 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
For former Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball right-handed pitcher Dave Byard, Tuesday, June 6, will be a day that he will never forget.
The day began well for Byard and his wife, Brandy, with the birth of their son, Parker, at 4:22 a.m. at Knox Community Hospital. The new arrival weighed in at eight pounds and eight ounces and was 20 inches long.
Then, around 2:45 p.m., Byard was selected in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets. He was the 1,055th pick overall, and he became the twelfth Cougar to be drafted.
"What an incredible day this has been," said Byard. "Becoming a father has been a thrill. Then, to realize my dream of being drafted on top of that, you cannot ask for much more."
"I am excited about the opportunity to compete professionally for the Mets," Byard added. "I plan on working hard and making the most of this opportunity."
"I am thrilled for Dave," said MVNC head coach Keith Veale, who has had seven players drafted in his eleven seasons at the helm of the Cougars. "He has had an outstanding college career here at MVNC. To be given the opportunity to play professionally is a special situation that guys dream of and only a few have the opportunity to realize."
"Dave basically was a catcher in high school," Veale added. "To watch his progress on the mound has been exciting. He has the arm strength to pitch professionally."
Byard, a native of Byesville, Ohio, and a former standout at Meadowbrook High School, posted a 4-4 record with a 6.59 earned run average during the 2000 season for the Cougars. In 54 2/3 innings of work, he struck out 56 batters and issued just 23 walks.
For his career, Byard posted an incredible overall record of 32-9 with five shutouts, one save, and a 2.91 ERA. In 294 innings, he struck out 243 batters and issued just 114 walks.
Byard, who was an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 1999, tossed two no-hitters in his career at MVNC. He also ranks second in the program's history in career innings pitched, third in career victories, fourth in career shutouts, and fifth in career strikeouts.
In becoming the twelfth Cougar player drafted, Byard joins a list that includes Tim Belcher of the Anaheim Angels - the #1 overall pick in the 1983 draft. (Please click here for complete list of MVNC's draft picks.)
Dave Byard's Mount Vernon Nazarene College Career Statistics (1997-2000)
Year G/GS CG SHO W L SV IP H R ER BB K ERA
=================================================================================
1997 13/10 8 0 9 2 0 71.0 60 31 19 30 51 2.41
1998 13/11 10 2 9 2 1 81.1 60 31 20 29 44 2.21
1999 13/13 10 3 10 1 0 87.0 52 24 16 32 92 1.66
2000 10/10 6 0 4 4 0 54.2 83 47 40 23 56 6.59
=================================================================================
Totals: 49/44 34 5 32 9 1 294.0 255 133 95 104 243 2.91
