Baseball

Teddy Dziuba will learn to be a Mets fan -- quickly.

Dziuba, a Wayne resident and 2002 graduate of Wayne Valley, was drafted Wednesday by the Mets as the 994th overall pick in the 33rd round of the 2006 amateur draft.

"I didn't grow up as Mets fan, but I am one now," said Dziuba, a left-hand hitting catcher who recently graduated from Babson College. "The Mets are an unbelievable organization, and they've been unbelievably kind to me throughout the entire process. I'm excited to be with them."

The 5-foot-10 180-pound Dziuba batted .331 and slugged nine home runs with 35 RBI in his senior season. He is the first position player to be drafted out of Babson and leaves the school as the all-time leader in homers, doubles, runs, RBI, walks, total bases, and slugging percentage.

"I had worked out with the Mets and they had hinted at taking me on the second day," said. "I was watching on the Internet, and it was a huge relief when they did. It's been a whirlwind since. I was especially happy for my father. For me and him to have this day is something special."

Bryan Hallberg of River Edge, a 2003 graduate of River Dell, was drafted by the Houston Astros as the 369th overall pick in the 12th round.

"I had heard that I might go anywhere from the 10th to 12th round," Hallberg said. "I was sitting there watching other guys get drafted that I knew. When I got drafted I felt relieved, I was excited."

Drafted as a pitcher, Hallberg (6-foot-1, 220 lbs.) completed his junior season at Pace, where he posted a 6-3 record with a 2.53 ERA. Hallberg also struck out 78 in 781/3 innings.

Over the draft's two days, fifty rounds and 1,502 picks were made, but neither former New York Little League star Danny Almonte nor Old Tappan's Jeff Maier were selected.

E-Mail: duffy@northjersey.com