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GCU inks 12 signees
12/12/2018 3:15:00 PM | Baseball
Class features 8 players from Arizona
Grand Canyon baseball announced a recruiting class of 12 signees, including 11 who will join the program for the 2020 season and one will play in 2019.
The strong ties to in-state talent continue for GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz and his staff, which added eight players from Arizona while also landing other signees coming from Colorado, California, Australia and El Salvador.
"We couldn't be more excited to announce the 2019 recruiting class," Stankiewicz said. "Coach (Gregg) Wallis and Coach (Rich) Dorman have identified 12 young men we believe will make an immediate impact in our program. Each one brings a special skill set in the game of baseball and has shown excellence in the classroom and the community. We continue to be strong recruiting Arizona but are also building our brand throughout the country."
The 12 incoming Lopes include right-handed pitcher Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, outfielder Ty Siffemann, left-handed pitcher Eli Ankeney, left-handed pitcher Shane Murphy, left-handed pitcher Cal Lambert, outfielder/first baseman Tayler Aguilar, infielder/right-handed pitcher Jack Slominski, right-handed pitcher Luke Bell, infielder Channy Ortiz, infielder Juan Colato, right-handed pitcher Dawson McCarville and catcher Josh Buckley.
The class includes five position players, six pitchers and one two-way player. Of the seven players who pitch, four are right-handed and three are left-handed. Nine members of the class will come to GCU from high school and three are transferring from junior colleges.
"This recruiting class is pivotal to our program after we are scheduled to lose eight seniors to graduation this spring," Stankiewicz said. "These young men are currently playing at very competitive high school or junior college programs, and we feel they will carry that same edge into GCU baseball."
Eleven of the class' members will play their respective high school or college seasons this spring before enrolling at GCU in August 2019 and having the opportunity to officially take the field in February 2020. Cooper-Vassalakis will join GCU this January from Australia.
"We're excited to bring our second player from Australia and also go into Southern California and Colorado," Stankiewicz said. "We thank all of our signees and their families and can't wait for them to join our program."
THE PLAYER: Cooper-Vassalakis has been labeled a rising star in his native Australia. He became the youngest player ever in the Australian Baseball League, debuting at age 15. Cooper-Vassalakis was one of 29 selections to the MLB World Select Team, a squad that toured the U.S. to gain international exposure.
THE PERSON: Brodie comes from a family of baseball pedigree. His father, Theo, pitched for Australia and is the Australian Capital Territory commissioner. Both older brothers also played the sport. He grew up a San Francisco Giants fan and enjoyed watching MLB stars Jose Fernandez and Justin Verlander. He chose GCU for its "beautiful campus, its sporting future and the great coaching and facilities."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Brodie possesses high-end starter stuff and is a very polished pitcher. His is a very focused, mature young man who is going to add instant depth to our pitching staff this spring." - Dorman
FOR MORE: Follows father's path ... Pitches his case to MLB
THE PLAYER: Siffermann has been a staple in the Basha baseball program, one of Arizona's best. As a sophomore in 2016, he hit .389 with 19 RBIs and seven triples, leading to his selection as the team's Offensive MVP. Siffermann earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors. He also was a standout on the football field with back-to-back 900-yard receiving seasons and 18 career touchdowns. Siffermann continues a Basha-GCU connection that now includes Michael Perzan, Seth Beckstead, Jake Jarvis and Jack Schneider.
THE PERSON: Ty has a 4.1 GPA and is interested in studying Business and Fire Science at GCU. He chose GCU because, "I love the facilities, the coaches, the campus atmosphere and the direction the baseball program is going." His favorite sports moment growing up was winning the Arizona Little League Championship.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ty is an exciting athlete. He put his athleticism on display every Friday night for the Basha football team and had an incredible senior year. Now we can't wait for him to focus his attention and athletic skill to baseball full-time. He has the physical ability to be an outstanding center fielder but also the versatility to play anywhere on the diamond. From an offensive standpoint, he has the power to hit a lot of doubles and wreak havoc on the basepaths with his speed." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Basha's multi-sport star ... Friday night 360 AZ
THE PLAYER: Ankeney is coming off a junior campaign that saw him toss 48.2 innings and strike out 63 batters in the process, a mark tied for second in the state at the 6A classification. He'll wrap up his career as a four-year starter. He was one of 20 members representing Arizona on the Junior Sunbelt team in 2018, where he was named to the all-tournament team. Was Desert Vista's Freshman Athlete of the Year, highlighted by his favorite sports memory of getting his team out of a late-game bases-loaded jam and driving in two key runs in a playoff win against Red Mountain.
