Angels Pick Pepperdine’s Marrett in 4th Round

In terms of physical distance, Scott Marrett’s baseball career hasn’t gone far.

After prepping at Calabasas High, he became one of the nation’s top collegiate pitchers this season at Pepperdine University.

And Marrett’s opportunity to play professional baseball won’t qualify as a long trip from home either.

The 21-year-old right-hander was selected by the California Angels in the fourth-round of the regular phase of Tuesday’s free- agent baseball draft.

“To be a local boy picked by a local team, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” Marrett said. “I’m certainly happy with the Angels, but I would have been happy with any team on the West Coast.”

Following three years of obscurity after joining the Pepperdine program as a walk-on in 1982, Marrett emerged as the team’s ace this season. The junior posted a 15-0 record and an earned run average of 2.08.

Marrett said he plans to meet with Angel officials this weekend to discuss a contract, which he will weigh against returning to Pepperdine for his senior year.

“If I do go with the Angels, hopefully I would have the money to finish school (in the off-season),” he said. Marrett is a year away from graduation and would like to get a degree regardless of his decision to sign.

Marrett was selected on the second day of the draft. No local players were picked on the first day of the regular phase, which consists of high school and college seniors, players who are over 20 years old, and those drafted prior to June, 1984.

Four Valley athletes were picked Monday during the secondary phase, which is made up of junior college players and those selected in June 1984, or January 1985.

Oxnard College pitcher Robert Chadwick went in the second round to the Chicago Cubs, and College of the Canyons infielder Joe Palubeski went in the fourth round to the Milwaukee Brewers. Chadwick, who was 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in conference, transferred from LaSalle University last summer. The left-hander was selected in the January free agent draft by Oakland, which elected not to sign him.

Two Moorpark College players were drafted in the secondary phase. Infielder-outfielder Tim Lichty went to Houston in the fourth round, and pitcher Steve Wapnick was selected by Oakland in the fifth.

Lichty batted .346 with three home runs and 17 runs batted in this season. Wapnick posted a 6-3 record with a 2.44 ERA.

Oxnard College pitcher Oliver Nichols, drafted in January on the first round by the Milwaukee Brewers, signed with the American League club Friday for a $40,000 bonus. Nichols would have been eligible for Monday’s secondary phase of the June draft had he not signed with the Brewers.