K.C. Sends No. 1 Picks To Spokane

Two former top draft choices of the parent Kansas City Royals head the preliminary 30-man roster announced Monday by the Spokane Indians.

Juan LeBron, first-round pick of the Royals in 1995, and Dernal Brown, Kansas City’s first choice in 1996, top a group of 16 players who have previous professional experience. Both top picks are outfielders who played for Kansas City’s Gulf Coast League rookie team last summer.

Although he was considered a possibility, this year’s top choice, University of Pacific pitcher Dan Reichert, was not on the roster. However, additional players will be announced later in the week, according to the Indians.

Jamie Burton and Donald Quigley, who pitched for Spokane last summer, and first baseman Doug Blosser, who split the season between Spokane and Lansing of the Midwest League, are among the second-year players.

Texas Tech teammates Jason Gooding, a left-handed pitcher who was taken in the fifth round, and third baseman Joe Dillon, a seventh-round pick, are the top 1997 draftees on the squad.

Right-hander Eric Yanz, who pitched for Kansas State, was the eighth-round selection. George Tech right-hander Chris Wilson went in the ninth round and University of Alabama second baseman Joe Caruso was picked in the 11th-round.

The Indians open preseason training Friday and begin the season against Salem-Keizer Tuesday night in Seafirst Stadium.

Legion baseball

Ben Miller’s grand-slam home run highlighted a six-run fourth inning that helped the Cannons thump the Northstars 15-5.

Teammate Jeremy Isherwood went 3 for 3 and scored three runs. Joe Chimienti and Brandon Mazatko had two hits apiece for the Northstars.

, DataTimes