IDAHO/Montana/Wyoming 

2007 FOLLOW LIST  

OVERVIEW: By winning 14 NAIA World Series from 1984-2006,Lewis-Clark State has assembled one of the greatest dynasties in college history—any sport. But the 2007 Warrior model may be their best team ever—and possibly the best in NAIA history if they can complete the deal and win this year’s NAIA World Series. The No. 1-ranked Warriors entered the 10-team tournament, played on their home turf in Lewiston, Idaho, with a 53-5 record and would do no worse than tie the school record for fewest losses in a season (7, set in 1983 and 1991) if they were to lose out in the double-elimination event.

Not only is Lewis-Clark on pace for a record-breaking season, but it will have its first first-round draft pick ever this season in record-breaking third baseman Brad Mills, who has shattered school records with a monster .458-34-114 season. He moved to within two home runs of the NAIA single-season record of 36 homers with a homer in L-C State ’s opening-round win. The Warriors will also have a big impact on the draft in the later rounds with the potential for six to eight more picks. Like Mills, a transfer from Fresno State , every other L-C state player is a transfer from a two-year or four-year program.

As usual, Idaho has a monopoly on the draftable talent in the three-state region—a typically sparse area as there are no Division I college programs, and Montana and Wyoming play no formal high school baseball. The high school talent in Idaho and Montana , however, have a couple of intriguing names that are sons of long-time former major leaguers. Boise (Idaho) High shortstop Bobby Buckner is the son of Billy Buckner, a 21-year veteran; and Butte (Mon.) High righthander Tyler Gilder is the biological son of Robb Nen, a 10-year big leaguer.

STRENGTH: Lewis-Clark State talent.
WEAKNESS: Signable high-school talent.
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4.

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Idaho/Montana/Wyoming Connection: Clay Mortensen, rhp, Gonzaga U. (Attended high school in Rexburg, Idaho).
Top 2008 Prospect: Remington Pullen, if, Twin Falls (Idaho ) HS.

Highest Pick, Draft History/Idaho: Mike Garman, rhp, Caldwell HS (1967, Red Sox/1^st round, 3^rd pick). Highest Pick, Draft History/Montana: Les Rohr, lhp, West HS, Billings (1965, Mets/1^st round, 2^nd pick). Highest Pick, Draft History/Wyoming: Bill Ewing, of, U. of Wyoming (1967, Red Sox/4^th round).

Highest Pick, 2006 Draft/Idaho: Justin Fuller, ss, Lewis-Clark State U. (Dodgers, 11^th round). Highest Pick, 2006 Draft/Montana: None. Highest Pick, 2006 Draft/Wyoming: Dusty Harvard, of, Natrona County HS, Casper (Giants/28^th round).

Best College Team: Lewis-Clark State (Idaho ) College.
Best Junior College Team: College of Southern Idaho.
Best High School Team: Lake City HS, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

TOP 15 PROSPECTS / By Allan Simpson

GROUPS (College, Junior College, High School)
      1   High-round draft (Rounds 1-3)
      2   Mid-round draft (Rounds 4-10)
      3   Late-round draft (Rounds 11-25)
      4   Chance draft / Player to follow

*Draft-and-follow; eligible to sign before 2007 draft

GROUP ONE
Rank  Player                             Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                                    Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit)            B’date
     1.   Beau Mills                         3B      Jr.     L-R     6-3     205     Lewis-Clark State U.           Visalia, Calif.              Red Sox '04 (44)              8-15-86
SCOUTING REPORT: Mills enjoyed two productive seasons at the plate for Fresno State (.319-22-63 as a freshman; .355-14-58 as a sophomore) but ran into academic trouble late in his sophomore year and was on the sidelines as the Bulldogs advanced to NCAA regional play in 2006. It prompted Mills to seek out a transfer. With the aid of his father Brad, the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, and his father’s association with then-Red Sox and former Lewis-Clark State righthander Keith Foulke, he ended up transferring to Lewis-Clark State—though not before he spent last summer in the Alaska League playing for long-time L-C State coach Ed Cheff, who doubles as the coach of the Alaska Goldpanners. Though the competition he has faced at the NAIA level is inferior to what he saw at Fresno State , Mills has had one of the best offensive seasons in recent college baseball history at .458 with 34 homers and 114 RBIs. With his team favored to win the NAIA World Series, he was within two homers of the NAIA single-season record set in 1992 by Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Mike Meggers. Mills has excellent hitting skills. His bat head stays in the zone for an extended time and he makes good adjustments at the plate. He’ll hit any kind of stuff in any location of the strike zone. In particular, he will punish mistakes pitchers make—especially when they try to run fastballs in on him on the inner half of the plate. He has exceptional bat speed and power to all fields. Mills walked 37 times this year, compared with 19 strikeouts, but his pitch selection needs work. Scouts are uncertain whether he’ll stay at third base, or may have to move across the diamond, in pro ball. His range is passable by third-base standards, but the larger issue is his arm—his only below-average tool. Mills has a funky, shot-put type arm action that may not be suitable for third base in the long run, but his throws are normally true and accurate. No matter where he plays, his bat will play. Few, if any, college position players in this draft possess his offensive profile.