Sikula selected by Blue Jays in 36th round: ; 5 more picks give Marshall 8 in three-day MLB draft

If things fall right, Arik Sikula's baseball career could givehim an up-close look at Stanley Cup fever. Stranger still, he'llfully appreciate it.

Sikula, the former South Charleston and Hurricane star who justwrapped up his Marshall pitching career, was taken in the 36th roundof the Major League Baseball draft Wednesday by the Toronto BlueJays.

That was part of an unprecedented draft day for the ThunderingHerd program.

Speedy centerfielder Isaac Ballou also was taken in the 36thround, by the Pittsburgh Pirates. PikeView High graduate Joe Church,a hard-throwing right-hander, was taken in the 40th round by the LosAngeles Angels, infielder Kenny Socorro went to the Chicago Cubs inthe 44th round and right-hander Shane Farrell also went to Toronto,in the 46th round.

Those picks come a day after two Herd lefties were taken, GregWilliams in the 12th round and Mike Mason in the 23rd round, both bythe Texas Rangers. Between them, outfielder Rhett Stafford went inthe 22nd round to the Oakland Athletics.

That raises the total to eight for a team that won that onlyseven Conference USA games in 24 tries this season.

"It's crazy how many people got drafted," Sikula said. "It showswe have a lot of good talent on our team."

Stafford, Mason, Ballou, Church, Farrell and Williams all haveeligibility remaining, which means they will have to decide whetherto turn pro or return to MU. For Sikula and Socorro, the time isnow.

Sikula encountered some confusion Wednesday, starting withcongratulatory texts received while he was working out with hisbrother. As his sister called him, he also got a call from Ferrell,who erroneously congratulated him on being drafted by the St. LouisCardinals.

He tried to check the draft on his phone, but his Internet wasnot working. Finally the Blue Jays contacted him.

"It was eventful, exciting and nerve-wracking all at the sametime," Sikula said.

After all that waiting, things will move quickly. Sikula flies toFlorida on Saturday to sign some contracts, and then he will get hisassignment - from what he has heard, the Vancouver Canadians of theshort-season Class A Northwest League.

Not a bad city for a low-level assignment. That, and the city hasa team in the Stanley Cup finals, the Canucks. If there is a Game 7with the Boston Bruins, that would happen June 15, two days beforethe baseball team's opener.

"Shane Ferrell got me into hockey," Sikula said. "It's the firsttime I've watched every minute of every game of the Stanley Cup[finals]. Every night, it's either the basketball game or theStanley Cup. I love watching hockey; it's great. And I never thoughtI would say that."

Sikula served as a reliever and sometimes closer early in his MUcareer, then became the Sunday closer. He finished fourth on theschool's all-time career strikeout list (201) and in the top 10 ingames (77), innings pitched (222) and saves (eight).

He just wishes this year's Herd could have won more.

"I was recruited to set the precedent for kids in my area,"Sikula said. "Wags [coach Jeff Waggoner] told me it was a goodchance to set records, and I felt it was going in the rightdirection after my freshman year.

"There were a lot of things that could have, should have beenbetter. I had a lot of fun, but we didn't win. It wasdisappointing."

West Virginia finished with one draftee, Herbert Hoover graduateGrant Buckner. He was taken in the 26th round by the Chicago WhiteSox.

File photo Arik Sikula finished fourth on Marshalls all-timestrikeout list with 201.

Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsmock@wvgazette.com.