June 8, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - For the fourth consecutive season, at least two Villanova players were chosen in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, as senior pitcher Nick Allen (Green Lane, Pa.) and junior pitcher James Baxter (Point Pleasant, N.J.) were each drafted on Wednesday in the second day of the draft. Baxter was picked in the 19th round by the Boston Red Sox, while Allen was taken in the 21st round by the Seattle Mariners.

"I can speak for the entire coaching staff when I say that we are extremely excited to have two more Villanova players chosen in the draft," head coach Joe Godri said. "Nick and Jim are two guys who had great careers at Villanova, and I wish them the best of luck as they enter the professional ranks."

Allen pitched in 61 career games for the Wildcats, including 45 starts. In 285.1 innings pitched, he compiled 171 strikeouts and 19 victories. He racked up nine complete games, including the first no-hitter in 43 years by a Villanova pitcher in 2005. He ended his career ranked in the top 10 in school history in five different categories, including third in innings pitched, fifth in appearances, seventh in victories, eighth in complete games and tenth in strikeouts.

"Nick was one of the great all-time pitchers at Villanova," Godri said. "I think that he is a guy who can continue to develop and give it a good run in professional ball."

Allen capped his stellar four-year career with easily his best collegiate season in 2005. He received national recognition twice during the season, and was a second team All-Big East performer. In 15 appearances, including 13 starts, Allen compiled a 6-6 record and 2.72 ERA. He limited the opposition to a .249 batting average against him in 92.2 innings pitched, and struck out 68 batters while walking just 22. He began the season with a stretch of 27 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, a streak that included a no-hitter against Norfolk State and 7.1 innings of five-hit ball in an 11-1 victory over eighth-ranked Florida.

It was also a successful 2005 season for Baxter, who returned to action after missing the 2004 season with an injury. He was second on the team in victories to Allen, going 5-1 in 16 games, including nine starts. Villanova was 7-2 in games started by Baxter, and was victorious in each of his final six starts. He was the Wildcats starting pitcher against Lehigh in the title game of the Liberty Bell Classic. Baxter appeared in 36 career games and made 15 starts, striking out 85 batters in 97.0 innings pitched with eight career victories.

James Baxter was 5-1 in 2005, and the Wildcats were 7-2 in games he started.

"Jim had a great season coming off of surgery," Godri said. "He will have a decision to make in signing with the Red Sox or playing one more year of collegiate ball."

Allen and Baxter were both captains of the 2005 team that went 28-21-2 and captured the team's first Liberty Bell Classic championship since 1999. The Wildcats also were the only Big East team to defeat a team ranked in the nation's top 10 (defeated No. 8 Florida 11-1 on March 4) during the regular season.

"It is outstanding for Villanova baseball to have had multiple players drafted in four straight seasons. We have consistently had players go and play pro baseball, and it speaks to the quality of the players in our program. We are showing that Villanova baseball players are the complete package, and they represent something that pro baseball teams desire to have in their organization." --head coach Joe Godri

"One of the special things about having Nick and Jim get drafted is that they are both guys who were not drafted out of high school," Godri said. "They are a pair of pitchers who, through hard work and commitment to Villanova baseball, have given themselves the opportunity to play at the next level."

Villanova has now had at least two players drafted in four consecutive seasons. In 2004, seniors Adrian Schau and Mike Ciccotelli were drafted by the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners, respectively. Schau was also picked by the Indians in 2003, and James Russell was taken that year by the Montreal Expos. In 2002, Brian Slocum was drafted by the Indians and Rob Cafiero was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It is outstanding for Villanova baseball to have had multiple players drafted in four straight seasons," Godri said. "We have consistently had players go and play pro baseball, and it speaks to the quality of the players in our program. We are showing that Villanova baseball players are the complete package, and they represent something that pro baseball teams desire to have in their organization."

Brian Slocum and Adrian Schau are both currently pitching in the Indians minor league system. Slocum has spent the 2005 season with the Akron Aeros of the AA-level Eastern League, while Schau is pitching for the Lake County Captains in the A-level South Atlantic League.