THE PERSON: Eli was high school teammates with current Lopes sophomore Brock Burton. He was recognized as a scholar-athlete as a freshman and a junior. He chose GCU because "the school was the right fit for me. The coaches created good relationships with me." His favorite athletes to watch include Patrick Corbin and Clayton Kershaw.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Eli is just scratching the surface of his potential as a pitcher. He is a hard-working kid and will bring durability to the staff as a potential starter or reliever. Eli has continued to get better with every outing." - Dorman
FOR MORE: DV pitcher talks about shutting down Horizon
THE PLAYER: As a junior last spring, Murphy was tied for second in the state with 63 strikeouts at the 6A classification, matching fellow signee Eli Ankeney. He was a member of a Hamilton program that was named the country's top high school baseball program of the past decade by MaxPreps and claimed the 2017 state title, which he cites as his favorite sports moment. Murphy represented Team Arizona as a member of the Junior Sunbelt team and was voted "Team Gamer" by his Hamilton teammates.
THE PERSON: Murphy joins Jake Wong and Nick Ohanian as recent Hamilton graduates in the GCU program. His older brother, Patrick, was a third-round choice of Toronto in the 2013 MLB Draft and was recently added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Shane is an advanced strike thrower and has a big ceiling. He can throw multiple pitches for strikes and comes at you from first pitch to last. We are excited to see what his future holds here at GCU." - Dorman
FOR MORE: Prep Baseball Report Player of the Week
THE PLAYER: Lambert is a member of the reigning 6A state championship team at Sandra Day O'Connor, where he went 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 57.2 innings of work during his junior season. During the team's run to the title, Lambert pitched in two state playoff games, combining to allow just three runs in 12.1 innings (1.70 ERA). He was voted to the all-region first team and all-conference second team. Lambert was also a member of the Arizona Sunbelt team and a Reds Area Code player.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Cal enjoys fishing, hunting, lifting and playing other sports, like golf and basketball. He has a 3.93 GPA and is interested in studying Business and Finance. Cal has family connections in baseball with his dad, Stephen (Rose State College), and uncles, Reese Lambert (Oakland Athletics organization, Oklahoma State) and Brian Imboden (GCU) playing baseball beyond high school. Lambert will join Dawson McCarville as an O'Connor alum in the GCU program.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Cal is a hungry kid and a tireless worker. He possesses swing-and-miss stuff and has already started controlling the strike zone. He will represent what we are about here and flourish at GCU." - Dorman
THE PLAYER: Aguilar features an impressive .414 career batting average in his first three years of high school, highlighted by a .464 average as a sophomore in 2017. He has 64 RBIs and 40 extra-base hits. He earned all-conference recognition as a sophomore and a junior and made the all-star game each season.
THE PERSON: Tayler played two years of basketball, once knocking down eight 3-pointers in a game. His mom was a three-sport high school athlete and his dad played baseball. He is contemplating studying Sports Management or Athletic Training and is interested in working for a professional baseball team after his playing career is complete. He chose GCU for "the size, the coach and the location so I can play year-round."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Tayler is a strong left-handed hitter with great defensive actions and a plus arm. He is quick enough to play the outfield but also has great footwork and a dependable glove at first base. His bat speed will make him a power threat early in his career, and we anticipate him being a middle-of-the-order run producer." - Wallis
THE PLAYER: Slominski has been a two-year varsity member at Saguaro. He has a .321 batting average with 35 RBIs and sports a 6-1 record with a 1.76 ERA on the mound. He has struck out 58 batters in 57 innings. Slominski earned all-region honors in his sophomore and junior seasons.
