Clemson teammates are Padres' top picks.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

The San Diego Padres selected Clemson teammates Khalil Greene and Michael Johnson with their first two selections in the major league baseball draft, and there is a possibility the two could be reunited this summer with the Eugene Emeralds.

Greene, a shortstop, was selected with the No. 13 pick in the draft on Wednesday, and Johnson, a first baseman, was picked 54th overall. They are still playing for the Tigers, who will play Arkansas this weekend in an NCAA baseball Super Regional, with a berth in the College World Series on the line.

The Emeralds' front office was paying close attention to the Padres' selections because it is expected that Eugene's roster will be comprised mainly of players selected in this year's draft, which concludes today. In particular, players drafted out of college are often sent to the Emeralds, a Class A level team entering its second year as an affiliate of the Padres.

Eugene's roster will be set during the next couple of weeks, and the Emeralds open the season at home on Tuesday, June 18, against Tri-City. The first 22 rounds of the draft brought good news to the Emeralds, as San Diego selected 20 college players, including their first four selections.

Leading the way is Greene, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year who is also a leading contender for the national player of the year award. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior is batting .475 with 22 home runs, and 75 RBIs in 61 games.

He ranks second in NCAA history with 384 career hits. Greene was selected in the 14th round by the Chicago Cubs last season, but returned to Clemson and improved his stock.

"He's power, he's a bat, a very good defensive player, strong arm, very agile," San Diego director of scouting Bill Gayton said on the team's Web site. "He's a thick body kid but very flexible, great body control, capable of throwing angles, just a well-rounded player."

Johnson, a 6-2, 215-pound junior, is hitting .387 with 20 home runs and 69 RBIs this season, and he has 41 home runs in three years with the Tigers.

In the third round, San Diego selected Big 10 player of the year Kennard Jones, an outfielder from Indiana. Aaron Coonrod, a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from John A. Logan Junior College in Carterville, Ill., was selected in the fourth round.

San Diego took a prep standout in the fifth round, selecting Sean Thompson, a pitcher from Thunder Ridge High School in Denver. The only other high school player selected by the Padres was Lance Pendleton, a pitcher in the 13th round.

In addition to Greene and Johnson, the Padres selected two other sets of teammates. Pitchers Brandon Wilson and Spencer Grogan of Okaloosa-Walton Community College went in the 11th and 19th rounds, respectively, and pitcher Bruce Gallaway and shortstop Andrew LaRoche of Grayson County College went in the 18th and 21st rounds, respectively.

Other college pitchers selected by San Diego were Florida State's Matthew Lynch in the seventh round, California-Davis' Luke Steidlmayer in the eighth, Gabe Ribas of Northwestern University in the 14th, Kevin Beavers of Pepperdine in the 16th, and David Krisch of Cal Poly-Pomona in the 22nd round.

Position players selected by San Diego were catcher John Shorsher of San Jose State (sixth round), second baseman Brian Burgamy of Wichita State (ninth), outfielder L.J. Biernbaum of Florida Atlantic (10th), first baseman Paul McAnulty of Long Beach State (12th), shortstop Rolando Agosto of Union University (15th), outfielder Rashad Smith of Lambuth University (17th), and catcher George Kottaras of Connors State College.

La Pine pitcher Marshal Looney was picked in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sky-Em League player of the year was the first prep player from Oregon to be selected.

A scouting report on mlb.com describes Looney as "large, well-proportioned, stout frame with thick arms and legs. Built like David Wells. Loose, easy arm delivery. Naturally heavy, running fastball (86-88 mph) off plate with sinking action. Delivers tight curve with three-quarter break and occasional downward break for out pitch. Occasionally turns over circle change. Strong, physical presence."

Oregon State pitcher Mark McLemore was selected in the fourth round by Houston, and teammate Brian Barden, a third baseman, was picked in the sixth round by Arizona. Shortstop Will Hudson of OSU went in the 20th round to the New York Mets.

Softball

Oregon State coach Kirk Walker has been selected as an assistant coach for the 2002 USA Softball Elite Team, it was announced Tuesday.

The Elite Team will help prepare the U.S. team for the world championships by competing in scrimmages and exhibition games. The Elite Team will also compete in the Canada Cup on July 12-21.