Former Vicksburg High star Clyde Kendrick went to play college baseball in the desert and found an oasis of good fortune.

Kendrick, a pitcher and outfielder for Eastern New Mexico University, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 27th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday.

He’s the second player from Warren County in three years to get drafted, after former Warren Central and Hinds Community College star Beau Wallace was taken by Pittsburgh in the 12th round in 2013.

Although he hit .311 for Eastern New Mexico in 45 at-bats this season, Kendrick was drafted by the Rangers as a pitcher. The junior left-hander was 3-1 with a 4.47 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings. Opponents hit just .192 against him, but he struggled with his control and walked 43 batters.

Kendrick was in his first season at Eastern New Mexico after playing two seasons at Holmes Community College. If he chooses to return to college, he’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.

Kendrick was one of 19 players from Mississippi selected on the final day of the draft, which covered rounds 11 through 40.

Among the notables were Ferriss Trophy winner James McMahon, a pitcher from Southern Miss who went to Colorado in the 24th round; Jackson State infielder Melvin Rodriguez (18th round, Washington); Ole Miss pitcher Christian Trent (24th round, Milwaukee); and Alcorn State outfielder Earl Burl III (30th round, Toronto).

Bell named NJCAA Pitcher of Year

RAYMOND — Hinds Community College pitcher Randy Bell added to his collection of postseason awards on Wednesday when he was named the Spalding Baseball/National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Pitcher of the Year.

Bell, a sophomore right-hander from Woodville, was also selected to the NJCAA All-America first team this week, and was an All-Region XXIII and All-MACJC selection as well.

The South Alabama signee posted a perfect 12-0 record in 2015 to lead Hinds to the MACJC championship and a No. 1 national ranking for much of the season.