June 11, 2007                     

Fleming, Sowers taken in Major League Baseball draft

Having played major roles in getting the Cowley College baseball team back to the Junior College World Series for the first time in five years, sophomores Tyler Fleming and Jason Sowers were recently selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.

Fleming, a right handed pitcher, went 10-4 with an earned run average of 3.64 this past season. He struck out 67 batters, while walking only 20 in his 80 innings pitched. The Rangers in the 39th round drafted Fleming, who is playing baseball this summer in Alaska.

If he does not sign with the Rangers, Fleming will be a member of the Wichita State University baseball team as a junior.

Sowers followed up a stellar freshman campaign in which he batted .420, by batting .391 as a sophomore. He finished second on the team with nine home runs and 126 total bases. He also hit 15 doubles and drove in 67 runs. Sowers is currently playing summer baseball in New Hampshire. Sowers was drafted in the 42nd round by the Rangers.

Cowley College assistant coach Darren Burroughs, who played 10 years of professional baseball, was happy to see his players get taken in the draft.

“It’s always exciting to see those guys get an opportunity to play professional baseball and live a dream,” Burroughs said. “We are proud of them.”