Bio

Coach Encapera is in his 3rd year as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions.  He led the Nittany Lions to back to back PSUAC Playoff Appearances doubling the teams win total in each of his first two seasons. The 2022 season was highlighted by an 8 game winning streak mid season that elevated the Nittany Lions towards a 3rd place finish. In 2023 the Nittany Lions slugged their way into the PSUAC Playoffs by averaging over 10 runs per game and landing in the USCAA top ten in Average, Runs scored, Homeruns, RBI, and Stolen Bases.

Before coming to Fayette, Coach Encapera has worked since 2002 as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach in various college, high school and summer travel baseball and basketball programs locally and nationally. At the college level he served as a Student Assistant (2002) and Graduate Assistant at California University of PA (2005,2006,2013) under legendary Head Coach Mike Conte. He also coached in the PSUAC for PSU Greater Allegheny as the Pitching Coach for the 2018 season that ended in a 1st round Playoff Appearance.  At the high school level Coach Encapera was the Head Baseball Coach at East Allegheny HS for 5 years JV Coach at Uniontown HS for 3 years He also spent 5 years as the Head Basketball Coach at East Allegheny HS, 9 years as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Charleroi HS and 2 seasons at Pahokee HS in Pahokee, FL.  

His playing experience began at California Area High School for Coach Budd Grebb and Don Hartman as a Three Sport Athlete in Baseball, Football, and Basketball where he was recently inducted into the California Area Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023. He was a 4 year Starter and 3 time all Section Selection at 1st Base and Pitcher. As a Freshman in 1994 he was selected for the East West Ambassadors National Team (Netherlands, France), and as a Senior was named 1997 Herald Standard Class A/AA Player of the Year, also a member of the California Area All Time Top Ten Career (Hits, Avg, RBI). Coach Encapera' s college playing experience started at Bluefield State College 1998 where he played Corner Inf/Pitcher. He transferred and finished his undergraduate degree at California University of PA 1999-2001 where he was a Relief Pitcher/Catcher. He was a member of the 2001 PSAC West Champion team and 2001 PSAC Playoff Appearance. 

In the Summer, Coach Encapera has been a player and a manager in the Fayette County League since 1995 and currently serves as League President.  Before his retirement in 2021 his Mitch's Bail Bonds teams made 4 trips to the FCBL Finals in 2012,2015, 2020 and 2021 winning the Championship in 2015. In 2020 Coach Encapera was given the Vince Zapotosky "Mr Baseball" Award for his contribution for maintaining and keeping alive the existence of the Fayette County Baseball League. Currently a Coach/Instructor for Dan Ninemire and Team All American in Monroeville, PA since the Summer of 2014 mentoring high school aged players and guiding them throughout the recruiting process with nearly all of his players signing to play college baseball

Coach Encapera believes in building team chemistry and creating a blue collar,team first culture. Coach prepares our team to compete everyday to be better than yesterday. He strives everyday for our players to battle and give our best physical and mental effort every pitch, every at bat, every inning, and every game. His purpose is to prepare them thru baseball to be successful, productive, respectful people. 

Encapera is a 3 time graduate of California University of PA earning a degree in 2002 Secondary Education Social Studies, in 2006 with a Masters Degree in Geography and Regional Planning, and in 2021 obtaining K-12 Principal Certification. His career in education began in 2002 as a Social Studies Teacher in West Palm Beach, FL and since 2004 has been a teacher in the East Allegheny School District in North Versailles, PA. Coach Encapera is married to Gina (Rendina) a native of Uniontown and a Penn State Political Science Graduate. The Encapera’s reside in Pittsburgh,PA.