Lodolo, Rojas earn MaxPreps All-State baseball honors

MaxPreps has handed out its All-State honors and two area players landed accolades.

Former Damien pitcher Nick Lodolo has decided to attend TCU rather than play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Photo by Rachel Luna/Staff)

Damien senior pitcher Nick Lodolo was named to the “Large Schools” first team while senior outfielder Paul Rojas of Redlands East Valley made the second team.

Lodolo was the Daily Bulletin Player of the Year, going 8-2 with a 1.97 earned run average and 83 strikeouts in 65 innings.

His effort propelled the Spartans to the Baseline League title as well as the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals where they lost to eventual champion South Hills.

The 6-foot-5 left-hander was chosen with the 41st pick (lottery pick after first round) in the June draft but decided to go the college route instead, having signed with Texas Christian.

Rojas helped the Wildcats (23-8) to the Division 2 title game where they too lost to South Hills, 4-3. He hit .464 with 28 runs scored and 16 RBI. He plans to play at Riverside Community College.

Here is the link if you want to check who else was chosen.

 

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Damien’s Nick Lodolo taken in draft by Pittsburgh Pirates

Damien starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (10) fires to the plate against Rancho Cucamonga in a varsity baseball game at Damien High School in La Verne, CA on Friday, April 15, 2016. Damien defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 4-0. (Photo by Rachel Luna/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

Damien High School left-handed pitcher was the first local player taken in the major league baseball free agent draft when he was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 41st overall pick (Lottery round A after first round).

Lodolo went 8-2 with a 1.97 earned run average and 83 strikeouts in 65 innings, helping the Spartans to the Baseline League title and a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals.

Lodolo has signed earlier with Texas Christian University but now will face the tough decision on whether to go to school or go professional.

He had indicated all along that he preferred school and was asking for a lot of money and thought that would discourage teams from taking him in the high rounds. That wasn’t the case.

He had talked to several teams recently but the Pirates were not one of them.

“I still have yet to talk to him and neither has my advisor,” Lodolo said, “It’s just been a long, strange day. I thought they knew I would be a tough sign.”

Lodolo said he watched the early picks on line, but then left to go to a his girlfriend’s graduation, never thinking his name would be called. It wasn’t long before he knew something was up.

“My phone just blew up, people calling and texting congratulations,” he said.

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