Two ex-Vaquero pitchers taken in MLB Draft

A pair of former SBCC pitchers named Lucas were selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft.

Lucas Benenati, a right-handed reliever from Kansas State, was picked in the 10th round by the Cincinnati Reds. The fifth-year senior was the 288th overall choice and the third-highest pick from the Santa Barbara area.

Benenati, a former Santa Barbara High standout, pitched for the Vaqueros in 2012 and 2014. He was a fifth-year senior for the Wildcats this year and was the closer, compiling a 1-3 record with a 3.81 ERA and a team-high six saves in 23 appearances.

Lucas Jacobsen, a 6-5 left-hander, went in the 27th round to the Texas Rangers. He was a sophomore reliever for Long Beach State, going 0-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 30 innings for the 49ers (38-22), who finished second in the Big West and played in the NCAA Regionals. Jacobsen appeared in 24 games and held opponents to a .192 batting average.

Jacobsen was a starter on the 2015 SBCC squad, going 8-4 with a 2.90 ERA on one of the best teams in school history. The Vaqueros went 33-11 and advanced to the Sectional playoffs, finishing fifth in the State.

Matt Henderson, who hit .329 on that Vaquero team as the starting shortstop, is starting for Florida State at second base in this weekend's NCAA Super Regional at No. 1 Florida.