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Grand Canyon University Athletics
In-depth: 2017 GCU Baseball recruiting class
11/16/2016 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Grand Canyon baseball team, head coach Andy Stankiewicz, and recruiting coordinator Gregg Wallis announced GCU's 2017 recruiting class on Wednesday. For an overview of the class, click here.
Hayden Udall (RHP / San Tan Valley, Ariz.)
Udall comes to Grand Canyon from Campo Verde High School where he received Division I, Section I All-State recognition as a junior for the Coyotes. He played in the Junior Sunbelt Tournament as well as the Area Code Games, the most prestigious baseball tournament in the country for rising seniors-to-be. In 40.0 innings of work for Campo Verde in 2016, the junior posted a 1.92 ERA and a 3-1 record. The 6-0 right-hander also played basketball and football for parts of his high school career. Udall cites the coaching staff and the "family community" as his reasons for coming to GCU.
Coach Wallis: "Hayden is a high school right-handed pitcher we believe will be a big part of our program over his career. He was selected by MLB scouts to participate on the Reds Area Code team this summer and has a loose arm action with great arm strength. We feel Hayden has a lot of natural ability and has just scratched the surface of the player he can be at GCU."
Nico Burgarello (SS / Glendale, Ariz.)
Burgarello will finish his high school career as a three-year starter at shortstop and a two-year team captain for Sandra Day O'Connor High School. After compiling a .359 batting average as a sophomore -- a year which he won his team's Rookie of the Year award -- he improved to hit .381 as a junior in 2016. He posted RBI totals of 21 and 24, respectively, and has hit four homers for the Eagles. Burgarello helped lead his team to a 30-7 record and a third place finish at the 2016 DI State Tournament. He has also competed on the Arizona Junior Sunbelt team, and is of high academic achievement with a 4.2 GPA and a member of the National Honor Society. The left-handed-hitting infielder cites the coaching staff and growing facilities as his reason for coming to GCU, commenting "GCU is growing into a powerhouse."
Coach Wallis:Â "We got to see Nico a lot during the recruiting process and fell in love with his passion for the game and ability to swing the bat from the left side of the plate. We also love that Nico comes from a winning program at O'Connor HS and feel he has the arm and glove skills to be able to play the middle of the diamond at the D1 level."
Brock Burton (INF/OF / Phoenix, Ariz.)
Burton joins the Lopes from Desert Vista High School where he will be a three-year varsity starter and three-year team captain for the Thunder. He has exhibited the ability to both get on base and hit for power, posting a .416 on-base percentage as a sophomore and a .481 slugging percentage as a junior. His favorite personal sports moment came this spring when he collected two hits and three RBIs in an extra-inning state playoff victory over Red Mountain High School. Burton chose GCU because of his proximity to home, for the great education and to be in a faith-based environment.
Coach Wallis:Â "Brock is a hard-nosed player from Desert Vista HS. He is athletic and versatile and can really swing the bat from the left side. We continue to be impressed with Brock's hitting approach. His plate discipline is very advanced for a high school player and we feel he profiles as an ideal top-of-the-lineup hitter."
Ben Kirke (RHP / Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Kirke comes to Grand Canyon after a four-year career at Chaparral High School. The tall right-hander helped lead the Chaparral Firebirds to a 25-10 record and three state playoff victories as a junior in 2016. He also played with the T-Rex baseball club which has a total of 14 Division I commits in the 2017 class. Kirke -- who had a strong 3.8 GPA in high school -- cites the good baseball program and academics as his reasons for choosing Grand Canyon.
Coach Wallis:Â "Ben is a big and projectable RHP from Chaparral HS. We love his upside and believe he has the ability to develop an overpowering fastball. Ben has come on strong this summer and put himself into position to be an impact guy at the Division I level. We are thrilled to have Ben join the GCU baseball program."
Nick Ohanian (RHP / Chandler, Ariz.)
Ohanian joins the Lopes from Mesa Community College where he completed his freshman campaign in 2016. In 29 appearances, he compiled a 2.03 ERA and a conference-leading 13 saves, a mark which also ranked second in the entire nation at the NJCAAÂ Division II level. Over 40.0 innings of work on the mound for the Thunderbirds, Ohanian struck out 54 and allowed just 24 hits. Prior to his time in the junior college ranks, Ohanian attended Hamilton High School where he was a three-year varsity member and received all-state recognition. He had the opportunity to pitch in the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C. Ohanian selected Grand Canyon because of its close distance to home and the "great offer" presented to him.
