Catcher Signs With the Lions

Loyola Marymount announced Wednesday the signing of Travis Wilson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound catcher from Rancho Buena Vista High of Vista, to a letter of intent.

Wilson, who was chosen as an alternate to a North-South all-star game in June, is regarded as one of the top prep catchers in the state. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 10th round of the June draft.

Wilson batted .459 with two home runs and 26 runs batted in last season. He also was named Rancho Buena Vista’s most valuable player, was an All-Palomar League first-team selection and All-San Diego Section second-team pick.

Wilson was also selected to an all-academic team by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Loyola will now have to wait to see if Wilson will sign with the Brewers before the school year begins in the fall.

“At this point, he’s decided to stay in school and focus on his education,” Loyola Marymount Coach Jody Robinson said. “Of course, that can change, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’ll be here.”

Wilson selected Loyola over Florida, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas Tech and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“He turned down a scholarship to the University of Florida,” Robinson said. “They told him he was going to be their starter but he didn’t want to go that far away from home.”

Robinson said he had a good impression of Wilson when he first saw him play during tryouts for the North-South game in June.

“You could see why he was drafted so high,” Robinson said. “He has a pretty big body, he can catch the ball well and he throws well defensively.”

Robinson said Wilson needs to improve offensively but will not be pressured into the lineup because seniors Rob Ickes and Andy Biaggi will be returning.

“We needed to bring in a freshman kid at catcher, but the good thing is there’s no pressure on him to come in and start right away,” Robinson said.

Wilson joins three other high school recruits: pitchers Andy Collett from Arroyo Grande and Ryan Graves from Riverside Poly and shortstop Ryan Ott from Brea-Olinda. The team also added transfer John Straits, a pitcher from Mt. San Jacinto.

Robinson is still hopeful of adding a third baseman from the community college ranks, but is happy with his new players.

“We think we’re a step closer to where we want to be,” Robinson said.