Shefka drafted by Nationals

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 9, 2005 2:00 PM

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CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina University's Ricky Shefka, a former North Lenoir and Snow Hill American Legion standout, was selected in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Shekfa joins teammates Mike Costanzo, Michael DeJesus and Byron Binda as selections from the 2005 Coastal baseball team.

Shefka went 12-2 with a 2.75 earned run average in 2005 for the Chanticleers. The righthander was an All-Big South First Team selection and was a two-time Big South Pitcher of the Week. Shefka struck out 81 batters while walking only 20 in 117.2 innings.

He pitched back-to-back complete games in wins over Charleston Southern May 6 and UNC Asheville May 13. In Big South games, Shefka had a 7-0 record with a 1.44 earned run average. He pitched 8.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out six against Birmingham-Southern in the Big South Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance.

Coastal ended its season with a 50-16 record, the first 50-win season in Big South history. The Chanticleers were the top seed in the NCAA Tempe Regional and fell to Arizona State University in the first championship game 9-5.

ECU has

five drafted

GREENVILLE -- On the second day of the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, senior Brian Cavanaugh was selected in the 21st round, pick 638 overall by the San Diego Padres.

He is the fourth Pirate to be selected joining Ricky Brooks, Billy Richardson and Mark Minicozzi. Matt Olson, a 2006 Pirate recruit from Chesapeake, Va., was taken in the 13th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

List of all Pirate selections -- Ricky Brooks, 3rd round, 95th overall pick, Chicago White Sox; Matt Olson, 13th round, 397th overall pick, Philadelphia Phillies; Billy Richardson, 14th round, 428th overall pick, San Diego Padres; Mark Minicozzi, 17th round, 522nd overall pick, San Francisco Giants; Brian Cavanaugh, 21st round, 638th overall pick, San Diego Padres