SLIPPERY ROCK - Matt Adams is treading on rare ground.

The Slippery Rock University junior catcher-first baseman is on the verge of breaking some long-standing team records and of becoming the first Rock player selected in baseball's amateur draft since 2000.

"Oh, he's going to get drafted," SRU coach Jeff Messer said. "The only question is by who and when. Dan DeCola was drafted out of our program and Matt's attracting a lot more interest than he did."

DeCola, a catcher and a Karns City graduate, was chosen in the 16th round by Minnesota in 2000. SRU teammates Craig Petulla, Greg Stokes and Tom Sullivan also were drafted that year.

No Rock player has been selected since.

"I wasn't considered for pro ball until I came here," Adams said. "The biggest difference in my play this year is knowing the strike zone. I'm much more selective at the plate and it's making a difference."

Heading into Friday's doubleheader with Clarion, Adams, who splits time between catcher and first base, is hitting .481 with 12 homers and 56 RBI. He has 77 hits and an .838 slugging percentage.

Even with his power numbers, Adams has walked 28 times and struck out on 16 occasions.

DeCola hit .486 in 2000, a Rock record for a single season. Brad Lowe hit 16 home runs in 1998, also a team record. Lowe's slugging percentage of .807 that year also is tops on the SRU charts.

Joe Niedrick collected 91 hits in 2003, another record in range for Adams.

"When Brad hit those 16 homers, we were still playing at Wally Rose Park and that was a bandbox," Messer said. "No one's displayed the kind of power Matt Adams has shown in (Critchfield Park)."

While the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Adams recognizes the honor that comes with breaking records, they're not on his list of things to do.

"I'm here to win games and represent Slippery Rock University," he said.

He's doing both pretty well. The Rock is headed to the PSAC Tournament and Adams likely is headed to a major league organization this summer.

"I'll sign if I see I'll have a good chance to move through the team's system," Adams said. "Catcher or first base, it doesn't matter to me. I'll play anywhere.

"The Yankees and Mets have shown the most interest in me, though I've gotten letters from other teams, too."

Messer said about half the major league scouts believe Adams can catch in pro ball.

"The big questions there are his size and footwork," Messer said. "If he's considered a catcher, his stock will be high in the draft because he's a left-handed hitter with power and that's rare in a catcher. There's no doubt he can do the job defensively at first base.

"Everyone knows Matt can hit at the next level. That's a given. He's the best pure hitter I've seen in a while."

Adams batted .421 with five homers and 40 RBI as a freshman, .438 with eight homers and 44 RBI as a sophomore at The Rock. He is about to shatter the SRU career batting average mark of .403, set by Sal Agostinelli from 1981-83.

Adams owns the school record of 24 doubles in a season, which he set his freshman year and matched as a sophomore. He has hit 69 doubles in his college career, already shattering the previous Rock record of 58 set by Nate Thimons from 1996-99.

"Much as I'd love to get him back next year, I'm not anticipating it," Messer said of Adams. "He's ready to move on. He was MVP of the (New England Collegiate Baseball League) last summer and that's a league of all Division I guys."

Adams attended Philipsburg Osceola High School, where he hit .489 with 16 homers as a three-year starter.

He was recruited by Pitt and West Virginia, but opted for SRU. His high school coach, Doug Sankey, was a catcher for Messer at The Rock in the 1990s.

"My coach told me I'd be comfortable here and he was right," Adams said. "I have no regrets coming to Slippery Rock, none at all."

Adams is majoring in health and safety and is a year and a semester away from graduation. He said he'll finish his degree regardless.

"I may take online courses, come back here, whichever works out," he said. "But I will graduate. Baseball doesn't last forever.

"I know I have to work on everything to succeed as a pro, but the biggest thing is probably my footwork. I'm prepared to do what I have to do."

Messer has little doubt he will.

"Once Matt's in a situation where it's baseball 24-7, he'll do whatever he's asked," the coach said. "If they want him to drop 20 pounds, no problem.

"As good as he is right now, he's not nearly as good as he's going to be."

Slippery Rock University junior catcher-first baseman Matt Adams leads The Rock's baseball team in the following categories heading into Friday's doubleheader with Clarion:<B>Batting average: .</B>481<B>Runs scored: </B>55<B>Hits: </B>77<B>Doubles: </B>21<B>Home runs: </B>12<B>RBI: </B>56<B>Total bases: </B>134<B>Walks: </B>28<B>Slugging percentage: .</B>838