Eight college players with Western North Carolina connections were selected in the Major League Baseball draft last Thursday and Friday.

Five players for Western Carolina University were among the WNC selections.

WNC players chosen included the following:

ï Jonathan Greene, a catcher for WCU, eighth round, drafted by Texas.

ï Greg Holland, a right-handed pitcher for WCU, 10th round, drafted by Kansas City.

ï Jordan Hotchkiss, a right-handed pitcher for Brevard College, 31st round, drafted by Cincinnati.

ï Eryk McConnell, a right-handed pitcher (from Tuscola) for N.C. State, 10th round, drafted by Baltimore.

ï Cole McCurry, a left-handed pitcher (from Enka) for Tennessee Wesleyan, 43rd round, drafted by Baltimore.

ï Blake Murphy, a catcher for WCU, 50th round, drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

ï Kenny Smith, second baseman for WCU, 20th round, drafted by Texas.

ï Steven Stausbuagh, an outfielder for WCU, 37th round, drafted by the New York Yankees.

After the draft, WCU coach Todd Raleigh expressed surprise that Murphy was taken so late. Murphy, a red-shirt junior catcher from Tuscola, smacked 16 homes runs, hit .367 and drove in 66 runs.