Capistrano Valley’s Adams Among County Players Drafted

Tommy Adams of Capistrano Valley High School was among the Orange County baseball players selected during Wednesday’s first day of the amateur baseball draft.

Adams was selected by the Atlanta Braves. The outfielder, who broke a school record for batting average when he hit .471 last season, missed this baseball season with an injury. Last November, Adams--a tailback on the Cougars’ football team--suffered a groin injury that has kept him sidelined since.

“It’s been frustrating,” said Adams, who has accepted a baseball scholarship from Arizona State. “It feels good to get drafted.”

During Thursday’s second day of the draft, five Orange County community college players were selected.

Tim Churchill of Cypress College was drafted in the 14th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Churchill, a sophomore first baseman, had a 34-game hitting streak this season and finished with a .392 average and a school-record 62 RBIs.

Tim MacNeil, a right-handed pitcher from Rancho Santiago, was selected in the 11th round by the Texas Rangers. MacNeil, a sophomore who graduated from Esperanza High School, has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Miami. He was drafted previously in 1986, when he was a late-round pick of the Houston Astros.

Three Golden West players were drafted. Right-handed pitcher Ken Hokuf, who was 7-2 this season, was drafted by Milwaukee. Second baseman Mike Huyler and outfielder Jon Martin were both drafted by Pittsburgh.

Major league teams released only the names of first-round picks Wednesday. The full list is expected to be released June 9.