Two More from the MIAA Go in MLB Draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After already having four players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, two more from the MIAA went during the final day of selections Thursday (June 11) in Secaucus, N.J.

Nebraska-Omaha has its second player chosen in 2009 as senior RHP Chris Kessinger was a 37th-round choice of the Seattle Mariners, while Missouri Western LHP A.J. Huttenlocker went in the 44th round to the Oakland Athletics.

Kessinger led the Mavericks in earned run average, posting a 3.02 earned run average during 14 starts last season.  He finished with a record of 9-4 while pitching more than 86 innings.  He was second on the team in both wins and innings pitched.  Kessinger led the team with 82 strikeouts.

The native of Sioux Falls, S.D., finished fifth in the MIAA in ERA and tied for third in wins. He also batted .323 in 31 at bats during his senior season with four starts as a designated hitter.

Kessinger joins SS Evan Porter, who was a 23rd-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, as Mavericks to go in the 2009 draft.

Huttenlocker finished up his eligibility this past season with the Griffons by going 11-3 with a 3.35 earned run average. Huttenlocker's 11 victories are the most for a Griffon in a season and were tops in the MIAA. He tossed eight complete games, which was second in the MIAA, and averaged 9.38 strikeouts per nine innings, which was third in the MIAA.

The product of Buckley, Wash., struck out a career-high 14 batters in an 8-4 victory at Pittsburg State back on April 24. He also was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week twice this past season and earned first-team All-MIAA and second-team Daktronics All-South Central Region honors.

Huttenlocker is the first Griffon selected in the MLB Draft since 1975, when Ronald Jones was selected in the 15th round by the Minnesota Twins -- and just the fourth overall. He's the second MIAA student-athlete to be chosen by the A's, joining 2B/OF Connor Crumbliss of Emporia State -- a 28th-round pick.

Kessinger and Huttenlocker join Porter, Crumbliss, Central Missouri RHP Chris Matlock (21st round -- Texas Rangers) and Missouri Southern RHP/SS Justin Beal (28th round -- Phillies) as MIAA players chosen in the 2009 Draft.