Loyola’s Robinson Opts for an Arms Buildup : Recruiting: First-year coach gets commitments from two high school pitchers and a shortstop.

Help appears to be on the way for the Loyola Marymount baseball team, which is on the verge of its worst season since 1983.

Wednesday, the Lions signed three high school players to letters of intent, including two pitchers.

“It’s a great start for us,” Coach Jody Robinson said.

Pitchers Andy Collett of Arroyo Grande and Ryan Graves of Riverside Poly and shortstop Ryan Ott of Brea-Olinda will join the Lions next season.

Pitching has been particularly troublesome for Loyola (11-30), which has a team earned-run average of 6.84. The Lions, who have 14 games remaining, are trying to distance themselves from the ’83 team that finished 11-41.

Robinson, who was unable to recruit after being named coach in September, was pleased.

“In your first recruiting class you want to be able to recruit well, and there is quantity as well as quality in these players,” he said. “We got a left-handed pitcher, a right-handed pitcher and a shortstop. We felt those were areas that needed improvement and we think they’re really going to help us.”

The biggest prize may be Collett, a right-hander whose fastball has been clocked at 92 m.p.h. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Collett has a 3-0 record and 2.48 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 25 innings this season.

“Collett is a real talent,” Robinson said. “He has a great arm and we think he has a chance to come in and start. We never promise anyone anything, but I think all three of these players have the ability to come in and start.”

Collett is an all-around athlete who averaged 20.6 points for the basketball team. He was also recruited by USC and Fresno State, but chose Loyola because of an opportunity to play as a freshman.

“Going into a Division I school, I thought I’d have to redshirt or something, but it looks like I’ll get a chance to play and that’s something to look forward to,” he said. “I think the school’s up and coming and the new coach is going to make this program develop.

“They’ve got 15 freshmen and I think it’s going to develop into something pretty good. I also like the school and the atmosphere there. I know they’ll be watching me and I’ll get close attention.”

Collett, who batted .400 with five home runs in Northern League play as a junior, said he will get an opportunity to play first base.

Robinson thinks Collett could be selected in the June amateur draft.

“There’s a chance of that happening,” Robinson said. “But I think his family really wants him to go to school. They want him to be in that structured environment.”

Said Collett: “It depends on where I get picked and how much money I get offered. It would have to be a pretty good offer to pull me away because I want to go to school and get my education. But I’m leaving my options open.”

Graves, a 6-2, 170-pound left-hander, is 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 32 innings this season.

“My fastball’s not that fast,” he said. “It’s maybe about 80 to 81 (m.p.h.), but I’m more of a finesse pitcher.”

Graves, whose father Rich is baseball coach and athletic director at Riverside Poly, selected Loyola over Fresno State, Nevada and Pepperdine.

“Fresno and Nevada were really pushing me hard, but I like the opportunity I’ll have at Loyola,” he said. “I can go in there and have a chance to play instead of sitting out my freshman year. I also like the coaches a lot. They’re good guys and they were honest with me.”

Robinson said Ott has the ability to be a leader. He is batting .350 and is excellent defensively.

“I’ll hit a few home runs but I’m more of a defensive player,” Ott said. “Offensively, I’m more of a team player. I’ll give up a hit to bunt and move a player over if that’s going to help us.”

Ott was also recruited by Washington State and Baylor.

“I didn’t want to go too far from home,” he said. “That was the main reason I decided to go there, plus I like the coaching staff. The players are also great. They really make me feel like I’m part of the team.”

Robinson is hopeful of adding three more recruits, including a third baseman.

“They may be high school players or they may be from junior college,” he said.

“I haven’t had many good nights of sleep lately. But I woke up feeling pretty good about the day because I knew what was going to happen. Once I knew they had all signed, I was pretty happy.”