LAKE CHARLES – Three McNeese Cowboys were selected on the final day of the 2018 MLB Draft – RHP Grant Anderson, LHP Austin Briggs, and OF Shane Selman – bringing the total number of draftees under head coach Justin Hill to seven.
 
It's the most players McNeese has had drafted since three players were selected in the 2011 draft that included Jace Peterson who went in the first round compensation-A picks.
 
Anderson, a junior from Beaumont, was selected in the 21^st round by the Seattle Mariners, the same team that selected former Cowboy pitcher Collin Kober in the 27^th round of last year's draft.
 
Briggs, a senior from Conroe, was picked by the Oakland Athletics in the 29^th round while Lake Charles native and junior Shane Selman went in the 39^th round to the Boston Red Sox.
 
Anderson, who compiled a 4-7 record with two saves and a 3.86 ERA while leading the team with 81.2 innings pitched, said it's a dream come true.
 
"This is something you dream about when you start playing baseball as a kid," he said.
 
When asked about his decision to proceed to the professional ranks or return for his senior season, he said it was a tough one.
 
"It was actually tougher than I thought it would be (on deciding to pursue his professional dream). It's something you wait on your whole life but when you've been at a place like this for three years, and I've been playing with most of my teammates since I was 15 or 16, they become a part of your family.
 
Grand and his twin brother, Aidan, were a feared combo for the Cowboys on the mound this past season, combining to strike out 25 percent of the staff's total amount of batters fanned.
 
"He was the first teammate that I had," said Grant of Aidan. "He was the first one that gave me a hug when my name was called. That was one of the reasons that made this decision tough."
 
Anderson said he'll report to Arizona to begin his career.
 
Briggs posted an 0-2 mark and a 5.22 ERA in 21 appearances for the Cowboys this past spring, but really came on strong in the last month of the season, especially against LSU where he allowed just one unearned run in 2.1 innings pitched and consistently hitting the middle 90s on his fastball.
 
He allowed just one unearned run, four total, and seven hits in his last eight appearances covering 15.1 innings.
 
Selman led the Cowboys with 10 home runs this past season to become the first player in school history to record 10 or more homers in three consecutive seasons.
 
The left fielder, who was the Southland Conference Hitter of the Year in 2017, batted .273 with 10 doubles, two triples and 32 RBIs. He also stole nine bases on 12 attempts.
 
"It's a blessing," said Selman. "Not a lot of people get to experience professional baseball and it's an honor to be drafted.
 
"If I play good this summer then I could potentially be a Red Sock, but if I don't, I'll be in the blue and gold. It kind of relaxes you a little more. You know they're interested but then you know that you can go back and play with your brothers too."
 
Entering the 2019 season, Selman could break McNeese career records in home runs (needs 10), RBIs (needs 56), and total hits (needs 80).
 
The three draftees this season brings the total number to 54 in school history.

McNeese Draft Selections under head coach Justin Hill
2015 - Andrew Guillotte, OF (32nd round, Toronto Blue Jays)
2016 - Kaleb Fontenot, P (21st round, Texas Rangers)
2017 - Robbie Podorsky, OF (25th round, San Diego Padres)
2017 - Collin Kober, P (27th round, Seattle Mariners)
2018 - Grant Anderson, P (21st round, Seattle Mariners)
2018 - Austin Briggs, P (29th round, Oakland A's)
2018 - Shane Selman, OF (39th round, Boston Red Sox)