Story Created:
Nov 24, 2009 at 12:10 PM PST
Story Updated:
Nov 24, 2009 at 12:10 PM PST
St. Paul High School pitcher Gabriel Encinas has signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Loyola Marymount.
Encinas is part of a recruiting class that includes pitcher/first baseman Bret Dahlson of JSerra, pitcher Alonzo Gonzalez of Santa Monica, infielder/outfielder Jacob Medina of Mater Dei, infielder/outfielder Michael Rowland of Ayala, pitcher/outfielder Jacob Smigelski of Glendora and catcher Arman Valenzuela of Northview.
“We are very excited about signing these seven players,” Lions coach Jason Gill said. “I feel that our coaching staff has once again compiled one of the best recruiting classes on the West Coast, consisting of a group of athletes who I think can have an immediate impact on the squad as freshmen next year.”
Encinas is a highly-touted 6-foot-4, 200-pound righthander.
He is the 70th-ranked player in the country according to Perfect Game USA. A member of the Brewers Area Code Games team, he was also named Del Rey League player of the year as a sophomore and junior.
Pitching for coach Casey Morales at St. Paul, Encinas finished his junior year with a 5-4 record and a 1.21 ERA in 75 1/3 innings. He allowed 54 hits while striking out 119 and walking just 17. He pitched six complete games and added a couple of saves.
“Gabriel is one of the best pitchers on the West Coast," LMU pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Drew Keehn said. “His knowledge of how to pitch and his stuff is beyond his years, while his competitive drive and his innate ability to get batters out is virtually unparalleled.”
Encinas, who tried out for the 18-under USA baseball team, is also a three-time World Wood Bat Association champion as a member of the ABD Bulldogs.
Gonzalez, from Santa Monica High, is a 6-4, 185-pound left-handed pitcher.
A Milwaukee Brewers Elite Team player, he features a mid-80s fastball with a high ceiling. As a junior, he was 4-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 40 innings. He struck out 42.
“At 6-4, Alonzo has a solid frame from the left side on the mound,” Gill said. “With time working in our program, we feel that he can eventually be a weekend starter and a big-time player for us in the future.”
Autry Montana-bound
Vaughn Autry, a 6-foot-2 combo guard from Serra High School, has signed to play basketball for the University of Montana.
An All-Wave Newspapers second-team pick, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.1 assists and 3.0 steals per game as a junior for the Cavaliers.
He was All-CIF I-AA. for a team that went 24-4 and and was runnerup in the division.
“Vaughn has a lot of potential,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said. “He can score the ball, and he really has great court vision and sets up his teammates with his passing ability. He plays with a lot of heart. He is right along the lines of the guards who we’ve been bringing in, and we are excited about adding him to our team next year.”
“I chose Montana because of the coaches, the environment, and the players,” Autry said. “I feel like it is a winning program, and that is what I am all about – winning.”
ELAC shortstop signs
East L.A. College shortstop Tony Andrade has signed to play baseball at Indiana State. Andrade is a Cantwell Sacred Heart High graduate.
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