Former Oak Creek Knights ace Eric Semmelhack was picked in the Major League Baseball draft Tuesday, and by the hometown team to boot.
The Milwaukee Brewers took Semmelhack in the 12th round and No. 355 overall. Semmelhack posted a 3.55 earned-run average this year for UW-Milwaukee and this summer is playing for the new Lakeshore Chinooks, a collegiate developmental-league team in Mequon.
Over the last three years, the right-hander recorded eight victories, a 3.94 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 194 innings, according to a UWM news release.
Semmelhack was one of two UWM pitchers drafted Tuesday. The Philadelphia Phillies took relief pitcher Jordan Guth in the ninth round.
"We knew there was a good chance that this would happen, but once it finally did, I was really happy for them and their families," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said in the news release. "I know how hard they work and it's every baseball player's dream. If you've put a glove on, you've thought about it and they have been able to fulfill that dream and now get to go play professionally. It is really an honor and we could not be more excited for them."
At Oak Creek, the 2009 graduate set a school record by throwing 85.1 innings as senior, leading the team to a Greater Metro Conference title and a state tournament berth. His 10 wins and 97 strikeouts were second all-time.
Knights Head Coach Scott Holler said in an e-mail that Semmelhack is the third Oak Creek player drafted in the past 10 years.
Catcher Tony Harper, a 10th-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, and pitcher Tony Butler, the Seattle Mariners' third-round pick in 2006, are the others.
