Cal State’s Cunniff among six CCAA players drafted

Cal State San Bernardino senior pitcher Brandon Cunniff was among a half dozen players from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) players heard their name called during the second day of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Sonoma State led the charge as three Seawolves were taken in the first 30 rounds, while Cal State East Bay, Cal State L.A. and Cal State San Bernardino each had one player drafted.

The CCAA had a total of 10 players selected in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

The following is a capsule on each CCAA player taken on Wednesday:

Scott Alexander, Sonoma State, LHP (6th round, 179th overall, Kansas City)
In his first season on the mound for the Seawolves, Alexander posted a 3-6 record and 4.50 ERA while making 13 starts. In 68 innings, he allowed 50 hits, 43 runs (34 earned), walked 42 and struck out 70 while holding opponents to a .209 batting average. Prior to his junior campaign at Sonoma State, Alexander spent two seasons at Pepperdine and compiled an 11-9 record, 4.46 ERA and one complete game in 32 appearances. Alexander is the highest drafted Sonoma State player since Brandon Burgess was the 176th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004.

Tillman Pugh, Sonoma State, CF (15th round, 452nd overall, New York Mets)
Pugh was drafted despite not playing for the Seawolves in 2010. He came to Sonoma State after batting .333 for GateWay Community College in Phoenix and becoming a 16th-round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners. Pugh began his collegiate career at Arizona State where he went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a home run for the Sun Devils in 2008.

Devin Grigg, Cal State East Bay, RHP (17th round, 525th overall, Minnesota)
Grigg recorded a 5-1 record, 2.89 ERA and four saves in 14 relief appearances for the Pioneers as a senior. In 18 2/3 innings, he allowed 22 hits, nine runs (six earned), walked 12 and struck out 19.

Tyler Hess, Sonoma State, RHP (19th round, 584th overall, Atlanta)
Hess, a junior transfer from Pepperdine, registered a 2-3 record in 12 appearances. He logged 39 innings, allowed 40 hits, 34 runs (31 earned), walked 25 and struck out 33. In two seasons for the Waves, Hess went 5-3 with a 5.74 ERA.

Jesus Campos, Cal State L.A., SS (24th round, 744th overall, Los Angeles Angels)
A 2010 All-CCAA honorable mention selection, Campos appeared in 48 games, starting 47, and batted .272 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI.

Brandon Cunniff, Cal State San Bernardino, RHP (27th round, 827th overall, Florida Marlins)
Cunniff, a second-team All-CCAA selection as a senior, concluded his final collegiate season with an 8-3 record, 3.98 ERA and one complete game in 13 appearances – all but one as a starter. In 83 2/3 innings, the Coyotes’ right-hander surrendered 83 hits, 43 runs (37 earned), walked 28 and struck out 69.

The draft concludes on Wednesday with rounds 31-50 and can be followed live on the Internet at www.mlb.com.

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