ANGELS MLB DRAFT: ANGELS DON'T GO FAR FOR TOP PICK.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- With scouts scouring the country the past year, the Angels stayed right at home Tuesday in the free-agent amateur draft by selecting Huntington Beach's Hank Conger in the first round.

The 18-year-old switch-hitting catcher batted .449 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs for Huntington Beach High School this past season. His given name is Hyun Choi Conger, and he received the name ``Hank'' from his grandfather in reference to slugger Hank Aaron.

In Little League, Conger led Huntington Beach to the regional finals, hitting 33 home runs in 38 games as a 12-year old.

``I think it's great to see,'' manager Mike Scioscia said about selecting a catcher in the first round. ``I'm always drawn to the catcher position because I played it and it's great to see young, talented catchers wherever they are. It's fun. It will be exciting to see him.''

Conger was one of 17 players the Angels selected on the first day of the draft, which continues today. The team did not have a second-round pick. With their third-round pick (102nd overall) the Angels selected another catcher in Russell Moldenhauer out of Boerne (Texas) High School.

There were other Angels draft notables. Outfielder Jarrad Page (seventh round) was a former four-year starter on defense for the UCLA football team. Outfielder Clay Fuller (fourth round) is the younger brother of Cody Fuller, who is in the Angels system at Rancho Cucamonga.

Along with Conger and Page, other Southern California-area players selected were left-hander Robert Fish (sixth round) out of A.B. Miller High School in Fontana and left-hander Nate Boman (ninth round) out of the University of San Diego.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Conger was committed to attend USC In the fall but said he was leaning toward signing with his hometown team.

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