RUSTON, La. ? Two former Louisiana Tech baseball players have been promoted in their professional baseball careers as the minor league seasons have recently began.

Shortstop Wade Robinson has begun the season in Salem, Virginia (A) of the Carolina League. Robinson is in the Houston Astros organization and was the player of the year for Tri-City Valley Cats of the rookie league a year ago after completing his eligibility at Tech. Robinson is off to a great start with a .385 average in four games.

Pitcher Lee Gwaltney is beginning his second full season in pro baseball with Clearwater (A) of the Florida State League. Clearwater is the Philadelphia Phillies highest Class A team.

Gwaltney went 8-8 with a 3.06 earned run average with the Lakewood (N.J.) Blue Claws a year ago.

Gwaltney has appeared in one game so far for Clearwater, allowing two runs in four innings so far on the season.

Clearwater?s manager is baseball hall-of-famer Mike Schmidt.

Former Bulldog Casey Blalock has decided to return to school to graduate after two outstanding years in minor league baseball in the Florida Marlins organization. Blalock was 6-3 with a 1.73 earned run average last season in Greensboro, NC and Jupiter, Fla.