Shenendehowa graduate Branden Cogswell began his professional baseball career this week, playing for the Beloit Snappers, the full season A-ball affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

Branden Cogswell is now playing for the Beloit Snappers (Getty Images).
Branden Cogswell is now playing for the Beloit Snappers (Getty Images).
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He's 1-8 through two games, and hit at the top of the order on Wednesday night.

After hitting .391 at the College World Series, Cogswell decided to forego his senior season at the University of Virginia to sign with the Athletics.

The A's made Cogswell their seventh-round pick in this year's draft and gave him $200,000 to sign. After playing shortstop during his sophomore season, Cogswell moved to second base, where he earned first-team all-ACC honors, but the Snappers played him at shortstop Wednesday.

There was hope locally that the former Section II standout would play for the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League, and that fans could see him at Joe Bruno Stadium when the Lake Monsters play the ValleyCats.

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