Morse selected by Texas Rangers

Niagara County Community College freshman pitcher Brendan Morse was selected by the Texas Rangers with pick No. 531 in the 18th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Morse is the sixth draft pick from NCCC since current head coach Matt Clingersmith took over the program in 2006. Morse and sophomore pitcher Ryan Birchard are the first set of NCCC teammates to be selected in the same year since Michael Balogh and Jon Roth in 1969.

Morse, a Williamsville North graduate, was 6-1 with three complete games and two saves in 40 innings pitched this past spring. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander allowed just 29 hits and 14 earned runs. He notched 61 strikeouts and a 3.15 earned-run average for the regional-champion Thunderwolves (44-7), who finished fourth in the country.

The Getzville, NY native pitched for the Niagara Power of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League this summer. He has been clocked at 92 mph and is currently 3-0.