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Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU signs talented, balanced class
11/18/2020 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
Lopes add 5 position players, 5 pitchers, pair of 2-way players for 2022 season
The Grand Canyon baseball program announced its 2020 recruiting class of signees who will join the program next year for the 2022 season.
GCU signed four players from Phoenix-area high schools, four from California and others from Montana, Oklahoma, Texas and Japan.
"GCU baseball is very excited to announce our incoming players for fall of 2021," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We addressed our needs as a staff and (assistant coaches) Gregg Wallis and Jon Wente met those needs head on in this recruiting class. This was a very tough time in recruiting because of the pandemic, but I am proud of their persistence and relentless approach in this challenging time."
The incoming Lopes include right-handed pitcher/first baseman Griffin Allen, first baseman/third baseman Beau Ankeney, catcher John Sheehan, outfielder Adrian Torres, infielder Ambren Voitik, right-handed pitcher/infielder Noah Waldeck, utility Jaxson Wall, left-handed pitcher Taisei Yahiro and right-handed pitchers Daniel Avitia, RJ Elmore, Hunter Omlid and Ryan Schiefer.
The class includes five position players, five pitchers and a pair of two-way players.
"This is a very balanced recruiting class, as we welcome a nice balance of position players and pitchers," Stankiewicz said. "Each player brings a special skill set on the baseball field that we believe will transfer to successful seasons for them individually and the team collectively. They are young men of high character and have shown strong work ethic on the field and in the classroom. I am very confident that they will make Lope Nation proud."
The class members will play their respective high school or junior college seasons this spring before enrolling at GCU in August with an opportunity to officially take the field in February 2022.
THE PLAYER: Through his junior campaign, Allen has already touched 90 mph on the mound. He managed to sneak in three doubles and six RBIs in seven games while batting .312 in a shortened seven-game 2020 season. In his younger days, he led the 12U U.S. national team to a silver medal, which he cites as his top sports memory.
THE PERSON: Griffin chose GCU because "everything was just right. Everyone on the campus was friendly. Meeting the coaches to my future school was a great time. Facilities and housing couldn't get any better." He is interested in studying business.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Griffin is a two-way guy who comes to GCU from a great high school baseball program and a teammate of fellow signee Jaxson Wall. Griffin has a big frame and a live arm. We think the future will be bright for Griffin in our program." — Wente
THE PLAYER: Ankeney brings with him a big bat that led Class 6A with 44 RBIs as a sophomore in 2019. A varsity contributor since his freshman year, Ankeney has a .437 career average in 40 games, including a .536 start through eight games last spring. His top sports memory is hammering a three-run home run as a sophomore in the 2019 "Baseball Day Arizona" showcase at Chase Field on FOX Sports Arizona.
THE PERSON: Beau is the younger brother of current Lopes pitcher Eli Ankeney. He chose GCU for a "great coaching staff, awesome facilities, beautiful campus, competitive program" and feedback from Eli's experience. He is contemplating a Business Applied Management degree in the Colangelo College of Business. Off the field, he enjoys hiking and video games. He continues a pipeline from Desert Vista High School, which sent pro signee Garrison Schwartz and current Lope Brock Burton to GCU.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Beau is as physical as any player in the country and is a real power threat with the bat. He possesses big home run power but also knows how to hit. He comes to us from a great program at Desert Vista under Coach (Cody) Brassfield. He had a monster sophomore year and was on his way to another huge season before the COVID shutdown. We are really excited to welcome Beau to the program and watch him swing it here at Brazell." — Wallis
THE PLAYER: Avitia plays his high school baseball at nearby Alhambra High School, where he has an impressive 3.21 ERA in 25 career appearances. In his 12 innings as a junior, he posted a 2.33 ERA and a 20-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio for all-district honors. With a loose arm touching over 90 mph, Avitia was selected by MLB scouts to compete in the Area Code games this summer.
THE PERSON: Daniel follows the footsteps of his older brother, David, a senior catcher at GCU. His favorite pitchers to watch are Max Scherzer and Kyle Hendricks. He is contemplating a sports management major.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Danny is getting better and stronger. He has a quick arm, a live fastball and good off-speed offerings. He has great upside which we're very excited for." — Wente
THE PLAYER: A pitch-ready high school senior, Elmore has amassed 43 innings at Red Mountain High School and compiled a 2.60 career ERA. He racked up 15 2/3 innings in his COVID-shortened junior season, allowing just two earned runs for a 0.89 ERA. He took that momentum into the Arizona Collegiate Wood Bat League — facing older competition — and went 3-0 with two saves over 23 2/3 innings. His favorite sports memory was pitching in the playoffs as a sophomore in 2019, throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings over four playoff games and leading a pair of Mountain Lions upsets.
