YAKIMA -- Pitcher Dustin Brader and shortstop Brent Wyatt, former teammates for two seasons with the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak, got the sweet news Friday that their baseball careers will likely move up to the next level.

Both college seniors, Brader, a 2004 graduate of Selah, and Wyatt, a 2003 Ellensburg grad, were selected in the 21st and 26th rounds, respectively, of Major League Baseball's amateur draft.

East Valley senior Kevin Komstadius was picked in the 29th round as the draft moved quickly through its second day, which included rounds seven through 50.

Brader and Wyatt took
similar routes since their Pak summers in 2003 and 2004.

Brader, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander, played two years at South Mountain Community College and then continued at Arizona State University, where he's made 29 relief appearances and three starts. The Sun Devils are currently playing in the NCAA Super Regionals.

The Texas Rangers selected Brader with the 11th pick in the 21st round and 633rd overall.

Wyatt also spent two years at the community college level, playing at Wenatchee Valley, and then moved on to Lewis-Clark State College. The 5-10, 185-pound switch-hitter batted .354 and drove in 40 runs while helping the Warriors captured the NAIA national title last month.

The Detroit Tigers selected Wyatt with the 21st pick of round 26 and 793rd overall. In his final season at Ellensburg he was co-MVP of the Mid-Valley League along with West Valley's Kyle Parker, who's currently in the Mariners' system.

LCS produced another local draftee a year ago when Eisenhower's Brian Parker was taken in the 19th round by Baltimore.

Komstadius, who's playing in the All-State Series today at Parker Field, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the second pick in the 29th round and 864th overall. He's listed as a 6-4, 205-pound first baseman.

The CWAC's player of the year who helped East Valley reach the 2A state championship final, Komstadius has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Washington. If he sticks with the college plan, he would be eligible again for the MLB draft in 2011.