After closely monitoring Tuesday's amateur draft through the first 19 rounds on the Internet, Towson University senior Gregg Davies decided to give it a rest.

About 15 minutes later, the phone rang.

The hometown Orioles were calling to inform the slugging outfielder that they selected him with their 21st-round pick - 616th overall.

"It was super exciting. Just to get the chance and then it happening in [the draft's] first day - I wasn't sure what was going to happen and then on top of all that, the hometown team," said Davies, who graduated from Sherwood High School in Montgomery County.

Overlooked in last year's draft after a breakthrough junior season at Towson, Davies came back with another stellar campaign this spring. He led the Colonial Athletic Association in hitting (.428), slugging percentage (.797) and on-base percentage (.521), finishing the season with 13 homers and 51 RBIs.

"Basically he became a dominant offensive player over the past two years. He hit for a high average, hit for power and also stole bases," said Towson coach Mike Gottlieb. "He can do a lot of things well and if he gets the opportunity, he'll show people what he can do."

The first-team All-CAA selection leaves Towson as the program's career leader in eight offensive categories, among them: games played (217), hits (274), RBIs (193) and runs (195).

"I'm thrilled to get the chance," said Davies, a business major who was recently named to Verizon's Academic All-American second team. "It's a big jump, just like the jump from high school to college. So hopefully that transition will help prepare me for this one as well."

George Washington University pitcher Mike O'Connor, a Mount St. Joseph's grad from Ellicott City, also got the call on the draft's first day, selected in the seventh round by the Montreal Expos.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound left-handed reliever went 4-2 this season with nine saves and a 2.06 ERA in 29 appearances for the Colonials, who reached the NCAA tournament this spring.