Staff and Wire Reports

MONTGOMERY — Alabama slugger Kent Matthes had to wait another night to find out where he landed in the baseball draft, but the answer came early on Day 2.

The Colorado Rockies drafted him in Wednesday’s fourth round, with the 121st pick overall and 10th of the morning. Matthes finished the season with 28 homers — tied for the national lead. He was also the Southeastern Conference player of the year.

Former West Point High standout Blake Mechaw had to wait a little longer for his call.

Mechaw was drafted late on Day 2, going to the Baltimore Orioles in the 26th round as the 776th overall pick.

Since his playing days at West Point, Mechaw’s baseball career has been a roller coaster ride.

Mechaw signed with Wallace State out of high school, but the hard-throwing left-handed pitcher eventually left the program and transferred to rival Shelton State.

As a sophomore this season, Mechaw made 14 appearances for Shelton State — which won the Alabama Community College Conference title and advanced to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

The former West Point star pitched 38-1/3 innings, posting a 5.35 ERA. He finished with a 3-0 record with 35 strikeouts.

Matthes was a four-year starter for the Crimson Tide but had never been drafted before.

“This is my first time getting drafted, so I am extremely excited,” Matthes said from his home in Orlando, Fla. “I got the call from the Rockies and I was able to share that moment with my parents and friends here and that was special. I am excited to be chosen by the Colorado Rockies. They have a great organization and were in the World Series recently.

“They have a good tradition and I am looking forward to starting my career with them soon.”

He said he hoped to be able to work out contract details in time to head to the minor leagues by early next week. Matthes was the first University of Alabama player picked. He had expected to hear his name called on Tuesday when the first three rounds were held.

The Rockies then picked Auburn third baseman Joseph Sanders in the fifth round, 151st overall. Faulkner University right-hander Austin Adams went four picks later to Cleveland. Adams, who sports a 98-mph fastball, had been a 27th-round pick last year as a shortstop.

He led the NAIA with 12 saves in 2008 and moved into a starting role as a senior.

“Returning for my final year allowed me to increase my strength in the weight room and to mature a bit more on the field,” Adams said. “Last year I was mostly fielding and this year I got to throw a lot more, which really helped.”

The Atlanta Braves drafted UAB right-hander Ryan Woolley in the sixth (178th) though he sat out last season after transferring from Georgia. He was the second-highest pick in UAB history, 30 spots behind Chris Hammond in 1986.

In the eighth round, the Braves picked Northwest-Shoals Community College outfielder Kyle Rose.

Auburn football signee Brandon Jacobs of Lilburn, Ga., was a 10th-round pick by Boston. He is a 5-foot-11, 240-pound running back and outfielder.

Other players from the state chosen on Wednesday include:

— 11th round: Johnny Gunter, RHP, Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Texas)

— 12th round: Vincent DeFazio, C, Alabama (Texas)

— 15th round: Del Howell, LHP, Alabama, (Milwaukee); Austin Hyatt, RHP, Alabama, (Philadelphia); Bryan Shield, CF, Auburn Montgomery (Chicago Cubs).

— 19th round: Jason Walls, RHP, Troy (San Francisco); Scott Shuman, RHP, Auburn (Tampa Bay)

— 29th round: C.C. Watson, LHP, Cleburne County HS (Texas).