THE PERSON: A lifetime Scottsdale resident, Jack has a 3.6 GPA and is considering an Education degree with the plan of being a teacher and coach following a playing career. Outside of baseball, he enjoys fishing and basketball. Chose GCU because it "has always felt like home" and "each year the program gets better and better." His father, Brian, played sand volleyball professionally.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jack is a competitor. You want the ball hit his way on defense or the ball in his hand on the mound. He has a chance to be a great two-way player in college, and we plan for him to compete for a spot in the infield and on the mound as a freshman. He also continues to develop at the plate and has shown he will be a really good college hitter." - Wallis
THE PLAYER: Bell made 10 starts on the mound in each of his last two seasons at Seton Catholic. As a junior in 2018, he posted a 9-1 record with 58 strikeouts in 45 innings. Bell helped lead the Sentinels to a 47-10 record the past two seasons, picking up two all-region honors and one all-state nod.
THE PERSON: Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Luke's family moved to the Phoenix area and he also golfed at Seton Catholic. He is considering a Sports Management degree. Baseball is in the family genes: father, Mike, was a first-round pick of Texas in 1993 and appeared in the big leagues. Uncles Ricky and David were third- and seventh-round selections, respectively, with David appearing in more than 1,400 MLB games. Grandfather Buddy was an 18-year big leaguer and nine-year MLB manager and great-grandfather Gus was a veteran of 15 MLB seasons and a four-time All-Star.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Luke is a really competitive kid with a bright future on the mound. We are excited he wanted to come and be a part of this. He has really come on and is ready to take the next step." - Dorman
THE PLAYER: After spending his freshman year as a member of the Lopes, Ortiz is set to make a return to GCU after one year at the community college level. During the 2018 season, Ortiz made eight starts and collected six hits and five RBIs while drawing four walks. Prior to GCU, Ortiz was a three-year captain at Apollo High School, where he hit .394 for his career with two all-state selections.
THE PERSON: Channy's older brother, Ernesto, played baseball at GCU in 2011 and 2012 while his sister-in-law, Vanessa Ortiz née Chavez, played softball for the Lopes simultaneously. Channy chose GCU out of high school to "be part of the rise." Off the field, he enjoys collecting shoes.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are thrilled to welcome Channy back to Grand Canyon. He had a tremendous fall at Yavapai, playing a solid middle infield while hitting leadoff. He is a fun player to watch because he plays with passion, energy and leadership. Defensively, he is smooth and will be able to play anywhere on the infield. Offensively, we will look to him to be a table-setter." - Wallis
THE PLAYER: Colato led Phoenix's South Mountain Community College with a .383 batting average during his freshman season in 2018. The infielder collected 82 hits with 14 doubles, 10 triples and four home runs while driving in 36 runs. Colato had 11 games of at least three hits, highlighted by a five-hit effort at Scottsdale. In his native El Salvador, he played for the national team at the Central American Games in Nicaragua in 2018, when four-time MLB All-Star Dennis Martínez sought him to compliment his play after a game.
THE PERSON: Juan grew up watching the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers with favorite players Jose Ramirez, Christian Yelich and Ichiro Suzuki. He is interested in studying Engineering. Juan chose to join the Lopes because it is a "place where I can grow as a person and athlete." Colato is the only foreign-born player at South Mountain, but he will join Coen Wynne and Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis as international players on the Lopes.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Juan has a great variety of physical tools. He can hit for average, hit for power, can really run and is also a plus defender. He had 28 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases as a freshman, which shows his exciting combination of power and speed. Off the field, he is a very driven student and high achiever. He is a great addition to the program." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Wins a scholarship in the USA ... Wins international acclaim
THE PLAYER: McCarville was the staff ace during his freshman season at Glendale Community College, accumulating 82.1 innings, which was 20 more than his nearest teammate and ranked 10th nationally. The right-hander posted a 5-2 record with a 3.06 ERA. In two years as a starter at Sandra Day O'Connor, McCarville went 9-3 with a 1.10 ERA and five saves, earning all-conference and all-state recognition.
