St. Paul High School senior-to-be Gabe Encinas has made an oral commitment to Loyola Marymount University. He said he will receive a scholarship covering 85 percent of his academic financial needs.
“It is a good fit for me,” Encinas said Wednesday afternoon.”It is close enough to home to be near my family, and far enough to be on my own. I really like the location, close to the beach and Los Angeles.”
Encinas said he was influenced by potential for opportunity and the quality of recruits who have committed to the Lions.
“The coaches are really good,” Encinas said, “and I feel (LMU) gives me a chance for a championship run, both in conference and nationally. The other guys they’ve picked up, I know alot of them, and they are really quality players. It’s just a good spot for me.”
In his last outing with his ABD travel ball team, against a Northern Calfiornia ABD travel ball team, he pitched five innings of one-hit, shutout baseball with 10 strikeouts

He and St. Paul teammate Chris Willson will compete in the Area Code Games beginning Tuesday. Encinas said two games will be played at USC and the rest at Blair Field in Long Beach. …

Clearning up rumors about California kicker Eric Stern’s scholarship with Utah State:
He reportedly will pay for his first semester, and will receive the scholarship for the second semester. He is on the official roster and will compete for the place kicking duties, and possibly as a punter. …

Santa Fe’s talented lineman, Nck Finney, will “walk on” at San Jose State. Good for him. At that level, coaches don’t let just anybody “walk on.” They obviously have seen potential in him and that’s half the battle. Good luck to him.