Coach Wallis: "Nick is a key part of our recruiting class, and we will look for him to contribute at the back end of the bullpen next year. He not only comes from a great junior college program at Mesa but also a top high school program in Hamilton. He is an experienced right-handed pitcher that throws hard and has a great slider. Most importantly, Nick is used to closing out big games and led the ACCAC in saves last year."
Cole Bellinger (INF/RHP / Chandler, Ariz.)
Coming to GCU from Hamilton High School, Bellinger displayed his versatility with a .391 batting average and a 2.57 ERA on the mound. From the plate, he hit 16 doubles and three home runs, collecting 33 RBIs, a mark which ranked second on the team. He helped lead the Huskies to a 27-7 overall record and the 2016 Division I State Championship, hitting a three-run walk-off double in one playoff game and logging the win on the mound in the championship. Coming from a baseball family with father, Clay, and brother, Cody, both playing professionally, Cole chose GCU for its "awesome campus" and the coaching staff.
Coach Wallis:Â "We are very excited to have Cole join the program. Cole is an extremely skilled and competitive player with a track record of helping his team win big games. He comes from a great baseball family and high school program playing for Coach Woods at Hamilton. We feel that Cole has a very high ceiling talent-wise, and we are eager to get his mix of talent and competitiveness into our program."
Seth Nordlin (RHP / Mesa, Ariz.)
Norling joins the Lopes from GateWay College after graduating from Mountain View High School in 2015. As a freshman at GateWay in 2016, Nordling made 26 appearances, fifth-most in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, and seven saves, third-most in the ACCAC. GateWay went 43-22 on the season and competed in the Junior College World Series, a moment which Nordlin cites as his favorite personal sports moment. He went 4-2 in 11 appearances and 41.2 innings as a senior at Mountain View. Nordlin selected GCU as his transfer option because of the coaching staff and his familiarity with the school, growing up near it his entire life.
Coach Wallis:Â "Seth is a talented pitcher and winning player. As a freshman he played a huge role in GateWay's run to the D2 Juco World Series. Seth has the stuff and pitchability to command a lot of innings on the mound for us next spring. He had a lot of quality D1 programs recruiting him, and we are very excited he chose to stay close to home and join our program."
Drew Zmuda (RHP / Boise, Idaho)
A three-sport athlete at Capital High School in Boise, Idaho, Zmuda joins the Lopes as one of the three out-of-state signees from the class. He tossed 40.2 innings for the Eagles as a junior in 2016, posting a 2.41 ERA with 36 strikeouts. Zmuda was named 2016 ALL SIC 5-A Honorable Mention at pitcher, his third year as a varsity starter. His athleticism is evident as he played varsity football as a sophomore and is a two-year starter in basketball. Zmuda's Eagles won the state title during his freshman campaign, a moment he cites as the top in his athletic career. He chose GCU for the weather, the growing campus and the coaching staff.
Coach Wallis:Â "Drew is a very talented and hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from the Northwest area. He was a member of the Royals area code team and has tremendous upside on the mound. We love his mix of size and athleticism and feel he will be an impact player for us throughout his collegiate career. Â He will bring physicality and toughness to our pitching staff and is another pitcher who has come on strong late and is getting better with every inning pitched."
Mitchell Hagan (1B/LHP / Omaha, Neb.)
Hagan graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Neb. in 2016. Among his graduating class, Hagan was named the top first base prospect in Nebraska by Perfect Game, and the fifth overall player in the state. He played a key role in leading his high school club to a 33-6 record and the state title in 2015. While quarterbacking the school's football team, Hagan was a switch-hitting first baseman and pitcher. He cites his favorite personal sports moments as making his school's varsity roster as a freshman, batting cleanup and winning state three years.
Coach Wallis: "We feel really fortunate to have Mitchell signing to play baseball at GCU. Physically he possesses the size, strength and athleticism to be a standout college player and professional prospect. We will look for Mitchell to continue to develop on the mound as a left-handed pitcher and also be a middle-of-the-order bat for us in the future."
David Avitia (C / Phoenix, Ariz.)
