By Mark Lastinger

Thomasville Times-Enterprise



THOMASVILLE -Live Oak native and former Suwannee Bulldog Ryan Stovall has added to his lengthy list of contributions to the local baseball scene.

Last Wednesday, Stovall became the first Thomas University and Thomasville Bombers player to be drafted. The hard-hitting shortstop was selected in the 19th round of Major League Baseball’s 2009 First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals. He was the 572nd overall pick.

“He’s big time excited,” said stepfather Wade Skinner. “When he got the call he wanted to know when he’s supposed to leave.”

Stovall, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, posted record-breaking statistics in his lone season at Thomas University. While leading the Night Hawks to a 30-13 mark in 2009, he set single-season standards for batting average (.487), slugging percentage (1.032), hits (76), home runs (20), total bases (161) and stolen bases (14).

In addition to being named the Association of Independent Institutions Player of the Year, he earned second-team NAIA All-America status.

“I talked to him briefly. He called me right after he got the call (from the Royals),” Thomas University baseball coach Mike Lee said. “He was still waiting to find out where he might be going and when the guy who signs him will be coming down. He’s excited about it.

“It’ll probably be three or four days before everything gets ironed out and he can go somewhere and start playing ball.”

Lee is almost as thrilled about Wednesday’s development as Stovall.

“He’s a great kid, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” he said. “He did a fantastic job of representing Thomas University and we are pleased he is able to go on and pursue his dream.”

Lee said Stovall was an incredible difference maker for his team.

“Anytime you’ve got a leadoff hitter who can hit the ball out of the park and on-base percentage like he did, it changes the whole lineup,” he explained. “They couldn’t pitch around him and we had some hitters behind him who definitely benefited from his presence - and, of course, he benefited by them doing a good job.

“There weren’t too many times that we had him sitting on the bench.”

Lee hopes Stovall’s selection will boost his program.

“It gives the scouts a reason to show up when you’ve had one get drafted,” he said. “Hopefully, they will continue to come around, and anytime you can bring the scouts around you will get the (recruits) who want to be seen. It should help us tremendously.”

Stovall was playing for the Bombers at the time of his selection. They are a Great South League team established in 2007 for college and professional baseball prospects.

Democrat reporter Jeff Waters contributed to this story.