THE PERSON: Elmore plans to major in accounting. He chose to sign with the Lopes because he "loved everything about GCU and was certain that it was the best fit for me." His favorite MLB club is the St. Louis Cardinals and he enjoys watching Chris Sale and Jordan Hicks pitch.
SCOUTING REPORT: "RJ is a true pitcher. He can throw multiple pitches for strikes and can fill many roles on a pitching staff. He is a true, gritty competitor who should be able to pitch for us quickly." — Wente
THE PLAYER: Omlid was a member of Boise State's abbreviated return to college baseball in 2020 and went 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA. Half of his four appearances came against WAC foes Seattle U and Northern Colorado, throwing nine innings combined against the two teams with 14 strikeouts and three earned runs. His collegiate debut came at Texas, where he allowed one run in three innings. Omlid will play at Central Arizona College this season. Like current Lopes pitcher Carter Young of Wyoming, Omlid grew up in a state that does not feature high school baseball (Montana) and proved himself through legion and club teams.
THE PERSON: Omlid intends to study business management in the Colangelo College of Business. Off the field, he enjoys hunting and fishing. He chose GCU in part due to the "great and welcoming environment." He also was a three-time all-state selection in basketball.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Hunter is a true competitor and strike-thrower on the mound. He has Division I experience, as he pitched at Boise State as a freshman and will pitch for one of the top junior colleges this year at Central Arizona College. Hunter has weekend stuff, and we are really excited to add him to our program." —Wente
THE PLAYER: Schiefer was the first member of the recruiting class and has progressed rapidly since committing in October. He picked up significant velocity, now into the 90s, and was off to a dominant start with a 2.10 ERA and 14 strikeouts and 10 innings in the spring. Ranked as Arizona's top pitcher by Prep Baseball Report, Schiefer also participated in the Area Code games this summer.
THE PERSON: Schiefer intends to major in justice studies. He picked the Lopes because it was the "best fit for me and my future." Off the diamond, he enjoys golfing. His favorite pitchers to watch include Walker Buehler, Marcus Stroman and Max Scherzer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ryan has a great, athletic arm and can make an immediate impact at GCU. His fastball is already in the 90s with a good slider. We are very excited to have Ryan join our program." — Wente
THE PLAYER: Sheehan is an elite defender who will be a fourth-year starting varsity catcher this spring at Cosumnes Oaks High School. A top-10 catcher in California per Prep Baseball Report, Sheehan was tabbed to play for the Kansas City Royals scout team.
THE PERSON: John chose GCU because the "campus, culture, coaches and facilities were all superior to the other colleges I was considering." He enjoys spending time with his family, including a niece and nephew. He is contemplating studying communications and a post-baseball career in law enforcement. Off the field, he enjoys golfing and watching The Office.
SCOUTING REPORT: "At 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, John has the look and skill set of a professional catcher. He shows great ability to receive, block and throw. His combination of a quick release and strong arm consistently has him clocked under 2 seconds on his throws to second base. While we love the defensive side, John can also hit. We look for him to be a power-hitting catcher that can control a game on defense and drive in runs on offense." — Wallis
THE PLAYER: Torres led New Mexico Junior College's qualifying hitters with a .333 average in 21 games last year, coming on the heels of a .361 campaign with 12 home runs as a freshman. He helped lead the Thunderbirds to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series as a freshman, and his tournament home run is his top sports memory. A first-team all-state selection at Americas High School in El Paso, Torres was a 33rd-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
THE PERSON: Adrian chose to sign with GCU because "I like the atmosphere and the baseball program." His favorite teams are the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Adrian is an exciting left-handed hitter from New Mexico Junior College. He has a wiry athletic frame and will bring some bigtime bat speed with him to GCU. We are looking for Adrian to add experience to next year's offense, as he has played in big games including the NJCAA World Series. We can't wait to welcome Adrian to campus." — Wallis
MORE: Red Sox select Americas' Torres in 33rd round of MLB Draft ... El Pasoans help pave way for New Mexico Junior College baseball team
THE PLAYER: Voitik started hot in his junior college career, hitting .441 with four home runs, 15 RBI, 29 runs, five stolen bases and five doubles. He was an all-state selection and a four-year starter at Enid High School, a 3-mile trek from his junior college.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Ambren enjoys mountain biking and golfing. He is contemplating a criminal justice major. He chose to sign with the Lopes because "it is a great program in a great place. Feels like home." His favorite MLB club is the Chicago Cubs and he enjoys watching Joe Mauer and Anthony Rizzo.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ambren comes to us from a great junior college program in NOC Enid. Defensively, he is versatile and can play several positions on the field. Offensively, he was on fire his freshman season before the COVID shutdown and will be ready to contribute with the bat immediately at the D-I level. He has the rare combination of being an extra-base-hit threat while also controlling the strike zone. With Ambren, Lopes fans will see a classic left-handed swing with power to all fields." — Wallis
MORE: After fast start, NOC Enid's Voitik dealing with sudden stop to season
THE PLAYER: Waldeck does it all at Tri-City Christian High School. He led the Eagles with a .407 batting average as a sophomore in 2019 while also serving as the closer and striking out 27 batters in 21 innings. What's more, Waldeck is the starting quarterback and completed over 60% of his passes as a junior.