THE PERSON: Dawson's older brother, Keegan, played at South Mountain Community College, where they met head-to-head last season, a moment which Dawson cites as his top sports memory. He chose GCU because of "a special feeling about my time here." He is interested in studying Business Management.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Dawson has a great arm with college experience. He's a superior worker and is going to compete every time he takes the ball. Dawson has the potential to be pitching for a long time. We're excited to get him in the GCU colors." - Dorman
FOR MORE: McCarville superb as O'Connor tops Pinnacle
THE PLAYER: Buckley hit .308 and .284 as a sophomore and junior, respectively, and helped lead the Lancers to a 41-14 record the past two seasons. He drove in 22 runs with the help of nine doubles in 2018. Buckley and his team advanced to the finals of the Division 4 CIF Southern Section Championship during his sophomore campaign, which he cites as his top personal sports memory.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Josh stays busy with snowboarding, surfing, mini golf and bowling. He is interested in a career as a firefighter when his playing career is complete. Josh chose GCU because "the coaching staff has such great character and I love the campus and student life." Josh, one of six siblings, also played 10 years of soccer and is interested in studying Communications. He had the opportunity to share the field with older brother Jordan, in addition to current Lopes freshman pitcher Pierson Ohl.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Josh is a physical catcher, great athlete and leader. He has easy gap power and will be an extra-base threat at the plate. Behind the plate, he handles a great pitching staff at his high school and is used to receiving quality pitching. He will be a big contributor offensively and defensively early in his career at GCU." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Siblings power becomes the norm
The strong ties to in-state talent continue for GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz and his staff, which added eight players from Arizona while also landing other signees coming from Colorado, California, Australia and El Salvador.
"We couldn't be more excited to announce the 2019 recruiting class," Stankiewicz said. "Coach (Gregg) Wallis and Coach (Rich) Dorman have identified 12 young men we believe will make an immediate impact in our program. Each one brings a special skill set in the game of baseball and has shown excellence in the classroom and the community. We continue to be strong recruiting Arizona but are also building our brand throughout the country."
The 12 incoming Lopes include right-handed pitcher Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, outfielder Ty Siffemann, left-handed pitcher Eli Ankeney, left-handed pitcher Shane Murphy, left-handed pitcher Cal Lambert, outfielder/first baseman Tayler Aguilar, infielder/right-handed pitcher Jack Slominski, right-handed pitcher Luke Bell, infielder Channy Ortiz, infielder Juan Colato, right-handed pitcher Dawson McCarville and catcher Josh Buckley.
The class includes five position players, six pitchers and one two-way player. Of the seven players who pitch, four are right-handed and three are left-handed. Nine members of the class will come to GCU from high school and three are transferring from junior colleges.
"This recruiting class is pivotal to our program after we are scheduled to lose eight seniors to graduation this spring," Stankiewicz said. "These young men are currently playing at very competitive high school or junior college programs, and we feel they will carry that same edge into GCU baseball."
Eleven of the class' members will play their respective high school or college seasons this spring before enrolling at GCU in August 2019 and having the opportunity to officially take the field in February 2020. Cooper-Vassalakis will join GCU this January from Australia.
"We're excited to bring our second player from Australia and also go into Southern California and Colorado," Stankiewicz said. "We thank all of our signees and their families and can't wait for them to join our program."
MEET THE 2019 CLASS |
BRODIE COOPER-VASSALAKIS
Right-handed pitcher - Canberra, Australia - Canberra College
Kicking off #NSD18 with a right-handed pitcher. Welcome to GCU, Brodie! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/LcVuoJbYH9
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Cooper-Vassalakis has been labeled a rising star in his native Australia. He became the youngest player ever in the Australian Baseball League, debuting at age 15. Cooper-Vassalakis was one of 29 selections to the MLB World Select Team, a squad that toured the U.S. to gain international exposure.
THE PERSON: Brodie comes from a family of baseball pedigree. His father, Theo, pitched for Australia and is the Australian Capital Territory commissioner. Both older brothers also played the sport. He grew up a San Francisco Giants fan and enjoyed watching MLB stars Jose Fernandez and Justin Verlander. He chose GCU for its "beautiful campus, its sporting future and the great coaching and facilities."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Brodie possesses high-end starter stuff and is a very polished pitcher. His is a very focused, mature young man who is going to add instant depth to our pitching staff this spring." - Dorman
FOR MORE: Follows father's path ... Pitches his case to MLB
TY SIFFERMANN
Outfielder - Chandler, Ariz. - Basha HS
Excited to welcome @tysiff to GCU! #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/K4Gkkp1fwD
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Siffermann has been a staple in the Basha baseball program, one of Arizona's best. As a sophomore in 2016, he hit .389 with 19 RBIs and seven triples, leading to his selection as the team's Offensive MVP. Siffermann earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors. He also was a standout on the football field with back-to-back 900-yard receiving seasons and 18 career touchdowns. Siffermann continues a Basha-GCU connection that now includes Michael Perzan, Seth Beckstead, Jake Jarvis and Jack Schneider.
