COLORADO ROCKIES SELECT MITCH LIVELY IN 16th ROUND

6/8/2007

Sacramento State's Mitch Lively was the second player out of the Western Athletic Conference selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, taken in the 16th round by the Colorado Rockies.

Lively, a six-foot-five right-hander, was the 492nd selection overall, and is the first Hornet player to be drafted since Ethan Katz and Warren Rosebrock were selected in the 2005 draft. Katz is now playing with the Asheville Tourists, the Class A affiliate of the Rockies, which selected him two years ago in the 26th round.

In the last five years the Hornets have had 12 players selected in the draft or sign free agent contracts. Lively's selection in the 16th round is the earliest a Hornet has been drafted since 2003, when pitcher Chris Kinsey was selected by Arizona in the fourth round,
outfielder Jesse Schmidt was selected by San Francisco in the 10th round, and outfielder Mikela Olsen was selected by Florida in the 15th round.

Lively, a two-sport athlete at Sacramento State, expired his eligibility on the football field in 2006 as a three-time all-Big Sky Conference punter. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a
fifth-year senior with the Hornet baseballl team after redshirting in 2005.

The Susanville, Calif., native was Sacramento State's main closer in 2007, totaling eight saves in 25 appearances. His eight saves, four against WAC competiton, ties for fourth in the Hornet single season record book. Lively has also made 61 appearances in his three seasons
with Sacramento State, a mark that ties for sixth in program history.

The 2003 Lassen High School graduate has totaled 77 strikeouts since joining the Hornets in 2004.

Louisiana Tech outfielder Brian Rike was the only player out of the WAC selected ahead of Lively. The 2007 Conference Player of the Year was also taken by Colorado in the second round as the 72nd overall pick. The Rockies selected two additional players out of the WAC; Fresno State outfielder Brian Lapin (18th round, 552 overall) and fellow Bulldog left-hander Brandon Miller (24th round, 732 overall).