THE PERSON: Noah chose GCU because "me and my family thought this was the best place to be to better my future." He intends to major in kinesiology with the goal of either being a MLB player or physical therapist. Off the field, he enjoys attending church and cheering for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Noah is a two-sport high school athlete and flashes his athleticism as the quarterback of the football team. He has a great frame with tremendous upside. We're excited we got him in a GCU uniform." — Wente
THE PLAYER: With a showcase of athleticism as the ultimate utility player, Wall hit .357 as a sophomore and was slated to be the team's starting right fielder before the season was halted. His favorite sports memory was a walk-off single on a 39-0 summer baseball team.
THE PERSON: Wall chose GCU for "the faith aspect of a Christian school, the coaching staff, the baseball program, the campus and the school environment." Off the field, he enjoys playing pickup basketball with friends and cites Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan for helping shape the mental side of his game. His father, Justin, played soccer at Westmont College and went on to play professionally.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jaxson is an uber-athletic utility player and we look to him to be GCU's version of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor. He comes from a winning high school program. While we recruited Jaxson, his maturity and leadership qualities were as exciting as his versatile baseball skills. Jaxson has the size and athleticism to develop into a great college player and professional prospect. We can't wait to get him on campus next fall." — Wallis
THE PLAYER: The left-handed pitcher had a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings during his debut season at Yavapai before the COVID stoppage. In those 20 innings, he struck out 24 batters while picking up two wins and two saves in his nine appearances.
THE PERSON: From an athletic family, Taisei's father played football and baseball while his mother participated in gymnastics. He picked GCU because he "loved the environment of the school and great baseball program." He lived for 14 years in Japan before moving to Canada for four years and now the United States to play college baseball.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Really excited to add Taisei to our class. Great story for Taisei from Japan to Canada to a great junior college program at Yavapai. He has a great arm and put up great numbers last year and continues to get better. Taisei will be a great addition to our pitching staff." — Wente
GCU signed four players from Phoenix-area high schools, four from California and others from Montana, Oklahoma, Texas and Japan.
"GCU baseball is very excited to announce our incoming players for fall of 2021," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We addressed our needs as a staff and (assistant coaches) Gregg Wallis and Jon Wente met those needs head on in this recruiting class. This was a very tough time in recruiting because of the pandemic, but I am proud of their persistence and relentless approach in this challenging time."
The incoming Lopes include right-handed pitcher/first baseman Griffin Allen, first baseman/third baseman Beau Ankeney, catcher John Sheehan, outfielder Adrian Torres, infielder Ambren Voitik, right-handed pitcher/infielder Noah Waldeck, utility Jaxson Wall, left-handed pitcher Taisei Yahiro and right-handed pitchers Daniel Avitia, RJ Elmore, Hunter Omlid and Ryan Schiefer.
The class includes five position players, five pitchers and a pair of two-way players.
"This is a very balanced recruiting class, as we welcome a nice balance of position players and pitchers," Stankiewicz said. "Each player brings a special skill set on the baseball field that we believe will transfer to successful seasons for them individually and the team collectively. They are young men of high character and have shown strong work ethic on the field and in the classroom. I am very confident that they will make Lope Nation proud."
