Mariners select Renaud in 10th round, Shepard goes to Nationals in the 13th and Savastano a 28th round pick of the Indians

RINDGE, N.H. (June 8, 2007) - Three members of the Franklin Pierce baseball program heard their names called on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft this afternoon.

Junior All-American Keith Renaud (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) kicked the draft off for Franklin Pierce when the Seattle Mariners selected him in the tenth round (315 overall) - the eighth NCAA Division II player selected in this year's draft. Junior Steve Shepard (Peterborough, N.H./Conval) was picked by the Washington Nationals in the 13^th round (400), while sophomore Scott Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 28^th round (857).

Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King has now seen 14 Ravens selected in the MLB Draft since 2001, a total topped only by Boston College (20) in New England collegiate circles in that time. The Ravens three picks are the second-highest single-season total in program history behind their five in 2006. 16 Ravens in all have gone on to enjoy professional careers since 2001.

Renaud, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and ABCA/Rawlings Division II Northeast Region Player of the Year, is the second Franklin Pierce player ever taken by Seattle, joining Justin Blood who was the Ravens first draft pick in program history in 2001 (9^th round). Projected as a pitcher for professional baseball, Renaud possesses a 90-93 mile per hour fastball and plus slider to go with a curveball and changeup.            

"This is one of the greatest days of my life," said Renaud. "When (Seattle) called me, I was so excited. Everything I've worked for paid off."

Renaud, the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year and a NCBWA and ABCA/Rawlings All-American, posted a 6-3 record and 3.00 earned run average in 12 starts in his first season with Franklin Pierce after transferring from Becker College. He struck out a Conference-leading 91 batters and walked 30 over 69.0 innings, holding opposing batters to a .195 average.

Renaud was also one of the Ravens top hitters, posting a .352 batting average (81-for-230) with 59 runs scored, ten doubles, a triple, six home runs and 39 RBI to go with 20 stolen bases on 26 attempts. Renaud earned All-Tournament team honors at the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional and was a three-time NE-10 Player of the Week, earning Conference Pitcher of the Week honors twice.

"Keith had a great season for us on the mound and with the bat," said King. "He should be able to develop even more on the mound when he focuses on pitching alone. He is so athletic that there is no telling how much he will continue to develop on the mound."            

Shepard, the first New Hampshire-born player taken in this year's draft, was the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Upper New England region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) by Baseball America, in its 2007 draft preview behind Renaud. The six-foot, four-inch, right-hander has incredible stuff, boasting a fastball that touches 96-mph and a low-80's slider. Shepard made six appearances (five starts) for the Ravens this spring, posting a 3-1 record and 8.35 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks over 18.1 innings with opposing batters hitting .213 against him.

"I'm definitely excited," said Shepard, who was contacted by Nationals scout Mike Alberts just after the selection. I didn't get to play much in college, but to have the opportunity to get drafted is great."        

In three seasons for Franklin Pierce, Shepard made 16 career appearances (five starts) and posted a 3-1 record with 21 strikeouts over 27.0 innings of work.

"Steve has so much natural ability that it is scary," said King. "Once he harnesses his potential there is no telling how good he could be."            

Savastano, a 33^rd round pick of the Chicago White Sox out of high school in 2005, is projected by Baseball America as a top-five round prospect in 2008 should he opt to return for his junior year at Franklin Pierce. Savastano missed 41 of the Ravens 60 games this season due to injury, after the 2006 NE-10 Freshman of the Year led the Ravens with a .397 batting average his freshman year. He hit .357 (25-70) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, a triple, home run and 14 RBI in just 19 games played this spring and earned All-Tournament team honors at the Northeast Regional for the second-straight season. Savastano is slated to play for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer.

"Scott played great for us down the stretch this season and is a great talent," said King. "He would have been a much higher pick this year, were it not for the injury. If he gets the money he wants, that will be great. If not, we look forward to plugging him in our lineup every day next season."

While the 2007 draft is complete, seniors who could still ink free-agent deals either in affiliated or independent baseball include centerfielder Vi nny Pennell (Spencer, Mass./David Prouty), right-handed pitchers Arric Mather (Danville, N.H./Winnacunnet), Clay Jenkins (Easton, N.H./Profile) and Andrew McNulty (Norwood, Mass./Norwood), along with shortstop Cory Shepherd (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat).

Franklin Pierce (49-11, 26-4 NE-10), which posted a Northeast Region record for wins this spring, recently completed its second-straight run (and third in five years) to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships in Montgomery, Ala., after capturing both the Northeast-10 regular season and tournament crowns for the first time in program history. The Ravens were ranked 10^th in the final Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II poll.

Thanks Sean Sweeney, Southbridge Evening News, for contributing to this release