THE PERSON: Ty has a 4.1 GPA and is interested in studying Business and Fire Science at GCU. He chose GCU because, "I love the facilities, the coaches, the campus atmosphere and the direction the baseball program is going." His favorite sports moment growing up was winning the Arizona Little League Championship.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ty is an exciting athlete. He put his athleticism on display every Friday night for the Basha football team and had an incredible senior year. Now we can't wait for him to focus his attention and athletic skill to baseball full-time. He has the physical ability to be an outstanding center fielder but also the versatility to play anywhere on the diamond. From an offensive standpoint, he has the power to hit a lot of doubles and wreak havoc on the basepaths with his speed." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Basha's multi-sport star ... Friday night 360 AZ
ELI ANKENEY
Left-handed pitcher - Phoenix, Ariz. - Desert Vista HS
.@EliAnkeney is the newest official member of the program! Welcome to GCU. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/g0PmXLVc9v
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Ankeney is coming off a junior campaign that saw him toss 48.2 innings and strike out 63 batters in the process, a mark tied for second in the state at the 6A classification. He'll wrap up his career as a four-year starter. He was one of 20 members representing Arizona on the Junior Sunbelt team in 2018, where he was named to the all-tournament team. Was Desert Vista's Freshman Athlete of the Year, highlighted by his favorite sports memory of getting his team out of a late-game bases-loaded jam and driving in two key runs in a playoff win against Red Mountain.
THE PERSON: Eli was high school teammates with current Lopes sophomore Brock Burton. He was recognized as a scholar-athlete as a freshman and a junior. He chose GCU because "the school was the right fit for me. The coaches created good relationships with me." His favorite athletes to watch include Patrick Corbin and Clayton Kershaw.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Eli is just scratching the surface of his potential as a pitcher. He is a hard-working kid and will bring durability to the staff as a potential starter or reliever. Eli has continued to get better with every outing." - Dorman
FOR MORE: DV pitcher talks about shutting down Horizon
SHANE MURPHY
Left-handed pitcher - Chandler, Ariz. - Hamilton HS
It's official! Welcome to GCU @2haneMurphy. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/FjZ61vLCC1
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: As a junior last spring, Murphy was tied for second in the state with 63 strikeouts at the 6A classification, matching fellow signee Eli Ankeney. He was a member of a Hamilton program that was named the country's top high school baseball program of the past decade by MaxPreps and claimed the 2017 state title, which he cites as his favorite sports moment. Murphy represented Team Arizona as a member of the Junior Sunbelt team and was voted "Team Gamer" by his Hamilton teammates.
THE PERSON: Murphy joins Jake Wong and Nick Ohanian as recent Hamilton graduates in the GCU program. His older brother, Patrick, was a third-round choice of Toronto in the 2013 MLB Draft and was recently added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Shane is an advanced strike thrower and has a big ceiling. He can throw multiple pitches for strikes and comes at you from first pitch to last. We are excited to see what his future holds here at GCU." - Dorman
FOR MORE: Prep Baseball Report Player of the Week
CAL LAMBERT
Left-handed pitcher - Peoria, Ariz. - Sandra Day O'Connor HS
.@lambert_cal is a Lope! Welcome to the program. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/5QMRcIqU8H
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Lambert is a member of the reigning 6A state championship team at Sandra Day O'Connor, where he went 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 57.2 innings of work during his junior season. During the team's run to the title, Lambert pitched in two state playoff games, combining to allow just three runs in 12.1 innings (1.70 ERA). He was voted to the all-region first team and all-conference second team. Lambert was also a member of the Arizona Sunbelt team and a Reds Area Code player.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Cal enjoys fishing, hunting, lifting and playing other sports, like golf and basketball. He has a 3.93 GPA and is interested in studying Business and Finance. Cal has family connections in baseball with his dad, Stephen (Rose State College), and uncles, Reese Lambert (Oakland Athletics organization, Oklahoma State) and Brian Imboden (GCU) playing baseball beyond high school. Lambert will join Dawson McCarville as an O'Connor alum in the GCU program.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Cal is a hungry kid and a tireless worker. He possesses swing-and-miss stuff and has already started controlling the strike zone. He will represent what we are about here and flourish at GCU." - Dorman
TAYLER AGUILAR
Outfielder / first baseman - Evans, Colo. - Northridge HS
Welcome to GCU, @taybam34! Excited to have you. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/XEptVQE3Hq
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Aguilar features an impressive .414 career batting average in his first three years of high school, highlighted by a .464 average as a sophomore in 2017. He has 64 RBIs and 40 extra-base hits. He earned all-conference recognition as a sophomore and a junior and made the all-star game each season.
