Baseball Southern Conference

The Citadel's McPherson selected by Angels in second round

CHARLESTON, SC -- The Citadel's third baseman Dallas McPherson and pitcher T.W. Mincey, both juniors, were selected in Tuesday's 2001 Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft.

McPherson was selected in the second round by the Anaheim Angels and the 57th pick overall, while Mincey, a flame-throwing left-hander, was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 12th round.

McPherson, a Randleman, NC, native becomes the second Bulldog in school history to be selected in the second round as former Bulldog pitching great Mike Cherry was the 38th selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1983.

McPherson, a 6-4, 225-pound left-handed hitting junior, hit .347 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI this past season to help lead The Citadel to the NCAA Regionals for the second time in his three-year career. McPherson earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors for the second straight year, as well as being tabbed to the All-Southern Conference Tournament team. A preseason first-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, McPherson strung together another powerful offensive year that saw him break into The Citadel's top-10 all-time list in doubles (44), home runs (21) and slugging percentage (.544).

"It is an honor to be selected in the second round by the Angels," said McPherson from his North Carolina home. "They are a tremendous organization and I look forward to being an Angel for a long time."

The selection marks the second time McPherson has been chosen in the draft as the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 44th round out of West Henderson High School.

This past season, Mincey compiled a 6-4 record, with a 4.03 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched. Combined with McPherson, the duo was instrumental in helping the Bulldogs capture two Southern Conference regular season titles and two Southern Conference Tournament titles in the past three years.

"This is a thrill for me and my family, and I'm excited about the possibility of playing professional baseball," said Mincey from his home in Douglasville, GA. "This is a dream come true."

"We are very excited for Dallas, T.W. and their families," Citadel coach Fred Jordan stated. "To be selected in the draft is a tribute to the hard work and dedication both brought to the playing field, and if they decide to join either franchise then the entire Citadel family will become Angel and Oriole fans."

McPherson and Mincey become the 13th and 14th players under Jordan to be selected in the draft and the eighth and ninth Bulldogs picked in the last four years. McPherson serves as the highest draft selection under Jordan.

During his career at The Citadel, McPherson compiled a .343 batting average with 193 hits, 118 runs scored, 127 RBI in 151 games played. And during Mincey's career he posted a 9-7 mark, a 3.86 ERA with 73 Ks in 106.2 innings of work.