Attending high school at the same intersection as the Grand Canyon campus, Avitia has made noise in his career at Alhambra High School. The catcher set a school record for batting average at .534 -- as a freshman. He is batting .518 for his career with 66 of his 130 hits of the extra-base variety. In a historic year for the Lions in 2016, Avitia as a junior was named the Arizona Small Schools Player of the Year as he led the Lions to a Division III State Championship. The opposition only attempted to steal on Avitia 15 times in 2016, with the Phoenix-native throwing out 12 of them.
Coach Wallis:Â "David is everything we were looking for in a catcher. He is a tough kid with tremendous leadership ability and passion for the game. We feel he is one of the best defensive catchers in the country, and he put that on display this summer with a great showing at the Area Code games. His ability to throw out baserunners will be fun to watch during his career as a Lope."
Hayden Udall (RHP / San Tan Valley, Ariz.)
Udall comes to Grand Canyon from Campo Verde High School where he received Division I, Section I All-State recognition as a junior for the Coyotes. He played in the Junior Sunbelt Tournament as well as the Area Code Games, the most prestigious baseball tournament in the country for rising seniors-to-be. In 40.0 innings of work for Campo Verde in 2016, the junior posted a 1.92 ERA and a 3-1 record. The 6-0 right-hander also played basketball and football for parts of his high school career. Udall cites the coaching staff and the "family community" as his reasons for coming to GCU.
Coach Wallis: "Hayden is a high school right-handed pitcher we believe will be a big part of our program over his career. He was selected by MLB scouts to participate on the Reds Area Code team this summer and has a loose arm action with great arm strength. We feel Hayden has a lot of natural ability and has just scratched the surface of the player he can be at GCU."
Our first official signing of the class! Welcome, Hayden. #GCUNSD #LopesRising pic.twitter.com/yRubgHWocf
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 9, 2016
Nico Burgarello (SS / Glendale, Ariz.)
Burgarello will finish his high school career as a three-year starter at shortstop and a two-year team captain for Sandra Day O'Connor High School. After compiling a .359 batting average as a sophomore -- a year which he won his team's Rookie of the Year award -- he improved to hit .381 as a junior in 2016. He posted RBI totals of 21 and 24, respectively, and has hit four homers for the Eagles. Burgarello helped lead his team to a 30-7 record and a third place finish at the 2016 DI State Tournament. He has also competed on the Arizona Junior Sunbelt team, and is of high academic achievement with a 4.2 GPA and a member of the National Honor Society. The left-handed-hitting infielder cites the coaching staff and growing facilities as his reason for coming to GCU, commenting "GCU is growing into a powerhouse."
Coach Wallis:Â "We got to see Nico a lot during the recruiting process and fell in love with his passion for the game and ability to swing the bat from the left side of the plate. We also love that Nico comes from a winning program at O'Connor HS and feel he has the arm and glove skills to be able to play the middle of the diamond at the D1 level."
We're happy to officially announce the signing of @nicoburgarello to the GCU baseball program. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/fCRFHjLjP8
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 9, 2016
Brock Burton (INF/OF / Phoenix, Ariz.)
Burton joins the Lopes from Desert Vista High School where he will be a three-year varsity starter and three-year team captain for the Thunder. He has exhibited the ability to both get on base and hit for power, posting a .416 on-base percentage as a sophomore and a .481 slugging percentage as a junior. His favorite personal sports moment came this spring when he collected two hits and three RBIs in an extra-inning state playoff victory over Red Mountain High School. Burton chose GCU because of his proximity to home, for the great education and to be in a faith-based environment.
Coach Wallis:Â "Brock is a hard-nosed player from Desert Vista HS. He is athletic and versatile and can really swing the bat from the left side. We continue to be impressed with Brock's hitting approach. His plate discipline is very advanced for a high school player and we feel he profiles as an ideal top-of-the-lineup hitter."
Next up is @brock_burton6! Welcome to the family. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/oZoagkteOi
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 9, 2016
Ben Kirke (RHP / Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Kirke comes to Grand Canyon after a four-year career at Chaparral High School. The tall right-hander helped lead the Chaparral Firebirds to a 25-10 record and three state playoff victories as a junior in 2016. He also played with the T-Rex baseball club which has a total of 14 Division I commits in the 2017 class. Kirke -- who had a strong 3.8 GPA in high school -- cites the good baseball program and academics as his reasons for choosing Grand Canyon.
Coach Wallis:Â "Ben is a big and projectable RHP from Chaparral HS. We love his upside and believe he has the ability to develop an overpowering fastball. Ben has come on strong this summer and put himself into position to be an impact guy at the Division I level. We are thrilled to have Ben join the GCU baseball program."