THE PERSON: Tayler played two years of basketball, once knocking down eight 3-pointers in a game. His mom was a three-sport high school athlete and his dad played baseball. He is contemplating studying Sports Management or Athletic Training and is interested in working for a professional baseball team after his playing career is complete. He chose GCU for "the size, the coach and the location so I can play year-round."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Tayler is a strong left-handed hitter with great defensive actions and a plus arm. He is quick enough to play the outfield but also has great footwork and a dependable glove at first base. His bat speed will make him a power threat early in his career, and we anticipate him being a middle-of-the-order run producer." - Wallis
JACK SLOMINSKI
Infielder / right-handed pitcher - Scottsdale, Ariz. - Saguaro HS
It's official! Welcome, @jack_ski123. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/12sgAAtx42
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Slominski has been a two-year varsity member at Saguaro. He has a .321 batting average with 35 RBIs and sports a 6-1 record with a 1.76 ERA on the mound. He has struck out 58 batters in 57 innings. Slominski earned all-region honors in his sophomore and junior seasons.
THE PERSON: A lifetime Scottsdale resident, Jack has a 3.6 GPA and is considering an Education degree with the plan of being a teacher and coach following a playing career. Outside of baseball, he enjoys fishing and basketball. Chose GCU because it "has always felt like home" and "each year the program gets better and better." His father, Brian, played sand volleyball professionally.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jack is a competitor. You want the ball hit his way on defense or the ball in his hand on the mound. He has a chance to be a great two-way player in college, and we plan for him to compete for a spot in the infield and on the mound as a freshman. He also continues to develop at the plate and has shown he will be a really good college hitter." - Wallis
LUKE BELL
Right-handed pitcher - Chandler, Ariz. - Seton Catholic Prepatory HS
Welcome @luke_bell25! Glad to have you in the program. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/MrLBzYNQE1
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 14, 2018
THE PLAYER: Bell made 10 starts on the mound in each of his last two seasons at Seton Catholic. As a junior in 2018, he posted a 9-1 record with 58 strikeouts in 45 innings. Bell helped lead the Sentinels to a 47-10 record the past two seasons, picking up two all-region honors and one all-state nod.
THE PERSON: Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Luke's family moved to the Phoenix area and he also golfed at Seton Catholic. He is considering a Sports Management degree. Baseball is in the family genes: father, Mike, was a first-round pick of Texas in 1993 and appeared in the big leagues. Uncles Ricky and David were third- and seventh-round selections, respectively, with David appearing in more than 1,400 MLB games. Grandfather Buddy was an 18-year big leaguer and nine-year MLB manager and great-grandfather Gus was a veteran of 15 MLB seasons and a four-time All-Star.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Luke is a really competitive kid with a bright future on the mound. We are excited he wanted to come and be a part of this. He has really come on and is ready to take the next step." - Dorman
CHANNY ORTIZ
Infielder - Phoenix, Ariz. - Yavapai College
Looking forward to the return of @lil___ortiz next year. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/lPmlJQVpUr
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 15, 2018
THE PLAYER: After spending his freshman year as a member of the Lopes, Ortiz is set to make a return to GCU after one year at the community college level. During the 2018 season, Ortiz made eight starts and collected six hits and five RBIs while drawing four walks. Prior to GCU, Ortiz was a three-year captain at Apollo High School, where he hit .394 for his career with two all-state selections.
