Hayes, Fisher Sign Pro Contracts
Ravens 2005 draft picks make post draft decisions, high school signee also drafted  

RINDGE, N.H. (June 18, 2005) – Two members of the Franklin Pierce baseball program who were selected on day one of the 2005 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft last week have made their post draft decisions, announced head coach Jayson King.

            Shortstop Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass./Holy Name), selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round (142 overall), has signed with the organization and been assigned to the clubs’ Rookie Advanced Class A affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

            Redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Matt Fisher (Athol, Mass./Athol), taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 15^th round (448 overall), originally turned down the clubs offer, but signed with the Devil Rays this afternoon. Fisher had reported to the Concord Quarry Dogs of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) where he earned a save in his lone appearance so far, allowing just a walk with a strikeout in one inning of work. He has been assigned to the Devil Rays Rookie Class-A Appalachian League affiliate, the Princeton Devil Rays.

            Franklin Pierce signee Scott Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North), a shortstop, was drafted in the 33^rd round (995 overall) by the Chicago White Sox. Savastano, who led the State of Massachusetts in hitting this spring (.596 batting average), has yet to make his future plans official.

            Franklin Pierce (32-14, 21-9 NE-10) claimed its first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championship this past spring, earning its second NCAA Tournament berth in three years. The Ravens hosted the NCAA Northeast Regional for the first time in program history and advanced to the regional title game before falling to Southern Connecticut State University. Franklin Pierce has matched the program record for wins three-straight years and the season ranked No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball magazine’s Division II ranking and No. 24 in the NCBWA poll.

 
Franklin Pierce’s All-Time MLB Draft Picks
2001 – Justin Blood (Swanzey, N.H.), LHP, Seattle Mariners, 9^th round
            Retired, Franklin Pierce Pitching Coach
2002 – Chris Shank (Westminster, Mass.), RHP, Oakland A’s, 22^nd round
            Now playing for the Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League)
2003 – Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass.), RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, 6^th round
            Expected to be assigned to the New Jersey Cardinals (Short A)
2004 – Eric Cavers (Otisfield, Maine), C, Houston Astros, 10^th round
            Extended spring training
2005 – Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass.), SS, Kansas City Royals, 5^th round
2005 – Matt Fisher (Athol, Mass.), RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 15^th round