BY BILL WILSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Last summer Chase Voshell bought an Arizona Diamondbacks cap and proudly wore it in support of his favorite team, although it had yet to play a major-league game.

Voshell's cap is now tattered and dirty from wear and tear. But after being drafted Tuesday in the fourth round by the expansion Diamondbacks, the senior shortstop from Milford won't have to worry about buying a new one.

"This is what I've been waiting for my entire life," said Voshell, who batted .462 with 36 RBI and 30 stolen bases this year.

"That's who I wanted to get drafted by (Arizona). If I wasn't going to be drafted by them, I was still going to be a fan."

Voshell was one of five area players taken Tuesday in the draft's opening day.

Highlands left-handed pitcher Eric Glaser (second round by Boston), Hamilton right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook (second, Colorado), Moeller shortstop Rick Bell (third, Los Angeles) and former La Salle and Ball State left-handed pitcher Sam McConnell (11th, Pittsburgh) also were selected.

The unlimited-round draft runs through Thursday and will conclude when every team has passed on its turn for selection.

Although being drafted and playing professional baseball has been a dream for the four high school players, decisions must now be made as each - except Voshell - has signed with a major-college program.

Each player has until the day before college classes begin to declare his decision.

"Everything's going to have to be in place there for him to turn pro," said Garry Cook, whose son Aaron has a scholarship offer at Ohio State. "For now, we're going to wait until the state tournament is over."

Cook was 10-0, striking out 104 batters in 82 innings with a fastball in the upper 80s and a complementary curveball.

Glaser, who was ranked one behind Cook in Baseball America's Top 100 pitching prospects at No. 88, was selected before Cook in the second round.

Glaser has a scholarship offer at Michigan State, but it will be tough to turn down Boston.

"I've been a Red Sox fan," Glaser said. "I love Fenway Park. It's the dream field I would like to play on someday."

Bell, son of Detroit manager Buddy Bell, hit .429 this season with seven homers in 26 games.

He joined a long line of recent Moeller draftees: Ken Griffey Jr. was Seattle's first pick overall in 1987 and San Francisco took Adam Hyzdu in the first round in 1990. Ricky's brothers Mike and David were also selected out of Moeller.

Bell has a scholarship offer at the University of Tennessee.