GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – LHP Ben Sheckler of the Cornerstone baseball team became the first CU MLB draft pick in school history when the Sam Diego Padres selected the Sparta, Mich. native with the 234th pick in the Eighth Round Friday afternoon at the MLB 2016 First Year Player Draft.
 
"I want to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity to play professional baseball. It's an awesome feeling when your dreams and God's will cross paths like this. I also want to thank Chuck Lowitzki, my pitching coach, for teaching me so much about baseball and for the wisdom he has shared with me over the past three years. He and Coach Mitroff took a chance on a lazy, overweight left handed pitcher,  and I couldn't be more thankful for that. I've grown so much as a baseball player and, more importantly, a man at Cornerstone thanks to them. I also want to thank my parents for supporting me in everything I've done and and making incredible sacrifices in order for me to play baseball and make it this far. There is no way I would be where I am without them."

Ben Sheckler headlined the All-WHAC awards for the Golden Eagles as the junior lefthander was named 1st Team All-Conference after posting a 6-4 record and a 2.89 ERA. Sheckler struck out 77 batters in 67.0 innings and allowed only 23 runs all season (21 earned).
 
The first team accolades marked the first time in program history that any Golden Eagle reached that mark. Multiple players, even since before the re-start in 2013, have earned All-WHAC Honorable Mention accolades.
 
"Ben's hard work on and off the field set him apart," said former Cornerstone head coach David Mitroff. "His heart for the Lord will anchor him on this new journey to the big leagues. Proud to have been his coach."
 
"Ben has experienced tremendous growth as a young man and as a pitcher in his three years at Cornerstone University, said Cornerstone head coach Chuck Lowitzki. "I am proud of how hard he has worked and am excited to see what God has in store for him as he takes the next step."
 
"The whole Cornerstone University community is thrilled to have Ben selected in the MLB Draft," said Director of Athletics Chip Huber. "We are excited to see how he develops and uses his God-given gifts in the days ahead and are very proud to have a CU athlete excel and play at the professional level."

Ben is the third player from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) - Curtis Tayler (Menlo) - 4th Rd (Arizona), Jordan Watson (USAO) - 7th Rd (Arizona). Sheckler is also the 6th player from the state of Michigan selected as one from Western Michigan, University of Michigam and Ford CC were joined by a pair from Michigan State.
 
 
 
Baseball Contact: Aaron Sagraves 
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