Manzardo commits to play baseball at WSU

Lake City High’s Kyle Manzardo on Sunday verbally committed to play baseball at Washington State, effective fall of 2018.

“I really liked their coaching staff, and being able to play in the Pac-12 is really cool,” said Manzardo, who will be a senior at Lake City this fall.

Manzardo said WSU has been watching him play for two years, and has been recruiting him for about a year. The Cougars offered him a scholarship early last week.

Manzardo, son of Lake City baseball coach Paul Manzardo, said Gonzaga also offered him, and a handful of other schools had also been in contact with him.

“I think I found the right fit at the end of the day,” Manzardo said.

He said WSU is projecting him as a corner outfielder or first baseman in college.

At Lake City, the lefty hitting, righty throwing Manzardo played third base last year, and a little bit of shortstop. He played first base as a sophomore on Lake City’s state championship team, and has played a little bit of outfield over the years.

“I was mostly recruited for my bat,” said Manzardo, an all-5A Inland Empire League selection. “It doesn’t matter to me where I play; I just want to swing the bat.”

Manzardo is playing third base and second base with his summer league team, the Spokane Expos.

Official letters of intent can’t be signed until November.

Manzardo is the second current Lake City player to have verbally committed to Washington State. Kodie Kolden, a pitcher/shortstop for the Timberwolves who also recently completed his junior season, verballed last July. The Cougars recruited him as a middle infielder.

Kolden is a teammate of Manzardo’s on the Expos as well.

“We’ve played with each other since we were 13, and against each other before that,” Manzardo said. “It’ll be fun to play together in college.”