University of Massachusets Athletics
Gorneault Drafted By Anaheim Angels
June 05, 2001 | Baseball
June 5, 2001
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts senior outfielder Nick Gorneault (Springfield, Mass.) was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the 19th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Angles took Gorneault with the 13th pick of the 19th round, making him the 569th player chosen overall.
Gorneault led the Minutemen with a .369 batting average this season, and was named first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference, first team All-New England, second team All-ECAC and team co-Most Valuable Player. He tied for the team lead in home runs with 12, while ranking second on the squad with 41 runs batted in. Gorneault also stole nine bases, and finished the year with a .673 slugging percentage and a .432 on-base percentage. For his career, Gorneault ranks fifth all-time at UMass with 26 home runs.
Gorneault will become the 29th Minuteman to sign a professional contract during Mike Stone's 14-year tenure as the head coach at UMass, on a list which includes current major leaguers Gary DiSarcina (Anaheim), Chad Paronto (Baltimore) and Ron Villone (Colorado). The last Minuteman to be drafted was lefthanded pitcher Travis Veracka, who did not sign after being selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round of the 2000 draft.
Gorneault led UMass to an overall record of 27-19 during the 2001 season. The Minutemen posted a 16-6 record in Atlantic 10 Conference games, and won the league regular season title.
