Abington alum ready to go pro

Cory Spangenberg is ready to start his professional baseball career.

Spangenberg plans to fly to San Diego today, attend the Padres game against the Washington Nationals tonight and sign a contract Friday, according to his mother, Lynne.

Before heading west, the 20-year-old Abington Heights graduate spent Wednesday much like many days from his youth in Clarks Summit. Cory Spangenberg went to the high school baseball field with his older brother Ken, an assistant coach at Edgewood College in Wisconsin, for an hour-and-a-half workout.

"He really relies on Kenny a lot," Lynne Spangenberg said.

Following his first-round selection with the 10th overall pick Monday, Cory Spangenberg indicated he had every intention of signing with the Padres and beginning his professional career immediately. His mother said Wednesday night that the contract has been agreed upon.

Cory Spangenberg led Abington Heights to the 2009 PIAA Class 3A baseball championship. He was the Big South Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Virginia Military Institute, then transferred to Indian River State College in Florida where he was regarded as the nation's top junior college player this spring.

The draft concluded Wednesday with two players from Keystone College among those selected.

Catcher Bryan Henry was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 36th round and pitcher Blaine O'Brien was selected in the 48th round by the Cleveland Indians after helping the Giants finish third in the nation in Division III.

Two players from Wyoming Valley Conference high schools were selected Tuesday.

Ray Black, a Coughlin graduate and University of Pittsburgh pitcher, was picked in the seventh round by the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Tunkhannock senior Mike Papi went to the Los Angeles Angels in the 30th round.

Tuesday's selections also included Villanova pitcher and Old Forge graduate Kyle McMyne by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round and Lackawanna College pitcher Chris Kirsch in the 21st round.