The dream senior year for Cobb Hightower has turned into a dream summer as well.

The East Rowan graduate, fresh off winning the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state championship, was drafted in the third round of the MLB Draft, 88th overall, by the San Diego Padres.

Hightower, who is committed to UNC, has been one of the top hitters in the state the last three seasons, earning first-team all-state honors as a sophomore and again as a junior with a possibility of a third straight first-team award on Friday when this year’s HSOT team is released.

As a senior, Hightower batted .462 with 62 runs scored, 48 hits, 48 RBIs, 10 doubles, and nine home runs.

He batted .515 with 51 hits as a junior with 44 RBIs and 44 runs. As a sophomore, he batted .429 with 45 hits and 25 RBIs.

He ended his Mustangs career with 163 hits, a .455 career average, 123 RBIs, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 17 homers, 156 runs, 55 stolen bases, and 68 walks compared to 29 strikeouts.

According to the school, Hightower is the 12th East Rowan player to have ever been drafted.

The most recent to make the majors was Bobby Parnell, who was selected in the 9th round of the 2005 draft. Parnell pitched nine years in the majors, all but one with the New York Mets.

He’s also the second player from his county to be drafted this year: Salisbury alumnus Vance Honeycutt was taken in the first round.

Source: highschoolot.com