Ex-Frankford star drafted by Nats in 36th round

For former Frankford High phenom Wander Nunez, this year's draft was only nominally better than last year's.

As the Phillies' 48th-round selection (1,457th overall) in 2009, the outfielder decided to play baseball in Oklahoma and hope for a better draft position this year. On Thursday, Washington picked him in the 36th round, much later than he had hoped.

Benny Garcia, an adviser to Nunez and his family, said the native of the Dominican Republic had expected to go in the 15th or 16th round.

After being taken 1,076th overall, Nunez, who will turn 20 on June 27, will have to decide whether to return for another season at Western Oklahoma State College or accept the Nationals' offer.

At Western Oklahoma, Nunez batted .397 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs for a team that made it to the Junior College World Series in Enid, Okla. The team's leading batter was Randolph Oduber, who hit .472 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs. The Nationals selected him in the 32d round (956th overall).

The Los Angeles Angels selected Gary Mitchell, an outfielder from Neumann University and Lower Moreland, in the 21st round.

Germantown Academy's Keenan Kish, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander who has signed with University of Florida, was taken by the New York Yankees in the 34th round.

Nick Alloway, a 6-4, 225-pound righthander from Gateway High and Gloucester County College, was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the 35th round.

Villanova righthander Brian Streilien, 6-3, 222 pounds, went in the 37th round to Houston. The Astros also chose Ian Vazquez, a 5-11, 172-pound shortstop from Perkiomen School who has committed to Wagner, in the 45th round.

The Angels drafted Cumberland High righthander Darren Fischer in the 46th round. He was 5-5 with a 1.88 ERA this season, with 111 strikeouts in 631/3 innings. He plans to attend Louisburg (N.C) College if he does not sign.