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GCU pitchers highlight WAC voting
2/5/2020 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
Lopes again picked to finish 1st in conference
The Grand Canyon baseball team is again picked to win the WAC while its pitchers claimed three of four available spots on the Preseason All-WAC team in the conference's preseason polling released Wednesday.
GCU senior pitcher Kade Mechals is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Joining Mechals in receiving Preseason All-WAC honors are fellow Lopes pitchers Pierson Ohl and Frankie Scalzo. GCU is tied with New Mexico State and UT Rio Grande Valley for most selections in the preseason voting.
The Lopes were one of five teams bunched atop last year's WAC standings with the same five appearing in the preseason poll. GCU and Sacramento State, which finished one game outside of first place last season, take the top spots in the poll while last year's three regular season co-champions — New Mexico State, UT Rio Grande Valley and California Baptist — finished right behind. The Lopes and Hornets were the WAC Tournament finalists last season.
Mechals, a Preseason All-American pick, was also a first-team All-WAC selection in his inaugural season at the Division I level. The right-hander was the nation's co-leader in regular-season wins with 11, the most by a GCU pitcher in 28 years. Mechals was also the first Lopes pitcher to reach the 100-strikeout mark since 2004 and posted the best ERA (2.16) in the program's 14 D-I seasons.
Ohl is coming off a season in which he earned Freshmen All-American honors and is the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year. Known for his control, he ranked top 75 nationally and was the WAC leader in fewest walks per nine innings (1.87). Ohl posted a 2.37 ERA in WAC play, the second-best mark in the conference.
After his first season in a GCU uniform got off to an inauspicious start, Scalzo shifted from a starting role to a bullpen role and thrived, leading to the Preseason All-WAC selection as a relief pitcher for his junior season. Scalzo posted GCU's best ERA in conference play at 1.80, throwing 20 innings and allowing just 12 hits and four earned runs. He was one of seven WAC pitchers to record multiple saves in conference play.
The Lopes are in the final stages of preparation before hosting its annual Alumni Game on Saturday and welcoming top-25 Oklahoma State to open the season on Friday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.
GCU senior pitcher Kade Mechals is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Joining Mechals in receiving Preseason All-WAC honors are fellow Lopes pitchers Pierson Ohl and Frankie Scalzo. GCU is tied with New Mexico State and UT Rio Grande Valley for most selections in the preseason voting.
Joining Mechals on the Preseason All-WAC team is @Pierson_Ohl and @FrankieScalzo6. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/2yYJRtV5gv
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 5, 2020
The Lopes were one of five teams bunched atop last year's WAC standings with the same five appearing in the preseason poll. GCU and Sacramento State, which finished one game outside of first place last season, take the top spots in the poll while last year's three regular season co-champions — New Mexico State, UT Rio Grande Valley and California Baptist — finished right behind. The Lopes and Hornets were the WAC Tournament finalists last season.
Mechals, a Preseason All-American pick, was also a first-team All-WAC selection in his inaugural season at the Division I level. The right-hander was the nation's co-leader in regular-season wins with 11, the most by a GCU pitcher in 28 years. Mechals was also the first Lopes pitcher to reach the 100-strikeout mark since 2004 and posted the best ERA (2.16) in the program's 14 D-I seasons.
Ohl is coming off a season in which he earned Freshmen All-American honors and is the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year. Known for his control, he ranked top 75 nationally and was the WAC leader in fewest walks per nine innings (1.87). Ohl posted a 2.37 ERA in WAC play, the second-best mark in the conference.
After his first season in a GCU uniform got off to an inauspicious start, Scalzo shifted from a starting role to a bullpen role and thrived, leading to the Preseason All-WAC selection as a relief pitcher for his junior season. Scalzo posted GCU's best ERA in conference play at 1.80, throwing 20 innings and allowing just 12 hits and four earned runs. He was one of seven WAC pitchers to record multiple saves in conference play.
The Lopes are in the final stages of preparation before hosting its annual Alumni Game on Saturday and welcoming top-25 Oklahoma State to open the season on Friday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.
2020 Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll |
|||
| Rank | Team (First-place votes) | Points | |
| 1 |  |
Grand Canyon (2) | 73 |
| 2 |  |
Sacramento State (4) | 71 |
| 3 |  |
New Mexico State (2) | 66 |
| 4 |  |
UT Rio Grande Valley (2) | 55 |
 |
California Baptist | 55 | |
| 6 |  |
CSU Bakersfield | 39 |
| 7 |  |
Seattle U | 35 |
| 8 |  |
Utah Valley | 29 |
| 9 |  |
Northern Colorado | 18 |
| 10 |  |
Chicago State | 9 |
2020 Baseball Preseason All-WAC Team |
|
| Position | Player, School |
| Catcher | Conrado Diaz, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| First Base | Tristan Peterson, Sr., New Mexico State |
| Second Base | Nick Gonzales, Jr., New Mexico State |
| Third Base | Tyler Jorgensen, Sr., CSU Bakersfield |
| Third Base | Mick Madsen, So., Utah Valley |
| Shortstop | Christian Sepulveda, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| Outfield | Chad Castillo, So., California Baptist |
| Outfield | Coleman Grubbs, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| Outfield | Matt Smith, Sr., Sacramento State |
| Utility / DH | Kevin Jimenez, So., New Mexico State |
| Starting Pitcher | Kade Mechals, Sr., Grand Canyon |
| Starting Pitcher | Pierson Ohl, So., Grand Canyon |
| Starting Pitcher | Scott Randall, Jr., Sacramento State |
| Relief Pitcher | Frankie Scalzo, Jr., Grand Canyon |
2020 Baseball Conference Awards |
|
| Award | Player, School |
| Player of the Year | Nick Gonzales, Jr., New Mexico State |
| Pitcher of the Year | Kade Mechals, Grand Canyon |
Players Mentioned
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