IRVING – For once, the usually open and opinionated Blake Beavan was left speechless.

Minutes after being drafted this month by his hometown team, Beavan took a moment to think about what had just happened. Meanwhile, the nearly 100 people stuffed into his parents' home celebrated his selection by the Rangers with the 17th pick.

Beavan, who minutes earlier had quipped on TV that he could pitch as badly as the current Rangers staff, didn't know what to say about being a first-round pick in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.

"It's overwhelming," Beavan said. "Since I was 5 or 6 years old, I dreamed of playing for the Texas Rangers."

LISA LEVRIER / DMN

Blake Beavan

A dominating senior season sealed his status as a first-round pick and probably cemented the Rangers' desire to take him. General manager Jon Daniels and most of the scouting staff saw Beavan pitch at least once this season.

They saw an 18-strikeout perfect game against rival Irving MacArthur on March 6. And a stretch of 44 innings without allowing an earned run. And a streak of 39 innings without a walk, maybe the most impressive statistic for the power pitcher.

That he did it in his final season with his high school teammates made it that much more special.

Notable: Beavan, selected by the Rangers with the 17th pick in the first round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, finished his senior season with a 9-2 record, an 0.19 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 73 innings.

About Beavan: He was virtually unhittable this season, allowing 21 hits (only one of them for a home run) as Irving won the District 7-5A title. He wasn't too shabby on offense, hitting .418 with four home runs, 26 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Did you know? Beavan beat Cuba in Cuba at the World Junior Championships last September. He did not allow an earned run in 14 2/3 innings in the tournament. ... Beavan was named Youth Player of the Year by Baseball America in 2006.

Notable: Holmes hit .342 with 20 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs, helping Plano West reach the Region II semifinals. Plano West (24-15) won three consecutive playoff series, twice winning Game 3s.

About Holmes: The shortstop played a key role in Plano West's best season ever, which ended with a regional semifinal loss to Georgetown. Holmes had 12 doubles, five triples and three home runs for the season. ... Named the District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year.

Did you know? Holmes turns on two fans in his bedroom before going to sleep. "I have to sleep in the cold," he says.

About Doe: He led Poteet to its first state tournament in his second year at the school. He is director of the Mickey Owen Baseball School in Miller, Mo., outside Springfield.

Did you know? Doe used to be an avid fastpitch player but is now retired. He rides a Harley and owns 36 rental houses.

Notable: Neal was 11-0 with a 1.37 ERA. He had 74 strikeouts and 14 walks in 65 2/3 innings and pitched three shutouts in district. He struck out 13 against Hebron. He also batted .303.

About Neal: Neal has signed with Sam Houston State. ... Named co-MVP of District 6-5A.

Did you know? Neal was born in South Carolina and lived there for six years. He hunts and plays golf.

Notable: Nowell finished with a 16-1 record, 1.20 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched.

About Nowell: Nowell also batted .452 with four home runs and 27 RBIs to help lead Poteet to its first state championship game. His father, Ted Nowell, had reached three regional finals as the school's coach. ... Named MVP of District 10-4A. ... Beat district rival Highland Park in the regional final game, pitching eight innings.

Did you know? Nowell played on the D-Bat select team that won the 16-and-under AABC World Series last summer.

Notable: Reid was 8-2 with an 0.78 ERA. He had 126 strikeouts in 72 innings.

About Reid: He had three shutouts to lead Carroll to the District 5-5A championship and a berth in the regional quarterfinals. Reid, The News' 2006 Newcomer of the Year, signed with Vanderbilt. ... Named MVP of District 5-5A. ... Drafted in the 42nd round by Milwaukee.

Did you know? Reid eats a Subway sandwich before every game he pitches.

Notable: Rupp hit .654 with five home runs and 53 RBIs for Prestonwood, which finished the regular season undefeated but lost to Dallas Christian in the TAPPS 5A state championship.

About Rupp: Rupp, who has signed with Texas, won the home run derby at the High School All-American Baseball Game in Albuquerque, N.M., this month. Rupp then doubled and had an RBI batting cleanup in the West's 12-1 win.

Did you know? Rupp played middle linebacker for four years at Prestonwood.

Notable: The Stanford signee hit .513 with five homers, 35 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

About Kaskow: The switching-hitting first baseman helped Coppell fight through key injuries to make it to the Class 5A Region I semifinals. ... Named co-MVP of District 6-5A. ... Kaskow had two game-winning hits this season.

Did you know? Kaskow likes jazz.

Notable: Taylor hit .508 with six home runs and 26 RBIs.

About Taylor: The 6-3 basketball-baseball standout helped McKinney North reach the playoffs in both sports. The first baseman was tied for fourth in homers among area Class 4A players despite missing the first part of the season because of the basketball playoffs. ... Named MVP of District 9-4A.

Did you know? Taylor said he is a perfectionist: "If I'm doing something wrong, I go back and fix it that night."

Notable: The Trinity signee hit .396 with six home runs and 49 RBIs.

About Keiser: Keiser's grand slam in Game 3 of Martin's playoff series vs. Flower Mound may have been his team's biggest hit in its run to the Class 5A Region I finals. .. Named first-team second baseman for District 8-5A.

Did you know? Keiser graduated seventh in his class of 800.

Notable: The Texas signee hit .387 with four home runs and 30 RBIs.

About Shepherd: Shepherd, a third baseman, led a Flower Mound team that lost just two games in the regular season. He could be moved to the outfield for the Longhorns. ... Named a first-team infielder for District 6-5A.

Did you know? Shepherd is superstitious. "I do the same thing in the on-deck-circle every time and I didn't cut my hair all season," he says.

Notable: The junior hit .444 with 16 HRs and 61 RBIs

About Imhoff: The right-handed slugger led area Class 5A schools in home runs, setting a Martin school record with 16. ... He was also the team's closer, going 6-0 with four saves. The left-handed thrower had 67 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings pitched for the Class 5A Region I finalists. ... Named a first-team outfielder for District 8-5A.

Did you know? Imhoff said his left eye has 20-40 vision, so he picks up the ball with his right eye. "I just got a contact for my left eye that makes it 20-20," he says. "I went to get my driver's license and found out my vision was blurry."

Notable: The Texas State signee hit .510 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.

About Gambill: Gambill also made SportsDay's all-area football team, leading Allen to the state semifinals. A safety, he made five interceptions.

Did you know? Gambill says he is considering walking on for football at Texas State.

Notable: The Angelo State signee hit .468 with six home runs and 28 RBIs and stole 16 bases.

About Farhat: Farhat had five game-winning hits to lead Plano East to the District 9-5A championship. Named district MVP.

Did you know? Farhat never washes his socks, unless he's in a slump. "It got to a point I had to get new socks because I got holes in them so bad, you could see my whole foot," he says.

Notable: Pharr hit .388 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.

About Pharr: Pharr, who also played catcher, hit four of his 12 home runs in the playoffs, including two in a Game 3 loss to Arlington Martin.

Did you know? "In the playoffs, every time I didn't wear batting gloves I hit a home run," he says.

Key stats: Maitland hit .474 with two home runs, 23 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

About Maitland: He scored 36 runs as Colleyville Heritage tied for second place in District 5-5A. ... Named district Offensive Player of the Year.

Did you know? Maitland says he is like a little kid: "I play neighborhood football and play whiffle ball in the back yard."