Two Troy baseball players taken in MLB Draft

Chris Sorce was getting ready for a Valley League summer game when he got the news.

The Seattle Mariners had selected the Trojan pitcher, a second-team all-conference performer, in the 26th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Earlier in the day, teammate Jason Walls, a fellow right-handed pitcher, was picked in the 19th round by the San Francisco Giants.

Sorce, who is pitching for the Harrisonburg (Va.) Turks this summer, went 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA and five saves as the team’s closer. He pitched at LSU as a freshman and at Pensacola Junior College as a sophomore before emerging as Troy’s top bullpen guy.

He said he would talk with representatives from the Mariners in the next couple of days and didn’t indicate which way he was leaning.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Sorce said. “If I don’t sign, I have one more year with the Trojans where I can come back and help us win a conference championship and go to Omaha (College World Series).

“When it comes to the draft, all you’re talking about are values. There’s a price for everything, If I got my (asking) price, I might sign. At the same time, you can’t put a price on a college degree and I’d be able to come back and get that degree.”

Sorce said he’s majoring in finance.

Walls, a 6-foot-5 pitcher who impressed scouts last fall when he touched 95 mph on the radar gun. He emerged as a weekend starter after transferring from junior college and went 4-4 with a 4.73 ERA.

Losing both would be critical for Troy’s pitching staff, as Walls and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Tyler Ray would be a solid front-line pitching duo with Sorce returning as one of the league’s best relievers.

Head coach Bobby Pierce wasn’t sure if either would return based on their draft slots.

“You never know,” Pierce said. “Walls wants to go (pro) and Sorce does too. Sorce had a little higher (asking figure) on the table, but kids change when there’s money in front of them. There’s no way of knowing.”

Pierce said Troy is still after pitchers this summer and are expected to sign two — Butler County (Kan.) pitchers Nick Ward, a righty, and Austin Woodard, a lefty.

No other Trojans were drafted through the 30th round, but names to watch today include junior catcher Steven Felix and senior outfielders Charley Williams and Michael Precise.

Rounds 31-50 conclude today at 10 a.m.