Bennie, Coach Kochmansky discuss selection in MLB Draft

EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University second baseman Joe Bennie was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 28th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Saturday, becoming the fourth player drafted in school history.

Bennie (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg), who led the Warriors to the PSAC championship in his only season at ESU after transferring from Division I La Salle, was the 851st pick in the draft.

He is the third Warrior to be selected in the MLB Draft in the last five years, joining outfielder Mark Angelo (2009, 44th round, Seattle) and left-handed pitcher Jeremy Gigliotti (2011, 19th round, San Diego). Pitcher Joel Bennett was ESU's first MLB Draft choice in 1991 (21st round, Boston).

He was one of seven players selected from the PSAC, the most since 2000 and one short of the conference record of eight, set in 1969.

Bennie was named to the ABCA Atlantic Region first team, ABCA Atlantic Region Gold Glove team and the All-PSAC East first team. He hit .348 with a .397 on-base percentage and .513 slugging percentage, 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 28 RBI, a team-high 43 runs and 21 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot.

He is tied for 10th on ESU's single-season hits list with 65, tied for eighth in stolen bases, 11th in total bases (96) and 15th in runs scored. He also recorded ESU's first cycle in at least 10 years on March 15 at Dowling.

Defensively, he had a .994 fielding percentage with 98 assists, 81 putouts and just one error in 180 chances at second base. He was a three-year starter at shortstop at La Salle.

Bennie helped ESU to its first PSAC championship since 1971 and its second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons. The Warriors set a school record for wins, finishing with a 34-18 record.

Scholastically, Bennie was a two-time Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year at Stroudsburg in 2008 and 2009 and ranks fourth in school history with 96 career hits.

While at La Salle, Bennie had 108 hits, 20 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 44 RBI, 74 runs scored and 15 stolen bases while making 116 starts. He hit .291 with a .391 on-base percentage and .456 slugging percentage as a junior in 2012 before transferring to the Warriors.


2013 PSAC Draft choices
Nick Keener (Mansfield, RHP), 10th round, Los Angeles Dogers
Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, RHP), 11th round, Oakland A's
Tim Mayza (Millersville, LHP), 12th round, Toronto Blue Jays
Joe Gunkel (West Chester, RHP), 18th round, Boston Red Sox
Zak Blair (Mercyhurst, 2B), 20th round, Chicago Cubs
Kyle Petty (California, 1B), 23rd round, Seattle Mariners
Joe Bennie (East Stroudsburg, 2B), 28th round, Oakland A's