Completed Event: Baseball versus UNLV on April 11, 2026 , Win , 6, to, 1
Baseball
vs UNLV
W 6-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Preseason poll favors Lopes for 5th straight year
2/9/2022 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
Lopes picked to win West Division with conference-high 5 All-WAC picks
The 2022 baseball season introduces a new-look WAC, but it's the same story in preseason polling as Grand Canyon earned its fifth consecutive nod as a conference favorite.
The Lopes are expected to defend their 2021 regular-season title in the polling of the conference's head coaches. GCU won its third regular-season title of the last four conference seasons and swept its way through the WAC Tournament to debut in the NCAA tournament last year.
With the addition of four new Texas-based programs, the WAC is now split into two divisions. The Lopes sit atop the West Division, receiving five of six possible first-place votes. GCU was slotted in front of Sacramento State and California Baptist. The Lopes won four of five meetings with the Hornets last season and shared a regular-season crown with the Lancers.
GCU also leads the conference with five Preseason All-WAC selections, two more than the nearest program. Sophomores Elijah Buries (first base), Jacob Wilson (shortstop) and Carter Young (starting pitcher) are joined by upperclassmen Juan Colato (third base) and Tayler Aguilar (outfield) in receiving recognition.
Buries burst onto the scene a year ago, leading GCU with a .374 batting average that was the highest mark by a Lopes freshman since 2010. The Upland, California, native earned Freshman All-American honors from two publications, was a first-team All-WAC selection and was named to the All-Tournament team of the Tucson Regional in GCU's NCAA Tournament debut. The first baseman put together a well-rounded season, as he also paced GCU in slugging percentage (.553), on-base percentage (.433) and stolen bases (13).
Wilson is set to shift from third base to his more natural position of shortstop for his sophomore campaign. Also a Freshman All-American and All-WAC first teamer, Wilson combined his elite defensive ability with a late offensive tear to bat .313 on the season. The Thousand Oaks, California, product started every game of his freshman season other than a 16-game stretch due to injury. He checked in as one of the nation's 60 toughest batters to fan with only 19 strikeouts in 182 at bats.
Young rounded out GCU's trio of Freshman All-Americans from 2021, when he was a pick of three national publications. Young went 7-1 with a 2.77 ERA last season to earn his spot on the All-WAC second team. His impressive ERA ranked in the nation's top 75 and was the third-best mark in the country among true freshmen.
Set for his third season in a GCU uniform, Colato has hit .367 and .278 in his two previous seasons, respectively. Last year's WAC Preseason Player of the Year, Colato finished with 40 RBIs to rank in the conference's top 10 and second on the team. A native of El Salvador, Colato finished last season with All-WAC honorable-mention accolades. He split time between second base and left field a year ago but is expected to be the opening-day starter at the hot corner.
Aguilar had a breakout sophomore campaign to earn All-WAC honors on the second team. Splitting time between right field and designated hitter, Aguilar checked in with the Lopes' second-best batting average (.331) and slugging percentage (.529), both top-10 marks in the conference. He had a team-high 43 RBIs to rank seventh in the WAC.
Abilene Christian, which won the Southland Conference last season, was picked to win the WAC's Southwest Division and had three Preseaso All-WAC picks, including the Preseason Player of the Year, Colton Eager.
GCU's season is set to get underway at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark on Friday, Feb. 18. The Lopes open with a three-game set against Nevada, a fellow 2021 NCAA tournament qualifier.
The Lopes are expected to defend their 2021 regular-season title in the polling of the conference's head coaches. GCU won its third regular-season title of the last four conference seasons and swept its way through the WAC Tournament to debut in the NCAA tournament last year.
With the addition of four new Texas-based programs, the WAC is now split into two divisions. The Lopes sit atop the West Division, receiving five of six possible first-place votes. GCU was slotted in front of Sacramento State and California Baptist. The Lopes won four of five meetings with the Hornets last season and shared a regular-season crown with the Lancers.
GCU also leads the conference with five Preseason All-WAC selections, two more than the nearest program. Sophomores Elijah Buries (first base), Jacob Wilson (shortstop) and Carter Young (starting pitcher) are joined by upperclassmen Juan Colato (third base) and Tayler Aguilar (outfield) in receiving recognition.
