By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
June 12, 2004
Joey Lieberman nearly wiped out when he was Web surfing earlier this week.
The Meridian Community College first baseman was searching names on the Major League Baseball amateur draft when he came across his own moniker in the list of 1,498 players selected in the 50-round draft on Monday and Tuesday.
Lieberman was selected in the 28th round 851st overall the Atlanta Braves on the second day of the draft.
Lieberman was one of the four Eagles selected in the amateur draft at the beginning of the week. MCC also had an incoming freshman selected in the draft.
MCC third baseman Van Pope was drafted by the Braves with the 161st overall pick in the fifth round; center fielder Toddrick Johnson was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 32nd round 942nd overall; and pitcher Matthew Rozier was taken in the 41st round 1,229th overall by the Chicago White Sox.
MCC signee Terrell Young was drafted with the 288th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 10th round.
Lieberman, who is playing summer ball with the Elkhart (Kan.) Dusters in the Jayhawk League with teammate Michael Murray, played three games for MCC in 2003 before a broken wrist sidelined him for the season.
He returned to the lineup in 2004 after receiving a medical redshirt last year and led the Eagles in home runs (18) and RBIs (65).
Pope, who signed a letter of intent with Ole Miss earlier this year, said he plans to sign with the Braves within the next week.
The third baseman, who batted .419 this season with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs, was selected by the White Sox in the 28th round 825th overall last year.
Johnson was also drafted for the second time in his young baseball career. The Jackson native was selected in the 2003 draft by the Florida Marlins out of high school.
The Eagles center fielder hit .328 this season and posted a .961 fielding percentage.
Rozier posted a 5-3 record in his freshman season with the Eagles. The right-hander from Greenwood started nine games and made four relief appearances, while compiling a 3.88 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
East Central Community College's Marcus Davis was also taken in the draft. The Warriors' left fielder was chosen in the 21st round 638th overall by the Marlins.