Baseball draft leaves Black Bears untouched

Not taking into account the possibility of attrition, the University of Maine baseball team will remain intact, personnel-wise, for the 2003 season.

The annual Major League Baseball amateur draft has come and gone, but none of the Black Bears were selected.

Catcher Alain Picard and third baseman/catcher Joe Drapeau of Biddeford were the most likely possibilities, but were not taken.

“Alain Picard’s ceiling to have a better year [as a senior] is huge,” said UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos, who said Picard’s injury problems might have been a factor.

“He didn’t play last summer, but this year he played a lot down the stretch,” he added. “[Northeastern’s] Luke Carlin was a 10th-round pick and Alain’s just as good as that. I think he’ll be right there next year.”

A total of 1,482 players were selected during the two-day, 50-round draft.

Having everybody back and adding some promising recruits, should bode well for the Bears, who had an outstanding 40-17 season, won the America East championship, and competed in the NCAA’s Los Angeles Regional.

Last year, UMaine was hit hard by the draft. Junior lefthander Rusty Tucker, the team’s ace, was selected in the 21st round and signed by the San Diego Padres.

Canadian recruit Steve Nelson, a talented righthanded pitcher, was a fifth-round choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers and also signed.

The only America East player drafted this year was Carlin, who batted .364 with six homers and 31 RBIs. He stole 17 bases and possesses an outstanding arm.

UMaine also dodged the draft with one of its top recruits, South Portland pitcher Greg Norton. The hard-throwing righthander, who signed a National Letter of Intent last fall, plans to study engineering at UMaine and apparently told scouts he wouldn’t forego his education and sign unless he was considered a legitimate pick in the first 10 rounds.

UMaine has lost a handful of top pitching prospects in recent years, including Lisbon’s Jeremy Shorey in 2000.

Former Black Bear pitcher shines

Rusty Tucker, who was the ace of the UMaine baseball pitching staff during 2001, has made a smooth transition to pro ball.

Tucker plays for the Fort Wayne Wizards, the Padres’ Class A team in the Midwest League. The crafty lefthander recently was selected for the Midwest League All-Star Game, which will be played June 18.

Tucker has posted a 5-1 record with a 1.23 earned run average and eight saves while appearing in 24 games for the Wizards. He has struck out 41 and walked only seven while allowing 16 hits in 29 1/3 innings, mostly in relief.

Hlywak an academic All-American

University of Maine sophomore Leigh Ann Hlywak has been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America second team.

Hlywak, a third baseman, batted .307 with 30 runs scored, 55 hits, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs this season.

Hlywak, a native of Wilmington, Del., is an elementary education major and has a 3.76 grade point average.

USM’s Elfring earns ECAC honor

University of Southern Maine sports information director B.L. Elfring was been named the winner of the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Association workshop this week.

Elfring, who arrived at USM in 1995, received the award that recognizes excellence in the field and is presented annually to a deserving SID in the college and university divisions. Elfring received the college (Division III) award, while Bentley’s Dick Lipe received the university (Divisions I and II) honor.

Elfring is a 1979 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono.