's Silverado teammates, catcher Tommy Rojas, went to the New York Yankees in the 30th round. Rojas, an early signee with Pepperdine, hit .438 with 42 RBIs this spring.

Green Valley High, which saw senior outfielder David Krynzel go to Milwaukee with the 11th overall pick on Monday, produced three more selections on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals nabbed Gators third baseman Billy Schmitt in Round No. 22, the Philadelphia Phillies took CCSN right-hander Ryan Myers -- a 1999 Green Valley graduate -- in the 29th round, and the Chicago White Sox selected Gators catcher John Grose in the 46th.

Chaparral product Jason Habel became the third member of the first-year CCSN squad to go in the draft when Tampa Bay plucked the outfielder in the 40th round. Two Coyotes signees -- Cimarron-Memorial left-hander Jino Gonzalez (Giants, 27th round) and Chaparral catcher John Caruso (Royals, 38th) also were drafted Tuesday.

Two Southern Nevadans who played for Utah's Dixie College this spring were selected on Day 2: one-time Bishop Gorman second baseman Dallas Pollaro (Cardinals, 32nd) and former Durango right-hander J.T. Sherman (Marlins, 35th).

Clark product Derek Wilson, a right-handed pitcher for California's Mt. San Jacinto Junior College, went to Oakland in Round 37, and Cheyenne right-hander Adam Lesko was taken by the Angels in the 42nd round.

After two days and 50 rounds, several top local players were not drafted, including Silverado first baseman Jeremy West, Durango first baseman Chris Kelly and Cimarron-Memorial pitcher David Seccombe. All three have signed with Division I colleges.

"You never know what's going to happen," Conklin said. "Guys slip, guys go up, guys go down. That's the nature of the draft, and that's what makes it so intriguing."