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Wilson Tobs honored to have thirteen alumni selected in 2008 Draft

June 12, 2008

Wilson, NC — Out of the 112 Coastal Plain League Alumni selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, 13 of them were members of the Wilson Tobs organization, second most in the CPL behind just the Thomasville HiToms, who had 15 players selected. These 13 Tobs also included three current players: Jerry Sands, David Francis, and Cody Hawn. Sands, who already had 2 homers this season, was selected by the Dodgers in the 26th round and signed with them on Tuesday. He will report to their Gulf Coast affiliate, the Vero Beach Dodgers.

Francis and Hawn, who had not yet arrived in Wilson for the 2008 season, were both teammates at Walters State Community College and had been drafted previously. Francis, a right handed pitcher, was selected in the 12th round by the Atlanta Braves, while Hawn an infielder, was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the 41st round. Hawn is scheduled to report to Wilson next week.

"This just re-emphasizes the point that Wilson is one of the premiere Coastal Plain League organizations, and that the CPL is one of if not the best collegiate summer leagues," said Wilson manager Jeff Steele. "These players who were drafted should attract even more attention to our league."

Ten other former Tobs were selected, including Daniel Houston, who was picked in the 7th round by the Colorado Rockies. Houston, who played at Boston College, played in Wilson last year and was the highest selected former Tob this season. He was followed by J.J. Hoover, also a 2007 Tob, selected in the 10th round by the Atlanta Braves. The entire list of CPL alumni selected in last week's draft is available at www.coastalplain.com.

Hoover and Houston were joined by two other Wilson teammates from 2007, Kyle Godfrey and Erik Lovett. Godfrey, out of Hiwassee Junior College, went to the Astros in the 13th round. Lovett had himself quite a week last week, winning a NCAA Division II National Championship with Mount Olive, and then being selected by the New York Yankees in the 39th round.

"I think the results of this draft say a lot about our team and of course the Coastal Plain League in general," said Tobs' General Manager Benjamin Jones. "Jeff Steele does a lot of work on and off the field, coaching and recruiting our players here in Wilson for the past three seasons. The draft really exhibits the high level of play at which these CPL teams compete. It's just wonderful for us here in Wilson."

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its twelfth season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Contact:
Eric Kopp
252-291-8627