From staff reports

Catawba Indians Chris Dula and Nick Lomascolo were chosen in the Major League Baseball draft on Saturday, although there was a twist in Dula’s case.
Dula, a Division II All-America first baseman who won the SAC Triple Crown this season with 14 homers, a .402 batting average and 54 RBIs in 50 games, was selected by the Texas Rangers as a right-handed pitcher.
Catawba coach Jim Gantt was’t shocked at the news.
“It’s probably the first time a Triple Crown winner has been drafted as a pitcher,” Gantt said. “But he’s thrown 97 in workouts.”
Dula was taken in the 25th round. He was the 757th player picked.
The 6-foot-2 Dula, a product of South Iredell High, is gifted in all facets of baseball. As a Mooresville American Legion player he showed outstanding speed in center field to go along with a powerful right arm as a closer.
He’s become a different sort of player at Catawba, bulking up in the weight room to 210 pounds and displaying serious power.
Dula played third base as a Catawba freshman before moving over to first base his last two years. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow between his sophomore and junior seasons.
Dula’s pitching career at Catawba consists of a mere five innings his sophomore year. He walked seven and allowed nine earned runs in that short span.
“He’s been wild when he’s pitched and has had trouble repeating his delivery, but he has ability,” Gantt said.
Dula, a junior isn’t certain to sign with the Rangers. Now that he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery, he could be both a frontline pitcher and a slugger for the Indians if he chooses to return to Newman Park for his senior season in 2014.
“Who knows?” Gantt said. “But if Chris does come back and is able to pitch like he can, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be drafted higher next year.”
Dula is currently playing with the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League.
Lomascolo, a product of Lake Norman High, has finished at Catawba and is certain to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, who took him in the 34th round. He was overall pick No. 1,025.
The steady southpaw was 10-3 with a 2.14 ERA and 123 strikeouts this season. He ranked second in Division II in strikeouts.
Lomascolo enjoyed a tremendous career as a four-year fixture in Catawba’s rotation. He was 36-14 with 377 strikeouts. He set school records for career victories and strikeouts.
“Nick gets people out consitently and he’s done it against the Division I guys in the summer leagues as well as the Division II guys,” Gantt said. “I’m just happy he’s getting a chance. All he wants to do is pitch.”
Charlotte’s Justin Seager, the middle of the three Seager brothers from Northwest Cabarrus, was picked in the 12th round by the Seattle Mariners as a third baseman, although he played left field in 2013. He was the 357th overall pick.
Seager, 6-foot-2, 200, batted .351 with 40 RBIs for the 49ers as a junior.
Justin’s older brother, Kyle, is the starting third baseman for Seattle and is enjoying a banner season. Corey, the youngest brother, was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers last June and is playing Class A ball for the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Mich.

The Kannapolis Intimidators won 7-6 at Greensboro in South Atlantic League action at NewBridge Bank Park on Saturday night.
Micah Johnson stole two more bases for Kannapolis, giving him 49.
Brent Tanner homered for Kannapolis (22-37).