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CLAREMORE, Okla.- Senior Lance Rymel became the second Rogers State baseball player in program history to be drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 28th round Wednesday afternoon.
"Hearing my name called today was the best feeling of my life," RSU catcher Lance Rymel said. "I have worked so hard for this opportunity. I would like to thank the Cubs for this chance and words cannot express how much the RSU coaching staff means to me. Thanks to my dad for teaching me the game, my poppa and nana for being my biggest supporters and to God for giving the ability to play this game that I've loved for so long."
Rymel was the Hillcats everyday catcher, starting all 65 games as a senior with a .978 fielding percentage. The Broken Arrow, Okla. native posted 18 doubles, three home runs with 40 RBI with a .318 batting average. As a junior he started in 39 games behind the plate for the Cats with a .988 fielding percentage as he committed just three errors in 251 chances. He drove in 33 runs and has nine doubles on the season.
"Lance has dreamed of being drafted for a long time and I am so happy to see him get the opportunity to fulfill it by playing professional baseball," Head Baseball Coach Ron Bradley said. "Seeing that play out along with him reaching his goal of competing for a World Series championship all in one week is pretty amazing. But the thing I am most proud of is the way he has matured over the last three years not only as a baseball play but also as a leader."
Rymel is a two time all-conference player for RSU. He joined the Diamond Cats for his sophomore season after helping Seminole State College reach the JUCO World Series in 2009. He was a two-time all-conference selection at Broken Arrow High School and also made the Oklahoma Senior Sunbelt team.
"The RSU baseball team has become like family to me," Rymel said. "I have made so many friends, I have become close to the coaches and the team is a tight unit. I will always remember and support RSU wherever I go."
For a complete look at the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft visit www.mlb.com.
For more information on RSU baseball visit www.rsuhillcats.com.
