The Mat-Su Miners, the defending Alaska Baseball League champions, are proud to announce the following former Miners have been selected in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft:

•    Steve Domecus (2008), Virginia Tech – Dodgers, 9th round (292 overall)
•    Nate Garcia (2007), Santa Clara – Rays, 16th round (491)
•    Owen Dew (2009), Central Florida – Indians, 21st round (630)
•    Jeremy Erben (2008), Oklahoma – Diamondbacks, 22nd round (661)
•    Shane Brown (2009) Central Florida – Yankees, 23rd round (715)
•    Ryan Cole (2009) St. John’s – Astros, 34th round (1023)
•    Kevin Rodland (2008) Nevada – Rangers, 34th round (1036)
•    Alex Rivers (2007) Santa Clara – Royals, 39th round (1169)
•    Troy Scott (2008) Washington – Twins, 48th round (1455)
•    Gunnar Terhune (2007) UC Santa Barbara – Padres, 50th round (1504)

Domecus became Virginia Tech’s highest-drafted catcher since Johnny Oates went 38th overall in 1966. The Novato, Calif., senior tied the single-season school record with 92 hits this season, while setting a new mark with 27 doubles.

Garcia, a hard-throwing right-hander, led the West Coast Conference in strikeouts as a junior last season and set a career high with 112 strikeouts in 2010. Garcia was Santa Clara's number-one starting pitcher for three consecutive seasons, totaling 23 wins and 357 strikeouts in 365-plus innings.

The right-handed Dew was the only UCF pitcher to start in every weekend series in 2010, leading the Knights with 73.1 innings with 48 strikeouts. Dew, who transferred from Seminole State College of Florida, posted 11 outings of at least 5.0 innings, including an 8.1-inning victory over Rice April 17. He was selected by the Angels in the 33rd round of the 2009 draft, as well.

Erben was added to the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year watch list on March. He is second in the Big 12 in wins (5) and ERA (0.61) and was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for games played through March 7.

A 47th round pick by the Yankees last season, Brown was an All-Conference First Team outfielder and a Louisville Slugger All-American this year. He hit .428 as a senior, the fourth-highest average in UCF history. Brown also posted 89 hits, 25 doubles, 10 homers, 58 runs and a .541 on-base percentage.
A former walk-on, Brown posted a .363 career average at the plate, which was the sixth-best ever by a Knight.

"I was excited that any team drafted me. I just wanted to get picked," Brown told UCFathletics.com. "But the Yankees must have really wanted me if they took me two years in a row, that's really special. I've put in a lot of hard work and I hope things will keep getting better and better. Hopefully as I get into pro ball I will be able to take that opportunity, live my dream and have a lot of fun."

Cole compiled a 3-1 record; with a 4.40 ERA in 28 appearances in 2010. He had 26 strikeouts in 28.2 innings and allowed just a .232 opponent average.

Rodland batted .256 with eight home runs and 41 RBI this season. He finished his three-year career at Nevada with a .260 batting average, 14 home runs and 92 RBI.

Rivers was recently named Santa Clara's Pitcher of the Year after throwing four complete games and two shutouts in 2010.

Scott, a junior first baseman from Auburn, Washington, was also drafted by the Twins out of high school in 2007. In three seasons as Washington's starting first baseman, he's totaled 25 career home runs.

Terhune was the Gauchos' leadoff batter each of the past two seasons, and was taken by his hometown team. He batted .280 this season and led the Gauchos in triples and stolen bases.