Wolfe, Simons Taken in Baseball Draft

Joel Wolfe of Chatsworth High and Doug Simons of Pepperdine were Valley-area players notified Thursday of their selection in Major League Baseball’s free-agent draft.

The draft began Wednesday and--other than the first-round choices that were released to the media--selections will not be made public until June 9.

But Wolfe and Simons said they received calls informing them of their selection in later rounds early Thursday evening.

Wolfe, a third baseman who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, said he was chosen by the Seattle Mariners but was not informed of the round in which he was selected.

Wolfe batted .395 this season and had 2 home runs and 21 runs batted in.

Simons, a left-handed pitcher who went to Calabasas High, said he was selected in the ninth round by the Minnesota Twins. Simons was 11-2 with a 2.41 earned-run average this season for Pepperdine.

Other Valley-area players who have been drafted include: Sylmar left-hander Olonzo Woodfin (Cleveland Indians, eighth round); UCLA outfielder Charlie Fiacco of Camarillo (Milwaukee Brewers, 10th); and UCLA pitcher Mike Magnante of Burroughs (Kansas City Royals, 11th).