THE PERSON: Channy's older brother, Ernesto, played baseball at GCU in 2011 and 2012 while his sister-in-law, Vanessa Ortiz née Chavez, played softball for the Lopes simultaneously. Channy chose GCU out of high school to "be part of the rise." Off the field, he enjoys collecting shoes.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are thrilled to welcome Channy back to Grand Canyon. He had a tremendous fall at Yavapai, playing a solid middle infield while hitting leadoff. He is a fun player to watch because he plays with passion, energy and leadership. Defensively, he is smooth and will be able to play anywhere on the infield. Offensively, we will look to him to be a table-setter." - Wallis
JUAN COLATO
Infielder - San Salvador, El Salvador - South Mountain CC
We make it official with @juan_colato3! Welcome to GCU. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/WwO3An8MHP
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 16, 2018
THE PLAYER: Colato led Phoenix's South Mountain Community College with a .383 batting average during his freshman season in 2018. The infielder collected 82 hits with 14 doubles, 10 triples and four home runs while driving in 36 runs. Colato had 11 games of at least three hits, highlighted by a five-hit effort at Scottsdale. In his native El Salvador, he played for the national team at the Central American Games in Nicaragua in 2018, when four-time MLB All-Star Dennis Martínez sought him to compliment his play after a game.
THE PERSON: Juan grew up watching the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers with favorite players Jose Ramirez, Christian Yelich and Ichiro Suzuki. He is interested in studying Engineering. Juan chose to join the Lopes because it is a "place where I can grow as a person and athlete." Colato is the only foreign-born player at South Mountain, but he will join Coen Wynne and Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis as international players on the Lopes.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Juan has a great variety of physical tools. He can hit for average, hit for power, can really run and is also a plus defender. He had 28 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases as a freshman, which shows his exciting combination of power and speed. Off the field, he is a very driven student and high achiever. He is a great addition to the program." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Wins a scholarship in the USA ... Wins international acclaim
DAWSON McCARVILLE
Right-handed pitcher - Glendale, Ariz. - Glendale CC
.@DingerDawson is a Lope! Welcome to GCU. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/DrIclz7xWO
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 19, 2018
THE PLAYER: McCarville was the staff ace during his freshman season at Glendale Community College, accumulating 82.1 innings, which was 20 more than his nearest teammate and ranked 10th nationally. The right-hander posted a 5-2 record with a 3.06 ERA. In two years as a starter at Sandra Day O'Connor, McCarville went 9-3 with a 1.10 ERA and five saves, earning all-conference and all-state recognition.
THE PERSON: Dawson's older brother, Keegan, played at South Mountain Community College, where they met head-to-head last season, a moment which Dawson cites as his top sports memory. He chose GCU because of "a special feeling about my time here." He is interested in studying Business Management.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Dawson has a great arm with college experience. He's a superior worker and is going to compete every time he takes the ball. Dawson has the potential to be pitching for a long time. We're excited to get him in the GCU colors." - Dorman
FOR MORE: McCarville superb as O'Connor tops Pinnacle
JOSH BUCKLEY
Catcher - Newbury Park, Calif. - Grace Brethren
.@JoshBuckley00 is a Lope! Welcome to the GCU family. #NSD18 #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/rLI3IHSa6I
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 28, 2018
THE PLAYER: Buckley hit .308 and .284 as a sophomore and junior, respectively, and helped lead the Lancers to a 41-14 record the past two seasons. He drove in 22 runs with the help of nine doubles in 2018. Buckley and his team advanced to the finals of the Division 4 CIF Southern Section Championship during his sophomore campaign, which he cites as his top personal sports memory.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Josh stays busy with snowboarding, surfing, mini golf and bowling. He is interested in a career as a firefighter when his playing career is complete. Josh chose GCU because "the coaching staff has such great character and I love the campus and student life." Josh, one of six siblings, also played 10 years of soccer and is interested in studying Communications. He had the opportunity to share the field with older brother Jordan, in addition to current Lopes freshman pitcher Pierson Ohl.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Josh is a physical catcher, great athlete and leader. He has easy gap power and will be an extra-base threat at the plate. Behind the plate, he handles a great pitching staff at his high school and is used to receiving quality pitching. He will be a big contributor offensively and defensively early in his career at GCU." - Wallis
FOR MORE: Siblings power becomes the norm
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