Baseball Draft Today : Moorpark’s Wapnick Is a Probable

Several valley-area community college players are likely to be selected in baseball’s annual winter free-agent draft today.

Moorpark College pitcher Steve Wapnick leads the list of local candidates. The 6-1, 190-pound right-hander has an overpowering fastball that has drawn droves of professional scouts to Moorpark’s winter league games.

Moorpark College Coach Ron Stillwell said Wapnick, a converted infielder, probably will be selected early in the regular phase of the draft.

The regular phase is for players who have not been drafted before. There is also a secondary phase of the draft for players who were previously drafted but did not sign a contract.

“Steve is raw. He has a lot to learn, but he’s learning very quickly,” Stillwell said of his star sophomore. “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t go early. He’s averaged 1 1/2 strikeouts an inning this fall and he doesn’t give up many hits.”

Wapnick will probably be the only early-round pick from the valley area, according to coaches from local community colleges.

“It’s kind of a down year out here,” said Pierce College Coach Don Tamburro.

Tamburro, who is in his first year as Pierce coach after seven years at Kennedy High, said he has only one player, catcher Eric Pawling, who may be draft material.

Pawling, a 5-11, 190-pound sophomore, was ineligible last year because of low grades. He has made up for lost time during winter ball, however, hitting .420.

Other local players who might be drafted in the regular phase include Scott Drury, Tony Ciccone and Frank Halcovich of College of the Canyons.

Drury, who is 6-4 and weighs 210 pounds, was an all-league catcher at Reseda High two years ago. Ciccone, a transfer from Mission College, can play infield or outfield. His strength is speed. Halcovich, a pitcher and outfielder, was a key player on last year’s Granada Hills High city championship team.

Sophomore pitcher Mike Anderson and freshman shortstop Alberto Villasenor, both of Valley College, also will probably be chosen during the regular phase.

Bill Bluhm of Canyons may be the only player from the valley to be selected during the secondary phase.

The only players eligible in the winter draft are those who have withdrawn from college or are playing for a community college.

Four-year college players are not eligible unless they are 21 years old or have finished their senior season. All high school seniors must wait until the summer draft in June before they can undergo the selection process.