GORHAM, Maine  --  University of Southern Maine senior shortstop Chris Burleson (Portland, Maine) was drafted today by the Cincinnati Reds in the 36th round of the annual Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
       
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Burleson is the first USM player to be selected in the MLB draft since Tip Fairchild was tabbed by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2005 draft.
       
Among the numerous awards he received this season, Burleson was named to the All-Little East Conference first team, the NEIBA All-New England first team and the ECAC Division III New England first team.  He also was selected by D3baseball.com as an honorable mention All-American.
       
Burleson finished his final season at USM batting .390 (64 for 164) with 69 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 39 RBI and a team-high 27 stolen bases.  Along with 44 walks and nine times hit by pitch, Burleson had a .539 on-base percentage.
       
A four-year standout for the Huskies, Burleson finished his career batting .350 (221 for 631) with a school record 214 runs scored, 39 doubles, 12 triples, 25 home runs, 139 RBI and 72 stolen bases.  He also has the school record for career walks (151).
       
Southern Maine finished the season with a 36-9 record, and won the Little East Conference regular season title (outright or shared) for the fifth time since baseball became a conference sport in 1997 with a 12-2 mark.  The Huskies spent three consecutive weeks atop the D3baseball.com national poll, and reached number one in the ABCA Division III poll on May 5.