Aug. 3, 2006

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Nine former SCU baseball players continued to hit the field this summer with the chance to extend their playing careers beyond college and into the pros. Players are chasing their big league dreams in the various minor leagues in places from San Jose to across the country in Williamsport, Pa.

Below are the current updates on each of the nine players:

Kris Watts (2005-06)
Watts, drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 16th round, is playing in the New York-Penn League with the Class-A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. He is batting .247 and has recorded two doubles and five RBIs.

Eric Newton (2003-06)
A 33rd-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers, Newton has been seeing action with the Helena Brewers of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He has six games under his belt and has recorded one home run and three RBIs.

Michael Thompson (2003-05)
Thompson, selected in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, started the season out with the Salem Avalanche, but is now making an impact with the Class-A Lexington Legends in the South Atlantic League. He is currently batting .224 and has 10 doubles, four home runs, and 17 RBIs.

Will Thompson (2003-04)
The San Francisco Giants picked Thompson in the seventh round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He began this season with the Class-A short-season Salem-Kaizer Volcanoes, but after hitting .386 was promoted back to the Bay Area to the San Jose Giants, San Francisco's Class-A Advanced affiliate. Since his promotion in July he has recorded 11 hits, scored five runs, and is batting .208.

Dustin Realini (2004-06)
The 2006 SCU graduate and Cleveland Indians' 28th-round pick has been making an impact on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the Class-A short-season New York-Penn League. He is batting .256, carries a .397 slugging percentage, and has racked up 19 RBIs, three homers, one triple, and six doubles.

Nic Crosta (2004-05)
After being drafted in the 17th round in 2004 by the Texas Rangers, Crosta decided to hold off on the pros and finish out his career at SCU. Upon graduation, he joined the San Diego Padres organization. After batting .382 with their Class-A affiliate, the Fort Wayne Wizards, Crosta was promoted to the Class-A Advanced Lake Elsinore Storm in the California League. With the Storm, he is currently batting .270, with 27 RBIs, three homers, four triples, and 15 doubles.

Patrick Overholt (2003-05)
In mid July, Overholt, a 22nd round pick in the 2005 MLB Draft, found himself called up from the Class-A Lakewood Blue Claws to the Class-A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, both affiliates of the Philadelphia Phillies. With the Threshers in the Florida State League, he carries a 2-2 record, has pitched 10.2 innings, boasts a 3.38 ERA, and recorded 17 strikeouts.

Chad Fillinger (2001-2004)
A 16th round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2004, Fillinger is another Bronco who received a July promotion. He began the year with the Class-A Advanced Inland Empire 66ers and has since risen to the Class-AA Texas League's San Antonio Missions. With the Missions, he holds a 5-1 record, with a 2.75 ERA, and has struck out 44 batters in 52.1 innings pitched.

Anthony Rea (2001-2005)
Rea joined the Oakland A's organization in 2005 as a free agent signee, and this season has been playing with their Class-A short-season Northwest League team, the Vancouver Canadians. In 13 appearances, he holds a record of 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA and 18 strikeouts.