Royals Send Top Draft Pick To Indians

No. 1 is coming to Spokane.

The Kansas City Royals announced Monday that their first selection in the amateur draft, pitcher Jay Gehrke of Pepperdine, has signed a professional contract and been assigned to the Indians.

Gehrke, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-hander, was the 32nd overall pick in the first round. The 20-year-old from Fargo, N.D., was a closer for Pepperdine, throwing a fastball clocked at 96 mph. He had a 1-1 record with a 0.86 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31-1/3 innings this season.

The first group of players assigned to Spokane by its parent team also includes the NCAA’s top hitter, first baseman Ken Harvey of Nebraska, and a Gehrke teammate at Pepperdine, third baseman G.J. Raymundo.

Harvey, the Royals’ fourth-round selection, is a 6-3, 230-pounder, who hit .478 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs. Raymundo, selected in the 13th round, was an All-West Coast Conference choice after hitting .379 with 16 home runs, 68 RBIs and 58 runs scored.

Other draft picks assigned to Spokane and the round in which they were taken: Center fielder Jarrett Shearin, North Carolina (14th); shortstop Michael Clay, Southeastern Oklahoma State (33rd); right fielder Julian Gonzalez, University of Virginia (36th); and left-handed pitcher Abel Garcia, Laredo (Texas) Community College (39th).

More players will be assigned throughout the week and report for the start of mini-camp Monday at Seafirst Stadium. The Indians open the Northwest League season June 18 in Boise with their home opener June 21 against Eugene.

Softball

Wade Liberty pitched Stadium Sports to a berth in the Amateur Softball Association Men’s A Modified National Tournament by winning a qualifying tournament during the weekend at Sports World.

Stadium Sports went unbeaten through the seven-team tournament, defeating Coors 15-5 in the championship game. The Grinders finished third. The national tournament is Labor Day weekend in Marietta, Ga.

Senior Legion baseball

The two teams that divided the titles a year ago started off on a winning note as Spokane’s Senior American Legion baseball league opened Monday.

Adam Oakley pitched a complete game, giving up seven hits and striking out 14, as the defending regular-season champion Browns Mountain Bandits defeated the Pullman Royals 11-6.

Mike Robinson drove in three runs and Brandon Florence and Josh Shelton had two RBIs apiece for the Bandits.

George Bell went 3 for 3 with five RBIs, Jake Krummel had three doubles and Kevin Olson a solo homer to lead a 14-hit attack that earned the 1998 district champion Blue Devils an 11-1, five-inning win over the Cannons.

Steve Hare added two RBIs. Chris Hilsabeck drove in the Cannons’ run.

All-state baseball

Seven of the 10 players nominated out of the feeder games in Spokane last weekend have been selected for the all-state high school baseball series in East Wenatchee this weekend.

But two of the choices will only be available Sunday because they graduate Saturday, and one won’t be there at all. Chris Hilasbeck of West Valley is going to Mazatlan, Mexico, on a senior trip.

Eric Bell of Northwest Christian and Josh Taylor of Tekoa-Oakesdale will graduate with their classes Saturday.

Other selections are Danny Crowley of Rogers, Justin Folkins of Central Valley, Chet Womach of Shadle Park and Ray Ruiz of East Valley.

Players will be placed on two 4A/B and two 3A/2A/1A teams for two games each Saturday (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.) and Sunday (10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.).