SE'S ACE SELECTED IN 46TH ROUND

Southeast Missouri State University's Todd Pennington, the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, was finally drafted Wednesday -- but not nearly as high as he had hoped or anticipated.

Pennington, a right-hander who recently completed a brilliant junior season for the Indians, was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 46th round of the 50-round Major League Baseball Draft.

"I was pretty disappointed I didn't go higher," said Pennington when reached by telephone in Topeka, Kan., where he is pitching for a summer-league team in the prestigious Jayhawk League.

At the same time, Pennington said, "It's kind of a thrill just being drafted. It's something you think about when your a kid."

While a 46th-round draft choice generally does not receive a considerable amount of money to sign, Pennington said if he can work out something reasonable with Cleveland, then he might very well turn professional instead of coming back to Southeast for his senior season.

"If I can get the right kind of deal, I'd like to sign," he said. "I talked to a guy from the Indians right after they drafted me and he said they're really interested in me."

Teams generally make signing their higher-round draft choices the first priority before negotiating with their lower-round picks, so Pennington said it will likely be a couple of weeks before he finds out where he stands financially with the Cleveland organization.

"It's going to be a tough decision (whether to sign or return to Southeast)," he said. "It depends on what kind of deal I get."

Pennington, a graduate of Shawnee (Ill.) High School, led NCAA Division I pitchers in earned-run average this year with a 1.33 mark. He went 12-2 to set a single-season school record for victories and allowed just 51 hits in 95 innings, with 121 strikeouts and 36 walks.

"Who knows why Penny didn't go higher," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "The draft is a mystery to me. But Penny had such a great season, I think he definitely deserved to go higher."

• One other OVC player was selected Wednesday as the draft concluded. Murray State pitcher Aaron Russelburg was taken in the 26th round by the Cardinals.

Tuesday, on the opening day of the draft, Tennessee Tech pitcher Jim Ed Warden went to Cleveland in the sixth round.

* Jamie McAlister of Clearwater was the first Missouri high school player selected in the draft as he went to Atlanta in the 29th round Wednesday.