Bears congratulate local MLB draftees

With great pride, the Yakima Bears are pleased to report that three local players were selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Yakima Valley native, pitcher Dustin Brader, was selected in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball draft today by the Texas Rangers, going number 633 overall. A Selah High School graduate, Dustin has spent the last two seasons pitching for the Arizona State University Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona.

During the 26th round Brent Wyatt, a graduate of Ellensburg High School was selected by the Detroit Tigers, going number 793 overall. Brent has spent the past two seasons as an outfielder/infielder for Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Finally, during the 29th round Kevin Komstadius, a senior at East Valley High School (Yakima) was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates, going number 864 overall.

Dustin Brader
While playing at Selah High School, Dustin lettered three years for Coach Mike Archer and was the Team Captain his senior year. He helped lead the Vikings to three straight Mid-Valley League championships and in 2004 his team went 26-1, finishing third in the state. Dustin was also named to the All Mid-Valley League Team both his junior and senior years.

After high school Dustin played two years at South Mountain Community College and was on the Cougars' 2005 World Series team in Grand Junction, Colorado. Dustin went a combined 11-9 with one save and a 2.31 ERA in two seasons on the mound, while striking out 152 batters and walking only 35. His sophomore year, Dustin earned Second Team All-League and Second Team All-Conference honors.

Dustin's junior year lead him to Tempe where he pitched in 13 games with one start for the Sun Devils. He had a 2-0 record with one save and a 9.47 ERA in 19 innings of work. His senior year, Dustin went 1-0 with two saves, a 4.26 ERA and had 17 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.

Dustin is the son of Thane and Michele Phelan of Selah, Washington and is an Interdisciplinary Studies major with an emphasis in business and education at Arizona State.

Brent Wyatt
During his years at Ellensburg High School Brent played three seasons on the baseball team and one year on the basketball team serving as the Team Captain for both his senior year. Brent lead the team in hitting as a sophomore, was the team MVP and was a First-Team All-League selection. He nearly did a repeat as a junior, leading the Bulldogs in hitting, earning MVP honors again and was a Second-Team All-League pick. His senior year, Brent was co-MVP of the Mid-Valley League and a First-Team All-State selection.

After graduation, Brent played two seasons at shortstop for Bob Duda at Wenatchee Valley Community College, where he was the Team Captain in 2006. He earned Second-Team All-Conference honors both seasons there.

For the 2007 and 2008 seasons Brent played shortstop and outfield for the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors. His junior season he earned NAIA Region I honors and was fourth among regular starters with a .357 average. Brent showed power by tying for second on the team with seven home runs, was third in RBI with 52, and was second on the team in stolen bases going a perfect 13-of-13. In 2008, Brent was named to the 2008 NAIA Preseason All-American team. His senior year, Brent hit .358 with three home runs and 39 RBI.

Brent was born in Othello, Washington to Kevin and Tally Wyatt who now reside in Kittitas, Washington. He is currently a Kinesiology major at Lewis-Clark State.

Kevin Komstadius
Kevin acted as both pitcher and first baseman while playing for the East Valley Red Devils and put up impressive numbers at both positions. During the 2008 season, Kevin hit .452 with 50 RBI and 10 home runs, while going 7-3 on the mound and a 3.62 ERA in 67.7 innings pitched with 102 strikeouts. He was named to the 2008 All-State Team and helped lead his team to a second place in state finish.

Both on the mound and at the plate, Kevin set East Valley High School records. In 2006 he set the school record for both hits (41) and doubles (13). In 2008, Kevin set hitting records in RBI (50), slugging % (0.893), home runs (10), and total bases (75). He also managed to set a pitching record with 102 strikeouts in 2008. His career at East Valley includes records in hits (88), RBI (86), doubles (31), and home runs (12).

Kevin has currently signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Washington for the 2009 season.

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