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Skoug sets his sights on Texas Christian

Libertyville catcher Evan Skoug sat in a Glenbrook South dugout with his head buried in his strong hands following the Wildcats' season-ending, 8-1 loss to Mundelein on Saturday.

It had been an emotional couple of days for the Gatorade Illinois baseball player of the year.

He did not get selected in the first two days of the MLB first-year player draft. But then late Saturday afternoon, on the third and final day of the draft, the Washington Nationals picked Skoug in the 34th round (1,024 overall).

"I could have went (in the early rounds of the draft) if I wanted to, but the money wasn't where it needed to be," Skoug said. "I had a couple of teams talk to me. It just wasn't the right decision for my family and me."

Skoug can either elect to sign a pro contract with the Nationals or head to Texas Christian University, which offered more scholarship money to him this spring after he gave a verbal commitment to the Horned Frogs last year around this time.

"I'm going there and I'll be there for three years," Skoug said Saturday - before being taken by the Nationals. He will be draft eligible again his junior season.

Skoug helped Libertyville finish second in the Class 4A state tournament last year, as the Wildcats dropped a 2-1 decision to Mt. Carmel in the state championship game.

Libertyville fell two wins shy of a return trip to state.

"It's frustrating," Skoug said. "I had four years to get a state championship ring and I couldn't do it, so it's pretty frustrating for me. I had more time (on varsity) than anyone else and I couldn't deliver. I feel like part of that is my fault. Knowing what we did last year makes (losing Saturday) tough."

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