Vitus heads to Lane

Former Sheldon star Chris Vitus has transferred to Lane Community College after turning down the opportunity to play pro baseball for the second year in a row.

Vitus was drafted in the 48th round of the major-league draft in June by Anaheim, but turned down the Angels for the second year in a row. Anaheim drafted Vitus in the 49th round of the 2007 draft out of Sheldon.

"I talked to them toward the end of the summer, and they said they could offer me something but it wouldn't be fair to me because they would not be able to offer me enough and they didn't think it would be fair to me to put me in their system and not have much invested in me," Vitus said. "(Anaheim's scout) said he thinks I'm almost there, I just have to get a little stronger and be more consistent. I need to have my fastball more consistently around the 90s."

Vitus said his fastball is currently clocked between 88-90 miles per hour.

Vitus played at Mount Hood Community College as a freshman but transferred to Lane this year to be closer to home and save money.

He hopes to improve his draft stock this season with the Titans and said the Angels remain interested in him as a prospect. He said their scout gave him Anaheim's offseason workout plan and said he would continue watching Vitus this spring.

"I've been told I'm in the best position yet because of the fact I have developed so much through the past few years," he said. "I just need to focus and see if I can get a little better. I need to focus on getting stronger and getting my velocity up there. If I can be more consistent I think I will be in good shape. I just need to make one more jump up."

Vitus was selected as an all-star in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League this summer. He went 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances, including four starts, and struck out 31 in 281?3 innings for Spokane. He was named the league's No. 7 prospect by Baseball America.