Penguins' Caipen selected by Astros

The senior utility player was the 849th player taken overall.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University senior Brandon Caipen was selected by the Houston Astros Wednesday in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
Caipen, a 6-foot utility player from Tallmadge, was the 849th overall selection and the ninth YSU player to be drafted or sign a professional contract in the last eight years.
He is only the second position player to be drafted out of Youngstown State and the first since 1999.
"As a kid you dream about being drafted but never really think it will actually happen," Caipen said. "Even before and during my time at Youngstown State, I had my doubts, but it's just an unbelievable feeling right now. I'm just excited to get the chance to keep my career going."
Penguins coach Mike Florak said, "We're always proud when a player from Youngstown State get the chance to play professional baseball, and we're very excited Brandon has the opportunity to further his career.
Four-year starter
Caipen was a four-year starter at YSU, playing right field as a freshman and sophomore before splitting time at catcher and outfield in his final two season.
He said he will need to use his versatility in the field after being drafted to play third base, a position he hasn't played since high school.
A first-team All-Horizon League selection as a utility player as a junior and senior, Caipen finished out his collegiate career by posting career-best numbers in hits, batting average, home runs, RBIs and runs scored.
His 76 hits in 2006 rank as the fourth-highest season total in school history, and he led the Penguins in runs scored with 47. He also hit five home runs, drove in 45 runs and doubled 18 times.
Caipen hit .301 with 28 runs scored and 20 RBIs as a junior, and he ranked second in hitting at .299 as a sophomore on YSU's NCAA Tournament team. He was also named to the Horizon League's All-Newcomer Team as a freshman, hitting .321 with 35 runs scored, 33 RBIs and three home runs.
School record in at bats
Caipen finished his career as the school record holder in at bats with 785, and he ranks third in career hits with 247, third in runs scored with 139 and fourth in RBIs with 122.
An exemplary student-athlete, he was named second-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America as a senior and has twice been named Academic All-Horizon League. He holds a 3.72 grade-point average in integrated social studies education.