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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Colato, Lopes earn top preseason billing
2/10/2021 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
GCU in 3-team tie for 1st with UT Rio Grande Valley, Sacramento State
For the fourth consecutive year, the Grand Canyon baseball team sits atop the preseason polling of WAC head coaches. This year, the Lopes are in a three-team tie for the top spot, and junior infielder Juan Colato is the conference's Preseason Player of the Year.
GCU also landed three selections on the Preseason All-WAC team with Colato at second base, junior Pierson Ohl at starting pitcher and senior Frankie Scalzo at relief pitcher.
"Congratulations to Juan, Pierson and Frankie for being named to the All-WAC preseason team," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We are proud of what they have already accomplished on the field and excited to see what this season will bring. All three are tremendous young men that have shown tremendous work ethic and players we expect to lead our ballclub. They also know we have a lot of work to do and are excited about the challenges we will face this season."
GCU's spot at the top of the WAC's polling is shared with UT Rio Grande Valley and Sacramento State. The Lopes open WAC play by hosting the Vaqueros and will travel to Sacramento to play the Hornets April 30-May 2.
The Lopes have featured one of the conference's two major preseason award winners in three consecutive years: Quin Cotton (2019), Kade Mechals (2020) and now Colato (2021).
Colato — also a preseason All-American — made an immediate impact in his debut season at GCU. In 18 games, the El Salvador native collected 29 hits, which ranked sixth nationally. In addition to hits, Colato led the Lopes in batting average (.367), doubles (five), home runs (five), on-base percentage (.419), slugging percentage (.620) and stolen bases (six).
For a second consecutive year, Ohl was one of three selections for starting pitcher in the conference. Still the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year after the award was not named last season, the junior exhibited some of the best control in college baseball. With just one walk over 28 innings, Ohl ranked third in the nation for fewest walks per nine innings. His 17-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked 10th in the country. Ohl posted ERAs of 3.45 and 2.89, respectively, in his first two seasons.
Also making a repeat appearance on the Preseason All-WAC team, Scalzo returns as one of GCU's top bullpen arms and earned the lone relief recognition in the conference. In 11 innings last season, Scalzo did not yield a run and gave up just seven hits while striking out nine. His career ERA as a reliever sits at 2.45 over 51 innings of relief work.
GCU is set to open the season on Friday, Feb. 19, with a four-game series against Missouri at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.
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GCU also landed three selections on the Preseason All-WAC team with Colato at second base, junior Pierson Ohl at starting pitcher and senior Frankie Scalzo at relief pitcher.
"Congratulations to Juan, Pierson and Frankie for being named to the All-WAC preseason team," Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "We are proud of what they have already accomplished on the field and excited to see what this season will bring. All three are tremendous young men that have shown tremendous work ethic and players we expect to lead our ballclub. They also know we have a lot of work to do and are excited about the challenges we will face this season."
GCU's spot at the top of the WAC's polling is shared with UT Rio Grande Valley and Sacramento State. The Lopes open WAC play by hosting the Vaqueros and will travel to Sacramento to play the Hornets April 30-May 2.
The Lopes have featured one of the conference's two major preseason award winners in three consecutive years: Quin Cotton (2019), Kade Mechals (2020) and now Colato (2021).
Colato — also a preseason All-American — made an immediate impact in his debut season at GCU. In 18 games, the El Salvador native collected 29 hits, which ranked sixth nationally. In addition to hits, Colato led the Lopes in batting average (.367), doubles (five), home runs (five), on-base percentage (.419), slugging percentage (.620) and stolen bases (six).
For a second consecutive year, Ohl was one of three selections for starting pitcher in the conference. Still the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year after the award was not named last season, the junior exhibited some of the best control in college baseball. With just one walk over 28 innings, Ohl ranked third in the nation for fewest walks per nine innings. His 17-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked 10th in the country. Ohl posted ERAs of 3.45 and 2.89, respectively, in his first two seasons.
Also making a repeat appearance on the Preseason All-WAC team, Scalzo returns as one of GCU's top bullpen arms and earned the lone relief recognition in the conference. In 11 innings last season, Scalzo did not yield a run and gave up just seven hits while striking out nine. His career ERA as a reliever sits at 2.45 over 51 innings of relief work.
GCU is set to open the season on Friday, Feb. 19, with a four-game series against Missouri at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.
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2021Â Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll |
|||
| Rank | Team (First-place votes) | Points | |
| t-1 |  |
UT Rio Grande Valley (4) | 73 |
 |
Grand Canyon (3) | 73 | |
 |
Sacramento State (3) | 73 | |
| 4 |  |
New Mexico State | 53 |
| 5 |  |
California Baptist | 49 |
| 6 |  |
Seattle U | 37 |
| 7 |  |
Utah Valley | 32 |
| 8 |  |
Dixie State | 26 |
| t-9 |  |
Northern Colorado | 17 |
 |
Tarleton | 17 | |
 2021 Baseball Major Awards |
|
| Award | Player, School |
| Player of the Year | Juan Colato, Grand Canyon |
| Pitcher of the Year | Scott Randall, Sacramento State |
 2021 Baseball Preseason All-WAC Team |
|
| Position | Player, School |
| Catcher | Conrado Diaz, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| First Base | Blake Burns, Sr., Tarleton |
| Second Base | Juan Colato, Jr., Grand Canyon |
| Third Base | Justin Kodama, Jr., Seattle U |
| Shortstop | Connor O'Brien, Jr., Seattle U |
| Shortstop | Christian Sepulveda, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| Outfield | Ulises Caballero, Sr., California Baptist |
| Outfield | Chad Castillo, Jr., California Baptist |
| Outfield | Noah Haupt, Jr., New Mexico State |
| Utility / DH | Joseph Impeduglia, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| Starting Pitcher | Pierson Ohl, Jr., Grand Canyon |
| Starting Pitcher | Scott Randall, Jr., Sacramento State |
| Starting Pitcher | Jesse Schmit, Sr., Utah Valley |
| Relief Pitcher | Frankie Scalzo, Jr., Grand Canyon |
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