It's official. @bkirke13 is the newest member of the GCU baseball program. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/mh0NvC4cE9
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 9, 2016
Nick Ohanian (RHP / Chandler, Ariz.)
Ohanian joins the Lopes from Mesa Community College where he completed his freshman campaign in 2016. In 29 appearances, he compiled a 2.03 ERA and a conference-leading 13 saves, a mark which also ranked second in the entire nation at the NJCAAÂ Division II level. Over 40.0 innings of work on the mound for the Thunderbirds, Ohanian struck out 54 and allowed just 24 hits. Prior to his time in the junior college ranks, Ohanian attended Hamilton High School where he was a three-year varsity member and received all-state recognition. He had the opportunity to pitch in the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C. Ohanian selected Grand Canyon because of its close distance to home and the "great offer" presented to him.
Coach Wallis: "Nick is a key part of our recruiting class, and we will look for him to contribute at the back end of the bullpen next year. He not only comes from a great junior college program at Mesa but also a top high school program in Hamilton. He is an experienced right-handed pitcher that throws hard and has a great slider. Most importantly, Nick is used to closing out big games and led the ACCAC in saves last year."
We present @NickOhanian28, the newest member of the recruiting class. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/QK4LzceR8Q
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 9, 2016
Cole Bellinger (INF/RHP / Chandler, Ariz.)
Coming to GCU from Hamilton High School, Bellinger displayed his versatility with a .391 batting average and a 2.57 ERA on the mound. From the plate, he hit 16 doubles and three home runs, collecting 33 RBIs, a mark which ranked second on the team. He helped lead the Huskies to a 27-7 overall record and the 2016 Division I State Championship, hitting a three-run walk-off double in one playoff game and logging the win on the mound in the championship. Coming from a baseball family with father, Clay, and brother, Cody, both playing professionally, Cole chose GCU for its "awesome campus" and the coaching staff.
Coach Wallis:Â "We are very excited to have Cole join the program. Cole is an extremely skilled and competitive player with a track record of helping his team win big games. He comes from a great baseball family and high school program playing for Coach Woods at Hamilton. We feel that Cole has a very high ceiling talent-wise, and we are eager to get his mix of talent and competitiveness into our program."
Newest member of the Lopes: @colebell24. Welcome to the GCU baseball program! #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/BbIzgpIftY
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 10, 2016
Nick Hull (RHP / Edmonds, Wash.)
Hull travels the furthest distance from home of the recruiting class, hailing from Edmonds, Wash. and Edmonds-Woodway High School. The right-hander threw 49.2 innings as a junior in 2016, posting an impressive 1.13 ERA with 67 strikeouts. Seven of his eight starts were of the complete game variety. One of those complete games included a career-high 15 strikeouts, a game which he cites as his favorite sports memory. Hull was named a first team All-Wesco pitcher and All-Area second team. He chose Grand Canyon because the coaches "made me feel like family" and the sunny Phoenix weather.
Coach Wallis: "Nick comes to us out of the Pacific Northwest region and is a very polished high school pitcher. He throws a lot of strikes with a quality three-pitch mix. His curveball has out-pitch potential. We believe his toughness and ability to command the strike zone makes him an ideal college starter."
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Our latest signing comes from the Pacific Northwest. Welcome Nick Hull (@seattleselect5) to GCU! #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/5qhxPYuN7Z
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 11, 2016
Seth Nordlin (RHP / Mesa, Ariz.)
Norling joins the Lopes from GateWay College after graduating from Mountain View High School in 2015. As a freshman at GateWay in 2016, Nordling made 26 appearances, fifth-most in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, and seven saves, third-most in the ACCAC. GateWay went 43-22 on the season and competed in the Junior College World Series, a moment which Nordlin cites as his favorite personal sports moment. He went 4-2 in 11 appearances and 41.2 innings as a senior at Mountain View. Nordlin selected GCU as his transfer option because of the coaching staff and his familiarity with the school, growing up near it his entire life.
Coach Wallis:Â "Seth is a talented pitcher and winning player. As a freshman he played a huge role in GateWay's run to the D2 Juco World Series. Seth has the stuff and pitchability to command a lot of innings on the mound for us next spring. He had a lot of quality D1 programs recruiting him, and we are very excited he chose to stay close to home and join our program."
