TUCSON, Ariz.--- The University of Arizona baseball team held its first annual Wild vs. Cats Fall World Series draft Tuesday night inside the Arizona Stadium Club, and both Team Wild and Team Cats think they have what it takes to win the Wild vs. Cats Fall World Series. Game one begins on Thursday at 2:30 pm MST out at Hi Corbett Field.
Festivities began with opening marks by head Arizona baseball coach Jay Johnson before the team enjoyed a team meal with the draft beginning at 9 pm MST.
Team Wild got things rolling, as it selected Tucson, Ariz. native freshman catcher Cesar Salazar with first overall pick in the draft. Team Cats then countered by selecting junior infielder Sawyer Gieseke with its first pick.
Both sides alternated picks for over 40 rounds and at the end of the night each side feels like it has when it takes to claim the crown.
“We're really comfortable with where we came out,” said senior Team Wild co-captain Tyler Crawford. “We have a good mixture of young and older guys, great pitching and nice hitting.”
“Yeah, we're just better than The Cats,” senior Team Wild co-captain Zach Gibbons added.
Despite the opinion of Team Wild's camp, the Team Cats' front office feels like it was the one who assembled the better squad.
“We feel really good about our squad with a lot of guys who can do multiple things,” Team Cats co-captain Nathan Bannister said on behalf of the organization.
All in all it's an experience the Arizona baseball program can hang its hat on, but now it's time to get down to business.
“I'm going to bring a lot of energy, a lot of fire, and some high velocity to this team,” said recent Team Cats draftee Kevin Ginkel. “Let's go get it.”
Team Wild members are also happy to be part of their new organization, while for some it was even quite possibly a dream come true.
“It feels great to be a part of this team, but now it's time to go out and get to work....wait, I got drafted by Team Wild right?,” said a very confused and emotional Tyger Talley after the selection.
Team Wild and Team Cats will square off in game one of the 2015 Wild vs. Cats Fall World Series this Thursday at 2:30 pm MST out at Hi Corbett Field.
Both team's full roster is listed below.
TEAM WILD
Tyler Crawford
Zach Gibbons
Sawyer Gieseke
Michael Flynn
Louis Boyd
Cameron Ming
Alfonso Rivas
JJ Matijevic
Austin Rubick
Kyle Lewis
Tyger Talley
Michael Hoard
Rio Gomez
Trent Johnson
Luke Soroko
Morgan Earman
TEAM CATS
Cody Ramer
Nathan Bannister
JC Cloney
Robby Medel
Cody Deason
Matt Hartman
Randy Labaut
Bobby Dalbec
Kevin Ginkel
Cody Moffett
Kaleb Roper
Cesar Salazar
Ryan Aguilar
Jared Oliva
Casey Bowman
Joey Czarske
Shea Sbranti
Follow the Cats!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics), Twitter (@AZATHLETICS), Instagram (azathletics) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/ArizonaAthletics). In addition, the baseball team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaBaseball), Twitter (@ArizonaBaseball), and Instagram (ArizonaBaseball) accounts.
