Miners make showing in draft

PALMER — When Steve Domecus spent the summer of 2008 playing for the Mat-Su Miners, general manager Pete Christopher recalls countless times he’d see the Virginia Tech catcher alone in the batting cage perfecting his swing.

Earlier this week, Domecus was rewarded for his efforts when he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

“He can hit,” Christopher said. “He works pretty hard, I have to say that. Every day at the end of the game, he’d be in the batting cage by himself.”

Domecus, who also played outfield for the Hokies, was named third-team All-American by Ping Baseball. As a fifth-year senior in 2010, Domecus broke a pair of long-standing Virginia Tech team records. His 92 hits and 27 doubles are now single-season highs for the program.

Domecus also led his team with 62 hits and was second on the squad with a .365 batting average.

Domecus was one of 10 former Miners to be selected in the 50-round draft. Three of his teammates on the 2008 Miners squad were drafted. Oklahoma pitcher Jeremy Erben was taken by Arizona in the 22nd round, Nevada shortstop Kevin Rodland was selected in the 22nd round and the Minnesota Twins grabbed Washington first baseman Troy Scott in the 48th round.

A pair of Santa Clara pitchers who took the mound for the Miners in 2007 were drafted. Tampa Bay took Nate Garcia in the 16th and Kansas City took Alex Rivers in the 39th.

Three members of a 2009 Mat-Su squad that won the Alaska Baseball League title were drafted. Central Florida pitcher Owen Dew was taken by Cleveland in the 21st round. The Yankees took Central Florida infielder Shane Brown in the 34th round. St. John’s pitcher Ryan Cole was selected by Houston in the 34th round.

Cole has already agreed to terms with the Astros.

The Miners have seven draft-eligible college juniors on their 2010 roster and none were drafted. That surprised Christopher.

Former Miners selected

in MLB draft

9th round — 292. Los Angeles Dodgers- Steve Domecus (2008), Virginia Tech.

16th — 491. Tampa Rays- Nate Garcia (2007), Santa Clara.

21st — 630. Cleveland Indians- Owen Dew (2009), Central Florida.

22nd — 661. Arizona Diamondbacks- Jeremy Erben (2008), Oklahoma.

23rd — 715. New York Yankees- Shane Brown (2009), Central Florida.

34th — 1,023. Houston Astors- Ryan Cole (2009), St. John’s.

34th — 1,036. Texas Rangers- Kevin Rodland (2008), Nevada.

39th — 1,169. Kansas City Royals- Alex Rivers (2007), Santa Clara.

48th — 1,455. Minnesota Twins- Troy Scott (2008), Washington.

50th — 1,504. San Diego Padres- Gunnar Terhune (2007), UC Santa Barbara.