Buries burst onto the scene a year ago, leading GCU with a .374 batting average that was the highest mark by a Lopes freshman since 2010. The Upland, California, native earned Freshman All-American honors from two publications, was a first-team All-WAC selection and was named to the All-Tournament team of the Tucson Regional in GCU's NCAA Tournament debut. The first baseman put together a well-rounded season, as he also paced GCU in slugging percentage (.553), on-base percentage (.433) and stolen bases (13).Wilson is set to shift from third base to his more natural position of shortstop for his sophomore campaign. Also a Freshman All-American and All-WAC first teamer, Wilson combined his elite defensive ability with a late offensive tear to bat .313 on the season. The Thousand Oaks, California, product started every game of his freshman season other than a 16-game stretch due to injury. He checked in as one of the nation's 60 toughest batters to fan with only 19 strikeouts in 182 at bats.Young rounded out GCU's trio of Freshman All-Americans from 2021, when he was a pick of three national publications. Young went 7-1 with a 2.77 ERA last season to earn his spot on the All-WAC second team. His impressive ERA ranked in the nation's top 75 and was the third-best mark in the country among true freshmen.Set for his third season in a GCU uniform, Colato has hit .367 and .278 in his two previous seasons, respectively. Last year's WAC Preseason Player of the Year, Colato finished with 40 RBIs to rank in the conference's top 10 and second on the team. A native of El Salvador, Colato finished last season with All-WAC honorable-mention accolades. He split time between second base and left field a year ago but is expected to be the opening-day starter at the hot corner.Aguilar had a breakout sophomore campaign to earn All-WAC honors on the second team. Splitting time between right field and designated hitter, Aguilar checked in with the Lopes' second-best batting average (.331) and slugging percentage (.529), both top-10 marks in the conference. He had a team-high 43 RBIs to rank seventh in the WAC.Abilene Christian, which won the Southland Conference last season, was picked to win the WAC's Southwest Division and had three Preseaso All-WAC picks, including the Preseason Player of the Year, Colton Eager.
GCU's season is set to get underway at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark on Friday, Feb. 18. The Lopes open with a three-game set against Nevada, a fellow 2021 NCAA tournament qualifier.
2022 Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll |
|||
| WEST | Team (first-place votes) | Points | |
| 1 |
 |
Grand Canyon (5) | 34 |
| 2 |
 |
Sacramento State (1) | 30 |
| 3 |
 |
California Baptist (1) | 27 |
| 4 |
 |
New Mexico State | 20 |
| 5 |
 |
Dixie State | 19 |
| 6 |
 |
Utah Valley | 10 |
| 7 |
 |
Seattle U | 7 |
| SOUTHWEST | |||
| 1 |
 |
Abilene Christian (5) | 25 |
| t-2 |
 |
UT Rio Grande Valley (1) | 19 |
 |
Sam Houston | 19 | |
| 4 |
 |
Lamar | 11 |
| 5 |
 |
Stephen F. Austin | 9 |
| 6 |
 |
Tarleton | 7 |
2022 Baseball Preseason Major Awards |
|
| Award | Player, School |
| Player of the Year | Colton Eager, Abilene Christian |
| Pitcher of the Year | Kevin Stevens, UT Rio Grande Valley |
2022 Baseball Preseason All-WAC Team |
|
| Position | Player, School |
| Catcher | Kaden Hollow, So., Dixie State |
| First Base | Elijah Buries, So., Grand Canyon Chase Kemp, Sr., Lamar |
| Second Base | Kevin Jiminez, Jr., New Mexico State |
| Third Base | Juan Colato, R-Sr., Grand Canyon |
| Shortstop | Jacob Wilson, So., Grand Canyon |
| Outfield | Tayler Aguilar, Jr., Grand Canyon |
| Outfield | Colton Eager, Gr., Abilene Christian |
| Outfield | Grayson Tatrow, Jr., Abilene Christian |
| Utility / DH | Tommy Cruz, Sr., Abilene Christian |
| Starting Pitcher | Colton Atkinson, So., Sam Houston |
| Starting Pitcher | Kevin Stevens, R-Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley |
| Starting Pitcher | Carter Young, So., Grand Canyon |
| Relief Pitcher | C.J. Culpepper, So., California Baptist |
Players Mentioned
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