AZUSA, Calif.-- Azusa Pacific junior Jason Ray was selected in eighth round by the Oakland Athletics on the first day of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday.

Ray was the 21st player selected in the eighth round, No. 251 overall.

He was the third NAIA player selected and the second from the GSAC. Biola’s Reid Hamblet was selected in the fifth round (No. 153 overall) by the Baltimore Orioles. NAIA All-American Joey Dyche from San Dimas, Calif., was selected in the seventh round (No. 222 overall) by the San Francisco Giants out of NAIA-power Lewis-Clark St. (Idaho).

In 12 appearances this year, Ray was 5-2 with a 3.45 ERA. He notched 72 strikeouts in 73 innings. He won in 3 of his final 4 starts, giving up just 7 earned runs in 28 innings (2.25 ERA) while recording 28 strikeouts. During that run, he picked up a 6-3 win over NAIA World Series participant Biola when he allowed just 5 hits and 3 runs while striking out 10 in 8 innings of work. He struck out a season-high 14 batters in 8.2 innings of a 6-1 win over Vanguard.

“This is great for Jason,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Paul Svagdis. “He’s worked really hard and things came together for him this year. He’s a gamer and a competitor and that will definitely help him to succeed at the next level. We are happy for Jason. He certainly earned this opportunity.”

Ray is the first Cougar to be drafted since Eric Ordorica was selected in the 25th round (No. 743 overall) of the 2002 draft by the Florida Marlins. He is the third highest draft pick in program history. Paul Moskau was picked in the third round (No. 70 overall) of the 1975 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, and Jeff Robinson was selected in the third round (No. 69 overall) of the 1983 draft by the Detroit Tigers.