Next up, @sethnordlin. Welcome to GCU Baseball! #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/eYMZMZJRC6
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 11, 2016
Channy Ortiz (INF /Â Phoenix, Ariz.)
The brother of former GCU baseball player Ernesto Ortiz (2011-12), Channy Ortiz comes to GCU from Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz. For the Hawks, Ortiz has been a three-year starter and three-year captain. He has already racked up two All-State first team selections and several all-section accolades. Over his three-year prep career, Ortiz holds a cumulative .394 batting average with an on-base percentage of nearly .500. In 94 games, Ortiz has posted 113 hits, driven in 63 runs and scored 91 times. He helped lead the Hawks to a 29-8 record in 2016 as a junior, hitting an extra-inning walk off against Prescott High School in the second round of the state playoffs. Ortiz chose Grand Canyon for the baseball coaching staff and to "be part of the rise."
Coach Wallis:Â "Channy has the ability to be an elite college defender, and we have seen him consistently excel at the shortstop position. Offensively he is a scrappy hitter who swings it from both sides of the plate. His baserunning instincts are very impressive, and we look for him to be an offensive table-setter during his years at GCU."
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Our signings roll on. Welcome to GCU, Channy Ortiz! #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/YUo0NTK45s
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 14, 2016
Drew Zmuda (RHP / Boise, Idaho)
A three-sport athlete at Capital High School in Boise, Idaho, Zmuda joins the Lopes as one of the three out-of-state signees from the class. He tossed 40.2 innings for the Eagles as a junior in 2016, posting a 2.41 ERA with 36 strikeouts. Zmuda was named 2016 ALL SIC 5-A Honorable Mention at pitcher, his third year as a varsity starter. His athleticism is evident as he played varsity football as a sophomore and is a two-year starter in basketball. Zmuda's Eagles won the state title during his freshman campaign, a moment he cites as the top in his athletic career. He chose GCU for the weather, the growing campus and the coaching staff.
Coach Wallis:Â "Drew is a very talented and hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from the Northwest area. He was a member of the Royals area code team and has tremendous upside on the mound. We love his mix of size and athleticism and feel he will be an impact player for us throughout his collegiate career. Â He will bring physicality and toughness to our pitching staff and is another pitcher who has come on strong late and is getting better with every inning pitched."
Welcome @Drew_11_Zmuda! Joining coach @Rd461P's pitching staff. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/X0J2ThvBFr
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 14, 2016
Mitchell Hagan (1B/LHP / Omaha, Neb.)
Hagan graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Neb. in 2016. Among his graduating class, Hagan was named the top first base prospect in Nebraska by Perfect Game, and the fifth overall player in the state. He played a key role in leading his high school club to a 33-6 record and the state title in 2015. While quarterbacking the school's football team, Hagan was a switch-hitting first baseman and pitcher. He cites his favorite personal sports moments as making his school's varsity roster as a freshman, batting cleanup and winning state three years.
Coach Wallis: "We feel really fortunate to have Mitchell signing to play baseball at GCU. Physically he possesses the size, strength and athleticism to be a standout college player and professional prospect. We will look for Mitchell to continue to develop on the mound as a left-handed pitcher and also be a middle-of-the-order bat for us in the future."
Welcome to GCU, Mitchell Hagan! The 11th member of our class. #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/g42a2hmeNJ
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 16, 2016
David Avitia (C / Phoenix, Ariz.)
Attending high school at the same intersection as the Grand Canyon campus, Avitia has made noise in his career at Alhambra High School. The catcher set a school record for batting average at .534 -- as a freshman. He is batting .518 for his career with 66 of his 130 hits of the extra-base variety. In a historic year for the Lions in 2016, Avitia as a junior was named the Arizona Small Schools Player of the Year as he led the Lions to a Division III State Championship. The opposition only attempted to steal on Avitia 15 times in 2016, with the Phoenix-native throwing out 12 of them.
Coach Wallis:Â "David is everything we were looking for in a catcher. He is a tough kid with tremendous leadership ability and passion for the game. We feel he is one of the best defensive catchers in the country, and he put that on display this summer with a great showing at the Area Code games. His ability to throw out baserunners will be fun to watch during his career as a Lope."
Welcome to the GCU Baseball program, David! #GCUNSD pic.twitter.com/Hd5MGEh0Jz
— GCU Baseball (@GCUBaseball) November 16, 2016
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