MIAA Quartet Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft

World Series champion Phillies take two players from the conference

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Four players from the MIAA were selected on day two of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Wednesday (June 10) in Secaucus, N.J.

Central Missouri RHP Chris Matlock led the way as a 21st-round selection of the Texas Rangers. Nebraska-Omaha SS Evan Porter went to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round, while Emporia State OF Connor Crumbliss and Missouri Southern UT Justin Beal were chosen in the 28th round -- Crumbliss by the Oakland Athletics and Beal by the Phillies.

Matlock, the 634th pick overall, became the second Mules hurler to be named ABCA Division II National Pitcher of the Year this season, joining 2005 winner Danny Powers. Matlock, the MIAA single-season (14) and career (25) saves record holder, also owns the MIAA record for consecutive scoreless innings at 40 2/3. He also was a selection to the first-team Daktronics and ABCA All-America squads at relief pitcher.

The Springfield, Mo., product also was the MIAA and South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, and earned first-team honors in the league and region. He had the nation's best strikeout-to-walk ratio of 79-to-4 (one of which was an intentional walk), and ranked third in the nation with 14 saves. He ended the year with a 6-2 record and a 1.19 ERA in 53 innings.

Porter concluded his career at UNO this spring, as he led the Mavericks in hitting with a .424 average. He also paced the team with 97 hits (a school record), 62 runs batted in and 10 home runs. The Omaha, Neb., native and 707th pick overall was first in the MIAA in batting average and hits per game.

He is UNO's all-time leader in games played (239), at bats (869), hits (323), doubles (75), home runs (43), runs batted in (249) and total bases (527). He finished his Mavericks career with a .372 batting average.

Crumbliss was drafted as a second baseman, where he started his career at Emporia State before finishing in centerfield. He is the third Hornet drafted since 2006.

The Arkansas City, Kan., native hit a team-high .397 on the year and scored 92 runs -- including the Hornets only run in the NCAA Division II National Championship game against Lynn (Fla.). He had 98 hits with 30 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 54 runs batted in. He led the nation in runs this season, was second in doubles, and was ranked third in hits and runs per game. He was eighth in the nation in doubles per game and was 16th nationally in stolen bases.

Crumbliss was named first team All-MIAA and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player. He led the MIAA in runs scored and was second in the league in doubles and hits. He also set an MIAA and ESU single season record in doubles. He finished his career at ESU as the all-time career hits leader, doubles, at-bats and runs scored leader. He is the MIAA career leader in doubles with 78 and finished in the top 10 nationally with 311 career hits.

Beal is the sixth Missouri Southern player to be drafted since Southern moved to the Division II level, and eighth all-time. He played the majority of the season at shortstop, but the Phillies drafted the senior right-hander as a pitcher.

The product of Owasso, Okla., was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick as a utility player in 2009. He hit .305 and was second on the team with 15 doubles. He also had a homer, 29 RBIs and scored 34 runs. On the mound, Beal was 3-2 with a 5.50 ERA and struck out 32 batters in 37 2/3 innings pitched.

The MLB Draft concludes Thursday (June 11).