Baseball: Former Viking Jonathan Keener selected by St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 MLB Draft

Former Long Beach City College standout catcher Jonathan Keener is taking his talents to the next level after being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in Round 32 of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Keener was the 980th pick overall out of nearby Cal State Dominguez Hills and was taken during the third day of the draft.

The Lakewood High School graduate was a two-year standout for the Vikings during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Keener was a second-team All-South Coast Conference selection as a sophomore in 2010. He hit .297 and led the Vikings with seven homeruns, 28 RBI, 11 doubles, and 23 runs. From behind the plate, he threw out 24 runners attempting to steal bases.

Keener played this past spring at Cal State Dominguez Hills and earned second-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honors. Keener went on a hot streak towards the season's second half, blasting eight home runs over his final 18 games. He closed the season hitting .266 with nine homeruns and 32 RBI. Keener also continued his stellar play behind the dish, gunning down 14 attempted base stealers.

Keener was one of 78 current or former California Community College Athletic Association athletes selected in this year's draft and is the fifth LBCC Viking under head coach Casey Crook since 2002 to be drafted by a MLB team.

Recent LBCC draft picks include:
Tommy Peale, 2009, 23rd round, Florida Marlins
Daniel Prieto, 2007, 23rd round, Florida Marlins
Eugene Edwards, 2005, 40th round, Seattle Mariners
Omar Bramasco, 2002, 16th round, Philadelphia Phillies