By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle High School graduate Morgan McCullough and Federal Way High School senior Joshua Mears were among those chosen in this year’s Major League Baseball first-year player draft.

Mears was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round with the 48th overall pick and McCullough – a junior at the University of Alabama – was nabbed by the Los Angeles Angels in the 22nd round with the 661st overall pick.

Mears roamed right field for the Eagles this spring, while McCullough plays shortstop.

McCullough led Alabama with his three triples and tied for the team lead with 12 doubles and 17 multi-hit games, starting in all 54 games he played in for the Crimson Tide.

He ranked second on the team with his .309 overall batting average and with his .417 on-base percentage and 38 walks. His walk total ranked him eighth in the Southeast Conference.

McCullough was drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of West Seattle High School but he opted instead to play for the University of Oregon.

After starring as a freshman for the Ducks he transferred to Chipola Community College in Florida and helped the team to a national title.

He went on to play this season for the Tide, and can do so again next spring if he decides not to play in the Angels organization.

The Angels’ affiliations start off with the Orem Owlz and Arizona League Angels and are followed by the Burlington Bees (A) and Inland Empire 66ers (high A). Los Angeles’ AA affiliate is the Mobile Bay Bears with the AAA team being the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League.

San Diego’s affiliations include the Tri-City Dust Devils and Arizona League Padres, followed by the Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Lake Elsinore Storm (high A). The Padres’ AA affiliate is the Amarillo Sod Poodles and their AAA team is the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League.

Ballard senior standout pitcher Jay Dunbar was not drafted this year but will play for the University of California in Berkeley.