Nevada pitcher is drafted

Tim Schoeninger didn't have a plan. All his life he dreamed about was being a professional baseball player, and nothing else entered into his thought process.

Dreams do come true.

Schoeninger, the ace of the Nevada pitching staff the last two years, was drafted in the 23rd round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Wednesday morning.

Schoeninger was the 702nd player chosen, and the second from Nevada. Teammate Shawn Scobee was drafted in the 14th round by the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

The Nevada right-hander admitted he was a little nervous as the rounds clicked by Tuesday and he didn't get a call or see his name pop up on a computer screen.

"I'm glad it (the wait) is over," said Schoeninger in a telephone interview from his parent's home in Denver, Colorado. "Now I get a chance to play, and that's all I was asking for. I expected to go late yesterday (Tuesdsay) or early this morning (Wednesday). I was disappointed I didn't go last night. When I woke up this morning, I figured I'd go in the first five rounds.

"I didn't know what I was going to do, where I was going to work (if he wasn't drafted). I want to ride this ship for as long as I can. I'll finish up school when I get the chance. I have one good semester left."

Schoeninger said he hopes to sign his contract within the next day or so, and he's anxious to find out where he'll be sent. The Angels have Rookie League teams in Mesa, Arizona and Orem, Utah, and their Single-A teams are in Iowa and Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California.

He said the Angeles were one oif the teams that showed the most interest.

"I played for one of their scouts (Bill Pintard) when I was in Santa Barbara," Schoeninger said. "We became close friends. I'm sure he put in a good word for me. One of their other scouts saw me pitch (against San Jose State) down in Fresno."

Stan Stulte, Nevada's veteran pitching coach, said there were six or seven teams that inquired about Schoeninger.

Schoeninger said that Pintard, who will coach Dayton's Matt Bowman this summer in Santa Barbara, called him right after he was selected. Schoeninger said that Travis Sutton pitched in Santa Barbara last summer.

Stulte said that Schoeninger has a good opportunity to move up the ladder in the Angels' system either as a startet or reliever.

"He competes and throws four pitches for strikes," Stulte said. "I think he'll do better against wood bats.

"I think he's versatile enough to do both. If you can throw strikes, you can fit into any role."

And, Schoeninger showed he can throw strikes. With a little better fielding and run support, he would have done much better than his 5-6 record and 4.14 ERA. In 104 1/3 innings, the Nevada senior walked just 21 batters. Teams hit .275 against him.