Cal State pitcher Matt Long drafted by Rays

  Senior pitcher Matt Long today joined a long line of Cal State San Bernardino baseball players drafted by Major League clubs when he was selected in the 34th round by the up-and-coming Tampa Bay Rays of the American League.

            Long was told by the Rays that he will report to the team's rookie league club in Vero Beach, Fla. on June 16, to begin his pro career. He is the 22nd CSUSB player drafted and/or signed by Major League Baseball clubs since Head Coach Don Parnell started in 1991-92.

            "It's been my goal since high school and my dream since Little League," said Long, who was a Daktronics second-team all-West Region selection this season but was left off the all-CCAA teams selected by the coaches despite being named the CCAA pitcher of the week twice.

            Long was 6-7 for the Coyotes this year with a 3.13 earned run average, lowest on the Coyotes staff. In 100 innings, he walked just 40 batters and struck out 117. He was the regular season strikeout king of the CCAA conference and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation. He was 17th in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.4).

            His 117 strikeouts set a new team single-season record and his career total of 244 is also a new team career record. His 14 victories over three seasons just missed the career record of 15 set by John Major in 1995-96.

            Long struck out 11 or more batters in a game five times this season in 15 starts. His best outing was a three-hit shutout over Cal Poly Pomona on Mar. 13 in which he struck out 12 in a 5-0 CSUSB win. He fanned a career high 14 in seven innings in a win over Cal State Monterey Bay. He had three complete games.

            He was the first pick in the 34th round, the 1,013th player chosen in the Major League draft conducted Thursday and today.

            "My mom cried, then I started to cry," said Long after he called home to report the news. "My family are my biggest fans."

            Long said the key to his being drafted may have been a high-octane performance he produced at a scouting combine at Cal Poly Pomona two weeks ago. He hit 91 miles per hour on the radar gun. Broncos Coach Mike Ashman told Parnell that was the best he'd ever seen Long throw.

            "It was a good workout. The people from the club that were there said they were impressed. That was what got me drafted. I think that the break between the end of the season and the workout helped my arm get stronger," Long said.

            Long, a fifth-year senior, transferred to Cal State San Bernardino in 2005-06 after a year at American River College following a freshman season at UC Davis. The Woodland, Calif. resident is a 2002 graduate of Woodland High School where he played baseball and football.

            The English major, son of Denny Long and Nancy Mandler, is receiving his degree in English this coming week but will forego the graduation ceremonies to head to Florida for his shot at pro baseball.