Hayes selected by Kansas City Royals in fifth round, Fisher chosen by Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 15th round

RINDGE, N.H. (June 7, 2005) - Two members of the Franklin Pierce baseball program were selected on day one of the 2005 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft this afternoon.

Junior shortstop Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass./Holy Name) was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round (142 overall), while red shirt sophomore relief pitcher Matt Fisher (Athol, Mass./Athol) was taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 15^th round (448 overall). It marks the first time in program history two players have been drafted in the same season and the fifth-straight year the program has had a player picked.            

Hayes, whose selection in the fifth round marks the highest draft pick in program history, is a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection for the Ravens earning first team honors this spring as well as second team All-Northeast Region honors by both the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA).

"I was kind of stunned when I heard the announcement," said Hayes. "I was completely surprised when I heard Kansas City, I was expecting a couple of other teams, but they came completely out of right field."

Hayes led the Ravens with a .395 (60-152) batting average (2^nd NE-10) this spring, scoring 42 runs (3^rd) to go with 15 doubles (2^nd), four triples (3^rd), seven home runs (5^th), 37 RBI (6^th) and 16 steals (5^th). The 6-foot, 4-inch, 220-pounder also posted a .684 slugging percentage (1^st NE-10) and .444 on-base percentage (2^nd) this season. His totals from this season placed him among single-season leaders at the College in batting average (6^th), runs scored (10^th), doubles (7^th), triples (5^th), slugging (5^th) and steals (6^th). Hayes' 36 career steals are good for fourth all-time.

"To be the highest pick in program history is truly a compliment to me personally," said Hayes. "It's quite an honor considering the talent that has come out of the program."            

Fisher, a right-handed pitcher, earned second team All-Northeast Region and All-Conference honors this spring as a reliever as he broke his own single-season program record with five saves (4^th NE-10) to go with a 3-1 record, 1.99 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 13 walks in 31.2 innings over a program record 17 appearances (4^th) this spring. He limited opposing batters to a .220 batting average against him.

Fisher, who boasts a fastball consistently in the 90's, also holds the school's career record with eight saves in two seasons. He pitched a career-high 5.1 innings in an elimination game against UMass Lowell at the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional and earned the win, striking out four with a walk. The three earned runs he yielded all came in his last inning of work.

"(The Devil Rays) had called me the round prior, so I knew it was coming," said Fisher of the moment he was selected. "There were about 15 of us huddled around the computer and every emotion you could have ran through us all. I still don't know what to think."

"I'm just happy for the guys and happy for the program," said Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King. "It's just a really good day for everyone involved today."

Franklin Pierce (32-14, 21-9 NE-10) claimed its first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championship this past spring, earning its second NCAA Tournament berth in three years. The Ravens hosted the NCAA Northeast Regional for the first time in program history and advanced to the regional title game before falling to Southern Connecticut State University. Franklin Pierce has matched the program record for wins three-straight years and the season ranked No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball magazine's Division II ranking and No. 24 in the NCBWA poll.

 
Franklin Pierce's All-Time MLB Draft Picks
2001 - Justin Blood (Swanzey, N.H.), LHP, Seattle Mariners, 9^th round
            Retired, Franklin Pierce Pitching Coach
2002 - Chris Shank (Westminster, Mass.), RHP, Oakland A's, 22^nd round
            Now playing for the Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League)
2003 - Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass.), RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, 6^th round
            Expected to be assigned to the New Jersey Cardinals (Short A)
2004 - Eric Cavers (Otisfield, Maine), C, Houston Astros, 10^th round
            Extended spring training
2005 - Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass.), SS, Kansas City Royals, 5^th round
2005 - Matt Fisher (Athol, Mass.), RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 15^th round