Nate Freiman (L) and Blaine O'Brien (R)

HINGHAM, Mass. (July 2, 2008) – Five South Shore Baseball Club (SSBC) alumni members, including four former Seadogs/AAU traveling team players, were selected in the recent Major League Baseball amateur draft, extending SSBC’s streak to eight years in a row, 13 of the past 14, in which, an SSBC product was selected by a professional organization.

Northern Kentucky outfielder Jake Shaffer (Athol), who transferred from Winthrop University two years ago, was picked in the 15th round by the Seattle Mariners. He is a past member of the Seadogs 16U club. Shaffer was a 2-time All-Great Lakes Valley Conference player, first team this past season, in which, he batted .340 with seven homers and 60 RBI. He decided to leave Northern Kentucky with one year of college eligibility remaining and sign a pro contract with the Mariners.

Another former Seadogs player, Northeastern University shortstop Michael Lyon (Plainville, King Phillip), was taken in the 24th round by the New York Yankees. He signed a pro contract and is playing for the Yankees’ Class A Staten Island team. Lyon, who was the only member of the Huskies to play every game the past two seasons, was named ECAC All-Star, second team, in addition to first team All-New England and All-CAA. He batted .357 this past season with 14 home runs, 46 RBI and set a school single-season record with 138 total bases.

Quinnipiac University shortstop John Delaney (Hanson) went in the 25th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. Although he never played for the Seadogs, John was a regular at SSBC with his brother, Jason, who currently is playing AA baseball with the Altoona Curve of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. John led Quinnipiac in nearly every offensive category this past season – batting average (.337), slugging percentage (571%), doubles (15), triples (2), home runs (9) and RBI (40) – and he reported to the Brewers’ rookie training camp in Phoenix.

Duke University first baseman Nathan Freiman (Wellesley) was a Seadogs mainstay, pitching and catching every year. Last season as a junior at Duke, he hit .381 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI and, if he doesn’t sign with the Texas Rangers, who picked him in the 28th round, Nathan will return to play for the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod League.

Scituate High pitcher Blaine O’Brien, who played for the Seadogs 13U and 16U teams, was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 34th round. The 6-7 right-handed pitcher is deciding between attending the University of Georgia, runner-up in this year’s College World Series, or signing a pro contract with the Phillies.

“ It’s always gratifying for us to see our kids get a chance in the pros,” SSBC president/director Frank
Niles, Jr. said. “This continues and further validates SSBC and our AAU/Seadogs programs. Either we’re attracting really good kids, developing real good players, or both.”

South Shore Baseball Club’s History of Draftees