Story by Selena Legaspy
Copy Editor
Senior baseball players Rio Ruiz and Daniel Zamora and softball player Cassandra Padilla committed to colleges Monday in the Carroll Center in advance of Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
Ruiz committed to the University of Southern California and Zamora committed to Stony Brook University. Padilla signed with Santa Clara University.
Ruiz, who will most likely be picked in the early rounds of the Major League Baseball amateur draft next year, gained attention from USC during his freshman year.
During Ruiz’s freshman year, after a game against Chatsworth High School, a USC baseball scout called to set up a meeting. They asked Ruiz if he would like to be a Trojan and commit to their school and Ruiz agreed.
Ruiz will be living on campus with an 85 percent scholarship that will pay for everything but his food and books.
It is a dream come true to be signing with USC, Ruiz said.
“I felt a portion of my goal had been reached,” he said. “Just being part of the school and having an opportunity to play there.”
Louisiana State University, Utah University and Nebraska University all offered Ruiz scholarships, but once USC was interested there was no competition.
Zamora plans on going to Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York on a baseball scholarship.
Zamora said he made the decision to actually attend for three reasons.
“It’s a D-1 school, it’s in New York, and I thought it would be the best place for me, opportunity wise,” he said.
Zamora is looking forward to playing baseball, getting to experience being away from home, responsibility, and new things while away and plans to major in business.
“I feel excited because all that hard work I put in is paying off and everything is starting to fall into place,” Zamora said on his signing.
Assistant Baseball Coach Chris Beck said he is proud of Zamora.
“Daniel Zamora is an example of someone who has taken his own talent and the opportunity in front of him to earn a scholarship,” he said.
Padilla learned of interests from Santa Clara when Head Coach Liza Mize said that she “liked [Padilla’s] ability to play the game.”
From there Padilla said she started to become interested in the school and was later offered a full ride.
Padilla said 14 other schools offered her money to play and attend their schools.
Padilla said she is looking forward to earning a degree in psychology, but her main focus is taking advantage of possible playing time.
“I mean actually getting to play in college,” she said.
