Professional baseball: Calvert Hall, Dulaney players drafted
Bumbry, Krieger and Velleggia tabbed
By Nelson Coffin
Posted 6/11/09
When ex-Calvert Hall teammates Scott Krieger and Joe Velleggia meet the next time on the diamond it might be in an interleague Major League contest.
As far-fetched at it sounds, the possibility exists after Krieger was drafted in the 19th round by the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday and Velleggia was tabbed by the hometown Orioles in the 42nd round today.
That makes at least three former Towson-area prep players joining the professional ranks after Dulaney's Steve Bumbry -- son of erstwhile Oriole star Al Bumbry -- was a 12th-round choice by Baltimore.
Krieger, the all-time leader in hits, home runs and runs at George Mason University, capped his four-year career with the Patriots by hitting .372 with 20 homers, 80 RBIs, 68 runs and a robust .757 slugging percentage.
It was about 3 p.m. yesterday when he and his parents, Debbie and Pete, received the good news in their Campus Hills home.
"I knew it was going to happen eventually," the 6-foot-2, 210-pound corner outfielder said. "I was just hoping it would be sooner, rather than later."
The Colonial Athletic Association co-Player of the Year said the Orioles, Wahington Nationals and Cincinatti Reds also expressed an interest in his services.
Saying there was "a real sense of relief and excitement," Krieger will leave Sunday morning to play for the Helena (Mont.) Brewers.
"It will be a different experience, but one I'm looking forward to," Krieger said.
Bumbry, like his dad, is a defensive stalwart who started 47 of Virginia Tech's 50 games this season. He also improved his offensive numbers, batting .284 with 40 RBIs while leading the Hokies with 10 homers and 51 runs.
The junior center fielder from Cockeysville almost doubled his putouts, jumping from 60 in 2008 to 104 this spring while making just three errors.
Bumbry is probably headed to nearby Aberdeen to play for th IronBirds at Ripken Stadium, yielding his final year of eligibility in Blacksburg.
Unlike his counterparts, Velleggia has not inked a professional contract yet and said he could make decision "within a few days."
The Monkton resident's Old Dominion University career has been marred by injuries after he was a power-hitting catcher on the first two of Calvert Hall's five consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship clubs.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound redshirt sophomore played in just 20 games this season for the Monarchs, hitting .284 with four homers and a dozen RBIs.
He played 10 games last season before being redshirted and competed in 22 games as a true freshman in 2007.
"I had a little bit of an unfortunate streak," Velleggia said. "It put a damper on my season."
He was referring to the foul ball that injured his foot before a hamstring pull relegated him to DH duties late in the season.
"Playing pro ball has always been a dream of mine," he said. "I'm just going to keep giving it a go as long as I can."
Velleggia, who is currently playing summer ball for Calvert Hall-based Youse's Orioles, still has two years of eligibility remaining at Old Dominion.
As far-fetched at it sounds, the possibility exists after Krieger was drafted in the 19th round by the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday and Velleggia was tabbed by the hometown Orioles in the 42nd round today.
That makes at least three former Towson-area prep players joining the professional ranks after Dulaney's Steve Bumbry -- son of erstwhile Oriole star Al Bumbry -- was a 12th-round choice by Baltimore.
Krieger, the all-time leader in hits, home runs and runs at George Mason University, capped his four-year career with the Patriots by hitting .372 with 20 homers, 80 RBIs, 68 runs and a robust .757 slugging percentage.
It was about 3 p.m. yesterday when he and his parents, Debbie and Pete, received the good news in their Campus Hills home.
"I knew it was going to happen eventually," the 6-foot-2, 210-pound corner outfielder said. "I was just hoping it would be sooner, rather than later."
The Colonial Athletic Association co-Player of the Year said the Orioles, Wahington Nationals and Cincinatti Reds also expressed an interest in his services.
Saying there was "a real sense of relief and excitement," Krieger will leave Sunday morning to play for the Helena (Mont.) Brewers.
"It will be a different experience, but one I'm looking forward to," Krieger said.
Bumbry, like his dad, is a defensive stalwart who started 47 of Virginia Tech's 50 games this season. He also improved his offensive numbers, batting .284 with 40 RBIs while leading the Hokies with 10 homers and 51 runs.
The junior center fielder from Cockeysville almost doubled his putouts, jumping from 60 in 2008 to 104 this spring while making just three errors.
Bumbry is probably headed to nearby Aberdeen to play for th IronBirds at Ripken Stadium, yielding his final year of eligibility in Blacksburg.
Unlike his counterparts, Velleggia has not inked a professional contract yet and said he could make decision "within a few days."
The Monkton resident's Old Dominion University career has been marred by injuries after he was a power-hitting catcher on the first two of Calvert Hall's five consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship clubs.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound redshirt sophomore played in just 20 games this season for the Monarchs, hitting .284 with four homers and a dozen RBIs.
He played 10 games last season before being redshirted and competed in 22 games as a true freshman in 2007.
"I had a little bit of an unfortunate streak," Velleggia said. "It put a damper on my season."
He was referring to the foul ball that injured his foot before a hamstring pull relegated him to DH duties late in the season.
"Playing pro ball has always been a dream of mine," he said. "I'm just going to keep giving it a go as long as I can."
Velleggia, who is currently playing summer ball for Calvert Hall-based Youse's Orioles, still has two years of eligibility remaining at Old Dominion.
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