The class members will play their respective high school or junior college seasons this spring before enrolling at GCU in August with an opportunity to officially take the field in February 2022.
MEET THE 2020 CLASS |
GRIFFIN ALLEN
First baseman/right-handed pitcher - San Jose, Calif. - Valley Christian HS
Signed. ✅✍️ Welcome aboard, @IamGriffinAllen! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/RRcunVmIOk
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 13, 2020
THE PLAYER: Through his junior campaign, Allen has already touched 90 mph on the mound. He managed to sneak in three doubles and six RBIs in seven games while batting .312 in a shortened seven-game 2020 season. In his younger days, he led the 12U U.S. national team to a silver medal, which he cites as his top sports memory.
THE PERSON: Griffin chose GCU because "everything was just right. Everyone on the campus was friendly. Meeting the coaches to my future school was a great time. Facilities and housing couldn't get any better." He is interested in studying business.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Griffin is a two-way guy who comes to GCU from a great high school baseball program and a teammate of fellow signee Jaxson Wall. Griffin has a big frame and a live arm. We think the future will be bright for Griffin in our program." — Wente
BEAU ANKENEY
First baseman/third baseman - Phoenix, Ariz. - Desert Vista HS
Making it official. Welcome to the Lopes, @BeauAnkeney! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/RrDYSVGxU4
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: Ankeney brings with him a big bat that led Class 6A with 44 RBIs as a sophomore in 2019. A varsity contributor since his freshman year, Ankeney has a .437 career average in 40 games, including a .536 start through eight games last spring. His top sports memory is hammering a three-run home run as a sophomore in the 2019 "Baseball Day Arizona" showcase at Chase Field on FOX Sports Arizona.
THE PERSON: Beau is the younger brother of current Lopes pitcher Eli Ankeney. He chose GCU for a "great coaching staff, awesome facilities, beautiful campus, competitive program" and feedback from Eli's experience. He is contemplating a Business Applied Management degree in the Colangelo College of Business. Off the field, he enjoys hiking and video games. He continues a pipeline from Desert Vista High School, which sent pro signee Garrison Schwartz and current Lope Brock Burton to GCU.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Beau is as physical as any player in the country and is a real power threat with the bat. He possesses big home run power but also knows how to hit. He comes to us from a great program at Desert Vista under Coach (Cody) Brassfield. He had a monster sophomore year and was on his way to another huge season before the COVID shutdown. We are really excited to welcome Beau to the program and watch him swing it here at Brazell." — Wallis
DANIEL AVITIA
Right-handed pitcher - Phoenix, Ariz. - Alhambra HS
Alhambra ⏩ GCU. Another Avitia joins the Lopes. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/qDIyPqEkIH
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 12, 2020
THE PLAYER: Avitia plays his high school baseball at nearby Alhambra High School, where he has an impressive 3.21 ERA in 25 career appearances. In his 12 innings as a junior, he posted a 2.33 ERA and a 20-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio for all-district honors. With a loose arm touching over 90 mph, Avitia was selected by MLB scouts to compete in the Area Code games this summer.
THE PERSON: Daniel follows the footsteps of his older brother, David, a senior catcher at GCU. His favorite pitchers to watch are Max Scherzer and Kyle Hendricks. He is contemplating a sports management major.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Danny is getting better and stronger. He has a quick arm, a live fastball and good off-speed offerings. He has great upside which we're very excited for." — Wente
RJ ELMORE
Right-handed pitcher - Mesa, Ariz. - Red Mountain HS
.@rje_3 leads us off. Welcome to GCU! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/tAnHqb1A7I
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: A pitch-ready high school senior, Elmore has amassed 43 innings at Red Mountain High School and compiled a 2.60 career ERA. He racked up 15 2/3 innings in his COVID-shortened junior season, allowing just two earned runs for a 0.89 ERA. He took that momentum into the Arizona Collegiate Wood Bat League — facing older competition — and went 3-0 with two saves over 23 2/3 innings. His favorite sports memory was pitching in the playoffs as a sophomore in 2019, throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings over four playoff games and leading a pair of Mountain Lions upsets.
THE PERSON: Elmore plans to major in accounting. He chose to sign with the Lopes because he "loved everything about GCU and was certain that it was the best fit for me." His favorite MLB club is the St. Louis Cardinals and he enjoys watching Chris Sale and Jordan Hicks pitch.
