San Diego Drafts Catcher Skeels

Former Thousand Oaks High standout Andy Skeels was a fifth round draft choice of the San Diego Padres in Tuesday’s amateur baseball draft.

Skeels, a catcher, hit a school-record 18 home runs for the University of Arkansas this spring. Catcher Mike Urman of Canoga Park High and pitcher Jeremy Hernandez of Cal State Northridge were taken in the second round by Atlanta and St. Louis, respectively. Shortstop Matt Gilmore of Reseda High was a sixth-round choice of Toronto.