One door closed - and another opened hours later for Brian Stoecklein.

The Seneca Valley High School and California University of Pa. graduate was released March 31 by the Atlanta Braves organization and joined the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League the following day.

Stoecklein, 24, is expected to be on the Wild Things' roster and probably in the starting lineup when the team opens the season at 7:05 p.m. Friday against Kalamazoo at Falconi Field.

"We were familiar with Brian since he played for nearby California and we've always been interested in him," Wild Things general manager Ross Vecchio said. "People who know him contacted me to say he'd be interested in playing for us.

"When I saw he was released by the Braves, we called him and it didn't take long for us to get a deal done."

Stoecklein can play all four infield positions. He signed with the Braves as a free agent last June and hit .277 with a homer and six doubles in the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

He hit .300 in spring training this year, but was still released.

"Atlanta's organization has a lot of younger infielders, guys who are 18 or 19, and they want to invest their playing time in them," Stoecklein said. "Hey, it's a business. I understand that. There were no hard feelings.

"It's hard to catch on with another team at the end of spring training because everybody has already made their roster cuts and finalized things."

So when the Wild Things called, Stoecklein listened.

"It's a chance to play ball for another season and avoid having to go to work from 9 to 5 every day," Stoecklein said. "It's a good league and I'll get my at bats."

Stoecklein hit .409 with eight homers and 56 RBI for California last year. He batted .423 with a school-record 71 hits in 2002 before a dislocated shoulder caused him to sit out the 2003 season.

Not being able to play that season made him appreciate the game.

"I was scared to death," he said of the injury and subsequent rehabilitation. "I couldn't throw a baseball. I thought I was through Even when my shoulder was healed, it took me a while before I felt confident enough to cut it loose.

"Without the support of my girlfriend and family, I never would have made it through that period."

But he did. And Vecchio looks forward to having Stoecklein in the Washington lineup on a regular basis.

"We only carry 22 or 23 players on our roster, so we love his versatility," Vecchio said. "We love his bat, too.

"Between the four infield positions and designated hitter, Brian will get his at bats. He should really help our offense."

When asked if Stoecklein could become the Wild Things' version of Craig Wilson, one of the Pirates' best hitters who plays multi-positions, Vecchio said: "That's a good analogy. The situations are very similar."

"If I can put up half the numbers Wilson is putting up, I'll be happy," Stoecklein said.

For now, he's just happy to have a place to take batting and infield practice every day.

"It's funny how your attitude changes that way," Stoecklein said. "Taking infield practice in high school became a drudgery after a while. Once you realize your playing career may be about over, you relish the opportunity to do anything on a ball field.

"Hopefully, I'll play well enough that if someone gets hurt or released in some team's system, I'll get picked up. Either way, I'm going to do whatever the manager here wants me to do.

"I'm playing baseball close to home with a good team. I feel fortunate," Stoecklein added.

The Wild Things finished 54-34 last season. The organization is entering its third season and has sent seven players to big league organizations. Three of them remain active and none have gotten past Class A ball.

Stoecklein has a finance degree from California and is halfway towards completing his masters at the school.