SCOUTING REPORT: "RJ is a true pitcher. He can throw multiple pitches for strikes and can fill many roles on a pitching staff. He is a true, gritty competitor who should be able to pitch for us quickly." — Wente
HUNTER OMLID
Right-handed pitcher - Hamilton, Mont. - Boise State / Central Arizona
A big arm 💪💪. Welcome to GCU, @omlidhunter! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/x0w7lWIUa1
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 18, 2020
THE PLAYER: Omlid was a member of Boise State's abbreviated return to college baseball in 2020 and went 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA. Half of his four appearances came against WAC foes Seattle U and Northern Colorado, throwing nine innings combined against the two teams with 14 strikeouts and three earned runs. His collegiate debut came at Texas, where he allowed one run in three innings. Omlid will play at Central Arizona College this season. Like current Lopes pitcher Carter Young of Wyoming, Omlid grew up in a state that does not feature high school baseball (Montana) and proved himself through legion and club teams.
THE PERSON: Omlid intends to study business management in the Colangelo College of Business. Off the field, he enjoys hunting and fishing. He chose GCU in part due to the "great and welcoming environment." He also was a three-time all-state selection in basketball.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Hunter is a true competitor and strike-thrower on the mound. He has Division I experience, as he pitched at Boise State as a freshman and will pitch for one of the top junior colleges this year at Central Arizona College. Hunter has weekend stuff, and we are really excited to add him to our program." —Wente
RYAN SCHIEFER
Right-handed pitcher - Gilbert, Ariz. - Campo Verde HS
East Valley »» West Valley. @RyanSchiefer1 joins the GCU pitching staff. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/lqxyYVmNRR
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 12, 2020
THE PLAYER: Schiefer was the first member of the recruiting class and has progressed rapidly since committing in October. He picked up significant velocity, now into the 90s, and was off to a dominant start with a 2.10 ERA and 14 strikeouts and 10 innings in the spring. Ranked as Arizona's top pitcher by Prep Baseball Report, Schiefer also participated in the Area Code games this summer.
THE PERSON: Schiefer intends to major in justice studies. He picked the Lopes because it was the "best fit for me and my future." Off the diamond, he enjoys golfing. His favorite pitchers to watch include Walker Buehler, Marcus Stroman and Max Scherzer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ryan has a great, athletic arm and can make an immediate impact at GCU. His fastball is already in the 90s with a good slider. We are very excited to have Ryan join our program." — Wente
JOHN SHEEHAN
Catcher - Elk Grove, Calif. - Cosumnes Oaks HS
Making it official. ✅ @johnnycohs2021 joins the Lopes! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/MgRKuySXkU
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 12, 2020
THE PLAYER: Sheehan is an elite defender who will be a fourth-year starting varsity catcher this spring at Cosumnes Oaks High School. A top-10 catcher in California per Prep Baseball Report, Sheehan was tabbed to play for the Kansas City Royals scout team.
THE PERSON: John chose GCU because the "campus, culture, coaches and facilities were all superior to the other colleges I was considering." He enjoys spending time with his family, including a niece and nephew. He is contemplating studying communications and a post-baseball career in law enforcement. Off the field, he enjoys golfing and watching The Office.
SCOUTING REPORT: "At 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, John has the look and skill set of a professional catcher. He shows great ability to receive, block and throw. His combination of a quick release and strong arm consistently has him clocked under 2 seconds on his throws to second base. While we love the defensive side, John can also hit. We look for him to be a power-hitting catcher that can control a game on defense and drive in runs on offense." — Wallis
ADRIAN TORRES
Outfielder - El Paso, Texas - New Mexico Junior College
Welcome @Gueroo_5 to Lope Nation! ✍️⚾️ #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/xNWWoMxMTR
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 17, 2020
THE PLAYER: Torres led New Mexico Junior College's qualifying hitters with a .333 average in 21 games last year, coming on the heels of a .361 campaign with 12 home runs as a freshman. He helped lead the Thunderbirds to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series as a freshman, and his tournament home run is his top sports memory. A first-team all-state selection at Americas High School in El Paso, Torres was a 33rd-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
THE PERSON: Adrian chose to sign with GCU because "I like the atmosphere and the baseball program." His favorite teams are the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Adrian is an exciting left-handed hitter from New Mexico Junior College. He has a wiry athletic frame and will bring some bigtime bat speed with him to GCU. We are looking for Adrian to add experience to next year's offense, as he has played in big games including the NJCAA World Series. We can't wait to welcome Adrian to campus." — Wallis
MORE: Red Sox select Americas' Torres in 33rd round of MLB Draft ... El Pasoans help pave way for New Mexico Junior College baseball team
AMBREN VOITIK
Infielder - Enid, Okla. - Northern Oklahoma College Enid
From the juco ranks 👀 Excited to officially welcome @ambrenvoitik15 to GCU! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/Fvepyccr4D
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 13, 2020
THE PLAYER: Voitik started hot in his junior college career, hitting .441 with four home runs, 15 RBI, 29 runs, five stolen bases and five doubles. He was an all-state selection and a four-year starter at Enid High School, a 3-mile trek from his junior college.
