2 Westlake Players Commit to Colleges

Former Westlake High baseball players Matt McHendry and Sean Howard said Tuesday they will play at the collegiate level next season.

McHendry, a right fielder who hit .250 and contributed strong defense as Westlake went 28-2 last spring, will play at UC Riverside. McHendry said he has been offered a scholarship but that it will not take effect until after his freshman season.

Howard, a left fielder who hit .265 and stole 14 bases, will walk on at Arizona State.

Shortstop Tim Falsken and pitcher Mike Eby, who also played at Westlake, signed letters of intent last spring and will play at Cal State Long Beach and UCLA, respectively.

Catcher Mike Lieberthal had committed to attend Arizona State on a baseball scholarship but signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies after they selected him with the third pick overall in the June amateur draft.