Loyola Marymount Signs DeGennaro

Jon DeGennaro, a pitcher-first baseman from Moorpark College and Agoura High, was expected to sign a letter of intent to attend Loyola Marymount on national signing day last April.

But arm surgery that day cooled the Lions’ interest in the right-hander. Then, Loyola Coach Dave Snow resigned to accept a position at Cal State Long Beach, making the chance of DeGennaro pitching in a Loyola uniform even more remote.

But four months later, DeGennaro finally signed a letter of intent with Loyola after receiving a partial scholarship three weeks ago from new Coach Chris Smith.

DeGennaro, who is expected to be fully recovered from the nerve transfer in his pitching arm by the end of the month, did not mind the wait.

“I’m primarily a pitcher but they are giving me a chance to hit,” said DeGennaro, who also was recruited by Pepperdine, San Jose State and Long Beach. “That was one of the reasons I signed with them.”

DeGennaro posted a record of 12-6 in two years at Moorpark. He batted .455 last year with 3 home runs and 23 runs batted in. In two years at Agoura, he was 12-3.