THE PERSON: Off the field, Ambren enjoys mountain biking and golfing. He is contemplating a criminal justice major. He chose to sign with the Lopes because "it is a great program in a great place. Feels like home." His favorite MLB club is the Chicago Cubs and he enjoys watching Joe Mauer and Anthony Rizzo.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ambren comes to us from a great junior college program in NOC Enid. Defensively, he is versatile and can play several positions on the field. Offensively, he was on fire his freshman season before the COVID shutdown and will be ready to contribute with the bat immediately at the D-I level. He has the rare combination of being an extra-base-hit threat while also controlling the strike zone. With Ambren, Lopes fans will see a classic left-handed swing with power to all fields." — Wallis
MORE: After fast start, NOC Enid's Voitik dealing with sudden stop to season
NOAH WALDECK
Right-handed pitcher/infielder - Vista, Calif. - Tri-City Christian
Boom. Welcome to Lopes baseball, @WaldeckNoah! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/jk4Df5a47d
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 16, 2020
THE PLAYER: Waldeck does it all at Tri-City Christian High School. He led the Eagles with a .407 batting average as a sophomore in 2019 while also serving as the closer and striking out 27 batters in 21 innings. What's more, Waldeck is the starting quarterback and completed over 60% of his passes as a junior.
THE PERSON: Noah chose GCU because "me and my family thought this was the best place to be to better my future." He intends to major in kinesiology with the goal of either being a MLB player or physical therapist. Off the field, he enjoys attending church and cheering for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Noah is a two-sport high school athlete and flashes his athleticism as the quarterback of the football team. He has a great frame with tremendous upside. We're excited we got him in a GCU uniform." — Wente
JAXSON WALL
Utility - San Jose, Calif. - Valley Christian HS
He's a Lope! Welcome to GCU, @jaxson_wall. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/Q9XWvbTB5d
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 12, 2020
THE PLAYER: With a showcase of athleticism as the ultimate utility player, Wall hit .357 as a sophomore and was slated to be the team's starting right fielder before the season was halted. His favorite sports memory was a walk-off single on a 39-0 summer baseball team.
THE PERSON: Wall chose GCU for "the faith aspect of a Christian school, the coaching staff, the baseball program, the campus and the school environment." Off the field, he enjoys playing pickup basketball with friends and cites Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan for helping shape the mental side of his game. His father, Justin, played soccer at Westmont College and went on to play professionally.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jaxson is an uber-athletic utility player and we look to him to be GCU's version of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor. He comes from a winning high school program. While we recruited Jaxson, his maturity and leadership qualities were as exciting as his versatile baseball skills. Jaxson has the size and athleticism to develop into a great college player and professional prospect. We can't wait to get him on campus next fall." — Wallis
TAISEI YAHIRO
Left-handed pitcher - Osaka, Japan - Yavapai College
Making it official. Welcome to GCU, @yahirotaisei! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/DbL9n3ZKDW
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) November 20, 2020
THE PLAYER: The left-handed pitcher had a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings during his debut season at Yavapai before the COVID stoppage. In those 20 innings, he struck out 24 batters while picking up two wins and two saves in his nine appearances.
THE PERSON: From an athletic family, Taisei's father played football and baseball while his mother participated in gymnastics. He picked GCU because he "loved the environment of the school and great baseball program." He lived for 14 years in Japan before moving to Canada for four years and now the United States to play college baseball.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Really excited to add Taisei to our class. Great story for Taisei from Japan to Canada to a great junior college program at Yavapai. He has a great arm and put up great numbers last year and continues to get better. Taisei will be a great addition to our pitching staff." — Wente
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