Lackawanna’s Chris Kirsch Drafted by Cardinals

For the third consecutive year, a player having Lackawanna College baseball ties has been selected in Major League Baseball's annual draft. This year the St Louis Cardinals used a twenty first round selection to claim Chris Kirsch.

At Lackawanna, Kirsch was used as a pitcher and designated hitter. On the mound, he had a 1-2 regular season win/loss record, an ERA of 5.03 and 30 strike outs. At the plate he hit a respectable .313 with 2 doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs. In post season play, Kirsch posted a 1-0 record and a 1.92 ERA. In doing so, he worked 14 innings while striking out 14 and relinquishing 3 hits.

Despite his batting skills, the Cardinals have projected Kirsch as a pitcher.

Kirsch is one of two Region XIX players drafted, the other being James Pugliesi of Mercer County Community College. Kirsch outdueled Pugliesi in the opening game of the Region XIX tournament with a 3-0complete game shutout.

The Lackawanna players previously drafted were Chris Sedon, a 2009 ninth round selection of the Detroit Tigers, and Dan Winnie, the sixteenth round pick of the Atlanta Braves.