August 10, 2012

North Bergen's A.J. Gale has committed to play at St. John's University. (Jersey Journal Photo)

When A.J. Gale was offered a scholarship from St. John's University last week, there was little  doubt in his mind where his baseball future was going to be.

The North Bergen pitcher made that official a few days later when he made a verbal commitment to the Queens school earlier this week. Gale, a rising senior, will attend the school in the Fall of 2013.

"It's a great feeling. I feel like a burden has been lifted off of my shoulders," Gale said. "It's great, the whole college process, getting to be recruited and everything, but it's good to know where I'm going, especially at a great school like St. John's."

Gale selected St. John's over scholarship offers from Wagner and NJIT. Rutgers, Seton Hall, Florida State, Columbia and others had also expressed interest in the 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander.

Gale cited the ability to contribute right away, the quality of the BIG EAST conference and proximity to home as reasons why he chose St. John's.

"There's nothing more important than family and my parents will be able to come to my home games and watch me pitch in college. I don't think you can ask for more than that."

This spring, Gale went 5-3 with a 1.85 ERA for the Bruins. A four-pitch pitcher with a fastball that tops out at 91 miles per hour, he struck out 74 batters in just 49.1 innings.