June 3, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. -
After leading Western Carolina to the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament championships, as well as the championship at the 2003 NCAA Baseball Regional in Wilson, Catamount seniors Ryan Basner, Todd Buchanan and Alan Beck were selected today in the annual Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Basner was selected in the seventh round (217 pick overall) by the Atlanta Braves, Buchanan went in the 13th round (296 overall) to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Beck was taken in the 16th round (464 overall) by the Baltimore Orioles.
Basner (West Chester, Pa.) posted an 8-3 record with a 2.95 ERA. His eight wins ranked fourth in the Southern Conference, while his ERA was third. Basner was dominating most of the season, registering 91 strikeouts, and walking just 28. The right-hander tossed a WCU single-season record 125.1 innings, which ranks sixth in the SoCon, while his 18 starts in 2003 was a school record and is fourth on the SoCon season list. Basner, who won 18 games and had six saves in his career, pitched 291.1 career innings to rank fourth on the WCU all-time list. His 211 career strikeouts is 11th in school history behind 212 by Jared Burton, who was an eighth-round pick by the Oakland A's last season.
"I've been smiling nonstop all day," Basner said. "I am just thrilled and can not wait to start my new career."
Basner spent his junior season as a relief pitcher after having surgery between his sophomore and junior years. As a senior, Basner returned to full strength with his fastball consistently hitting the low-to-mid 90's. As a result, he was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week (Mar. 18), second team All-Southern Conference and SoCon All-Tournament. He was Pitcher of the Week after getting wins over Gardner-Webb and Davidson in the week. He struck out 13 batters in 16 innings, while walking just one. In the SoCon tournament, he pitched 10.0 scoreless innings, getting a win over Furman, and shut Georgia Southern down in four innings in relief in the second championship game. In the SoCon he fanned 11 and walked just one. Over a three-game span (2003 season finale at College of Charleston and the SoCon tourney), Basner did not allow a run in 16 innings with just eight hits, two walks and 16 strikeouts. In the NCAA Regional, Basner was the tough-luck loser despite an impressive appearance. He pitched six innings with six hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.
Buchanan (Roswell, Ga.) made a name for himself both as a force at the plate and in the field. A two-time All-Southern-Conference selection as well as a two-time pick by Baseball America as the "Best Defensive First Baseman in the SoCon", Buchanan was tabbed SoCon Co-Player of the Week on April 7 along with Beck. Buchanan is believed to be the SoCon all-time leader with five grand slams. He batted .317 in his final season at WCU with 54 runs, 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 61 RBI. He ended the season ranked seventh in the SoCon in hits (62), while also ranking second in home runs, ninth in walks (31), ninth in runs scored, sixth in doubles, third in RBI, fourth in total bases (134) and seventh in slugging percentage (.551). In the field, he only made 11 errors in 1,664 chances as WCU's first baseman over the past three years for a .993 fielding percentage. What the statistics do not show are the countless errors he saved over the past three years with his ability to pick bad throws and record outs.
"I was not even listening when I was drafted," Buchanan said. "I did not except to be drafted today, but my parents were at a neighbor's house listening to the draft. I was just watching TV and I heard my mom (Claudia) screaming as she ran in the house. It was a great feeling and I am so excited."
Buchanan leaves Cullowhee as one of the top offensive performers in WCU and SoCon history. He ranks seventh in school history with 52 career doubles, while his 19 two-baggers this season ties for 11th. His 181 career RBI additionally ranks seventh in school history and 10th in the league. Buchanan also closed his career 11th in Catamount history with 258 hits and 176 career runs scored. His 394 career total bases comes in at 10th on the SoCon all-time list.
Beck (Hudson, N.C.) is the 2003 Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year and put up career numbers that rank among the WCU and SoCon all-time leaders. A three-time All-SoCon pick for his career, Beck picked up SoCon Player of the Week honors twice in 2003 and added TIAA-CREF Southern Conference All-Academic Team for spring sports, posting a cumulative grade point average of 3.21 in sport management. The South Caldwell HS product led the SoCon in home runs (18), runs scored (68), RBI (71) and walks (47), while ranking sixth in hits (64), 10th in doubles (15), second in total bases (149), seventh in on base percentage (.440) and fourth in slugging percentage (.598). Like Buchanan, Beck was singled out by Baseball America each of the past two years as having the "Best Raw Power in the SoCon."
"I am ecstatic," Beck said. "From the year we had to having this happen is great for everybody. I did not think I would even get drafted. I am just glad the Orioles have given me a chance to pursue professional baseball."
Beck ends the 2003 season with 64 games played, which is fifth on the SoCon season list, and 47 walks drawn, which is sixth on the SoCon season list. His 71 RBI ties former WCU All-American Matt Raleigh for sixth on the school's single-season list. Beck is ranked among the Catamounts' all-time top six in six offensive categories, while ranking among the SoCon career leaders in nine offensive categories. In four years, he had 222 career RBI (third in WCU history and fourth in the SoCon), 216 runs scored (third in WCU and fifth in SoCon), 132 walks (second in WCU and fifth in SoCon), 285 hits (fourth in WCU and eighth in SoCon), 60 doubles (fourth in WCU and eighth in SoCon), and 45 home runs (sixth in WCU and ninth in SoCon). He additionally ranks in other SoCon career categories, including at bats (10th with 835), total bases (fifth with 488) and games played (11th with 220).
