By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

For the second straight year, the Niles baseball program has had a player selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Last year the Los Angeles Angels picked Asaad Ali in the 40th round. Ali was the 1,221st player selected.

Wednesday morning, the Cincinnati Reds called Niles senior David Garner and told him he had been picked in the 33rd round and was the 997th player selected.

The right-handed pitcher worked out a couple of times for the Reds, including once in Cincinnati.

Several other teams had shown interest in Garner prior to the draft.

“It means a lot,” Garner said about being drafted. “It’s a good opportunity.”

He said that the Reds called him about 11:30 Wednesday morning to inform him about his selection in the draft. Garner and the Reds were scheduled to talk again Wednesday night about what they are going to offer him.

Garner has been a three-sport standout for the Vikings, but has narrowed his choices down to football and baseball.

“It’s still 50-50 as to whether I will go to the pros or to college,” he said. “I have narrowed my college choices down to Central Michigan and Michigan State.”

Garner said he would be interested in playing both football and baseball in college if he doesn’t sign with the Reds and head to the minor leagues this summer.

Niles baseball coach Mike Vota knows all about being drafted and pitching in the minor leagues.

He has given Garner valuable advice about what life is like in the minors and helped him prepare for being drafted.

“It has been huge,” Garner answered when asked how important having Vota as his high school coach has been. “Especially with him being a pitcher and pursuing the pitching. He has helped me with the whole approach to the game.

“He told me don’t get cheated. You have ups and downs. Never think negative. Always think positive.”

Vota noted he was pretty excited for Garner.

“I know he’s excited about it,” Vota said. “It gives him more options when it comes to his future. We’ve had a lot of conversations about it (being drafted). I tried to prepare him as to what life is like there. I don’t know if he’s going to try the college route first or not. It will depend on what they offer him.”

Having two players drafted in consecutive years speaks volumes about a baseball program. Vota thinks it says a lot about what the Vikings are trying to accomplish.

“I think the program is in good shape,” he said. “We put out some pretty quality kids. We’re pretty excited to put out some guys who go on to college and to have a couple drafted.”