Former Catamount left-hander Tyler Sexton is scheduled to make his minor league debut on Saturday for the Bluefield (W.Va.) Orioles.

June 18, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. -

After spending a brief time in mini-camps in the Sunshine State, Western Carolina’s two 2008 Major League baseball draftees have received their assignments. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Sexton has been sent to the Bluefield (W.Va.) Orioles in rookie league, while Blake Murphy was assigned to the Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs.

Sexton, who is scheduled to make his first professional start on Saturday as the Orioles host the Princeton (W.Va.) Rays, was the 926th overall pick in the 31st round by Baltimore. Bluefield, which holds the distinction of having the longest-active affiliation with its parent club in the minors, plays in the Appalachian League. Teams in the league, which first began play back in 1911, range from Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and one in North Carolina in the Burlington Royals.

Sexton and the Orioles are slated to be in North Carolina on July 26-28 against the Royals. The closest the club gets to Cullowhee will be trips to Kingsport and Johnson City, Tenn., July 30-August 1 and August 24-26, respectively.

Murphy is listed as a first baseman for the Muckdogs, which are a member of the New York-Penn League which is a single-A, short-season league that began play earlier this week and runs through September. The league features eight teams scattered throughout the state of New York, with two in Pennsylvania and one each in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

Murphy, taken in the 42nd round by the St. Louis Cardinals, is a teammate of former Citadel standout, Chris Swauger. He also is among some of the most talented players drafted this year including second overall pick, Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt who was assigned to the State College (Pa.) Spikes, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate.