Lowery First of Seven Loyola Baseball Draftees : Colleges: All-West Coast Conference basketball player is second-round selection of Texas Rangers.

Led by the intriguing selection of basketball standout Terrell Lowery in the second round, at least seven Loyola Marymount players were chosen in this week’s amateur baseball draft, with three Lions going in the first four rounds.

Lowery, a junior outfielder picked by the Texas Rangers, had not played baseball since high school, but was the 63rd player taken overall. Although he has played only 31 collegiate games, scouts were impressed by his speed, athletic ability and how easily he seemed to recapture his baseball skills.

Under collegiate rules, Lowery can sign with the Rangers, play pro baseball over the summer and still return to Loyola to finish his basketball eligibility in the fall. He was an All-West Coast Conference selection last season as a guard.

Two other Lions went to the Boston Red Sox--senior pitcher Joe Caruso in the third round and junior first baseman Joe Ciccarella in the fourth.

Other Lions selected were junior reserve outfielder Todd Gates in the 17th round by Texas; senior infielder Darrel Deak in the 18th by the St. Louis Cardinals; junior outfielder Mark Tillman in the 25th by the Detroit Tigers and senior outfielder-third baseman Rick Mediavilla in the 27th by St. Louis.

Senior pitchers Jon Willard and Chris Spears and outfielder Tim Williams were also hopeful of being selected in the later rounds or sign as free agents. They had not been contacted by any clubs as of Thursday afternoon.

Caruso, the 96th player chosen and an All-West Coast Conference reliever, is another interesting choice because few relievers are drafted in the top rounds. However, the pitching-poor Red Sox selected 13 pitchers, and those who show promise figure to move up quickly.

Caruso has already met with Sox representatives and said it is uncertain if he would be used as a reliever or starter. He was used in both roles at Loyola.

“They don’t have a whole lot of pitchers and (Jeff) Reardon will be gone in a few years so it looks pretty good,” Caruso said. “I’ll do whatever they want. It’ll be fun to go out there and play and see what happens.”

Caruso could also be joined in the Red Sox system by Ciccarella, the WCC player of the year. As a junior he has the option of returning to Loyola, but he is reportedly leaning toward signing.