Verlander picked 2nd overall in baseball draft
The Detroit Tigers made ODU pitcher Justin Verlander the second overall pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.

With the announcement, Verlander became ODU’s highest draft pick; former Monarch Wayne Gomes was picked fourth in 1993.

Verlander, a native of Goochland, Va., went 7-6 with a 3.49 ERA in his junior season, but had 151 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings. His 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings ranked him third in the country. He is the all-time strikeout king at ODU, in the CAA and the state of Virginia.

Two other Monarchs were chosen in the draft. Pitcher Donnie Smith of Portsmouth was selected in the fourth round by the Cardinals and shortstop Brandon Carter of Sacramento, Calif., was taken in the 40th round by the Dodgers.

Obziler wins set against No. 1 seed at U.S. Open
Former Lady Monarch women’s tennis player Tzipi Obziler pushed defending U.S. Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne to three sets in the second round of the U.S. Open, dropping the match 3-6, 7-5, 2-6. Obziler, also reached the second round of the 2004 Australian Open.

While at ODU, Obziler won the ITA National Clay Court in 1995 and became the No. 1 player in the country before pursuing a professional career. Current ODU tennis director Darryl Cummings served as her coach at the U.S. Open.

Two former Lady Monarchs honored by WNBA
San Antonio Silver Stars forward Adrienne Goodson ’88 received the WNBA Offseason Community Assist Award for the second straight year. She participated in more than 20 charitable events during the 2003-04 offseason, ranging from spending time at local schools to delivering Thanksgiving feasts to those less fortunate.

Former All-American Ticha Penicheiro ’98, point guard for the Sacramento Monarchs, became the league’s all-time assist leader this season (1,322), passing WNBA great Teresa Weatherspoon.

Two schools to join CAA
The Colonial Athletic Association will add two schools over the next two years, Commissioner Thomas E. Yeager has announced. Northeastern University of the America East Conference will become the CAA’s 11th member in fall 2005, followed by Georgia State from the Atlantic Sun Conference the following year.

Alums inducted into Field Hockey Hall of Fame
Two ODU field hockey greats, Christy Morgan ’86 and Pam Neiss Stuper ’92, were inducted recently into the U.S. Field Hockey Association Hall of Fame.

Morgan, of Lithia, Fla., earned the Honda Award as the nation’s top collegiate field hockey player in 1984. She played on ODU’s NCAA championship teams from 1982-84. She is a former coach at JMU, where she led the Dukes to the 1994 NCAA title.

Stuper, of Hamden, Conn., played on three ODU national championship teams and was named Virginia Athlete of the Year in 1992.