Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Cal State Fullerton on November 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Baseball
11 a.m.
vs Cal State Fullerton
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes lead All-WAC voting headlined by Wilson, Wallis
5/22/2023 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
GCU racks up 12 awards, doubles nearest WAC school
Grand Canyon led All-WAC recognition for the fifth straight season with 12 awards, headlined by Jacob Wilson being named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year and Lopes head coach Gregg Wallis earning WAC Coach of the Year.
In addition to the three major awards, GCU landed three players on the All-WAC first team, three on the All-WAC second team and four on the All-WAC Defensive Team.
Wallis became the first rookie head coach in the history of the WAC to be named the conference's coach of the year. The league has been handing out the award since 1986.
On the first team, GCU landed: Wilson (shortstop), Homer Bush Jr. (outfielder) and Daniel Avitia (starting pitcher).
Second-team selections included: Zach Yorke (first baseman), Zach Thornton (starting pitcher) and Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis (relief pitcher).
GCU earned four spots on the WAC All-Defensive Team: Wilson, Yorke, Cade Verdusco (outfielder) and Emilio Barreras (infielder).
ÂJacob Wilson, WAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-WAC (Shortstop), All-Defensive Team
Wilson's career honors are too long to list, but include being a two-time Golden Spikes Semifinalist, a top MLB Draft prospect and the WAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year. Wilson led the conference in batting average by .035, hitting .489. He was also top five in the league in slugging percentage (.755), on-base percentage (.542) and doubles per game (0.39). Wilson became GCU's D-I career leader in hits and RBIs, and his highlight of conference action was hitting go-ahead grand slams on back-to-back days to sweep Utah Tech.
Gregg Wallis, WAC Coach of the Year
Wallis was named GCU's head coach in July after nine years as a Lopes assistant coach and continued the program's momentum in 2023. He led the Lopes to their third straight WAC regular-season title and fifth in the last six seasons. GCU has built a top-70 RPI this season and grabbed the No. 1 seed heading into this week's conference tournament. The Lopes recorded impressive wins over Tennessee, Ohio State, Gonzaga, Texas State, Arizona, eventual Big West Champion UC San Diego and more.
Homer Bush Jr., First-Team All-WAC (Outfielder)
Bush continued the strong upward trajectory for his career with his debut on an All-WAC first team. In WAC play, Bush led the conference in runs scored (43) and was second in stolen bases (16). He finished hitting .358 in conference play and started every game as the Lopes' leadoff hitter and center fielder. His .477 on-base percentage in conference games was a top-10 mark in the league and led to a number of high-scoring first innings for the Lopes.
Daniel Avitia, First-Team All-WAC (Starting Pitcher)
The reigning WAC Pitcher of the Year and WAC Freshman of the Year had an impressive follow-up campaign that included ranking third in WAC play in wins (six) and strikeouts (62). He did not lose a conference game, going 6-0 for the regular-season champion Lopes. Avitia had a top-10 WAC ERA (4.30) and fifth in opposing average (.248).
Zach Yorke, Second-Team All-WAC (First Baseman), All-Defensive Team
Yorke compiled an impressive freshman campaign where he ranked second in the conference with 39 RBIs and third with a .514 on-base percentage in WAC games. The first baseman was one of eight qualifying WAC hitters to hit over .400 in conference action, checking in at .404. He set GCU's freshman RBIs record in the D-I era and is approaching the all-time mark for a Lopes freshman.
Zach Thornton, Second-Team All-WAC (Starting Pitcher)
Thornton went 7-1 in WAC action, tied for the conference lead in wins. He also tied for the most innings pitched in conference play (60 1/3 innings) and finished in the top 10 in ERA (ninth, 4.33) and strikeouts (fifth, 55). Thornton is a two-time WAC Pitcher of the Week and opened conference action with 13 strikeouts in a scoreless seven-inning outing against New Mexico State.
Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Second-Team All-WAC (Relief Pitcher)
Cooper-Vassalakis tied for the conference lead with four saves during WAC play. In 16 2/3 innings stretched over 10 conference outings, the graduate righty posted a 1.08 earned-run average and a .175 opposing batting average. He had the second-best ERA in the conference among pitchers to throw at least 10 innings in conference play.
Cade Verdusco, All-Defensive Team
Verdusco's throwing arm out in right field earned a deserving reputation throughout the 2023 campaign. The junior had 51 errorless chances in right field during conference action and one outfield assist. He had four outfield assists on the season, but his reputation forced teams to stop attempting advancements as aggressively.
Emilio Barreras, All-Defensive Team
The freshman appeared in 24 of 29 games, making spot starts at shortstop as well as playing third base. Manning two of the toughest positions defensively, Barreras committed only one error in 73 chances in conference play. He was a part of eight double plays and made a handful of highlight-reel defensive plays during the season.
Â
 Â
In addition to the three major awards, GCU landed three players on the All-WAC first team, three on the All-WAC second team and four on the All-WAC Defensive Team.
Wallis became the first rookie head coach in the history of the WAC to be named the conference's coach of the year. The league has been handing out the award since 1986.
On the first team, GCU landed: Wilson (shortstop), Homer Bush Jr. (outfielder) and Daniel Avitia (starting pitcher).
Second-team selections included: Zach Yorke (first baseman), Zach Thornton (starting pitcher) and Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis (relief pitcher).
GCU earned four spots on the WAC All-Defensive Team: Wilson, Yorke, Cade Verdusco (outfielder) and Emilio Barreras (infielder).
Â
Jacob Wilson, WAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-WAC (Shortstop), All-Defensive Team
Wilson's career honors are too long to list, but include being a two-time Golden Spikes Semifinalist, a top MLB Draft prospect and the WAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year. Wilson led the conference in batting average by .035, hitting .489. He was also top five in the league in slugging percentage (.755), on-base percentage (.542) and doubles per game (0.39). Wilson became GCU's D-I career leader in hits and RBIs, and his highlight of conference action was hitting go-ahead grand slams on back-to-back days to sweep Utah Tech.
Gregg Wallis, WAC Coach of the Year
Wallis was named GCU's head coach in July after nine years as a Lopes assistant coach and continued the program's momentum in 2023. He led the Lopes to their third straight WAC regular-season title and fifth in the last six seasons. GCU has built a top-70 RPI this season and grabbed the No. 1 seed heading into this week's conference tournament. The Lopes recorded impressive wins over Tennessee, Ohio State, Gonzaga, Texas State, Arizona, eventual Big West Champion UC San Diego and more.
Homer Bush Jr., First-Team All-WAC (Outfielder)
Bush continued the strong upward trajectory for his career with his debut on an All-WAC first team. In WAC play, Bush led the conference in runs scored (43) and was second in stolen bases (16). He finished hitting .358 in conference play and started every game as the Lopes' leadoff hitter and center fielder. His .477 on-base percentage in conference games was a top-10 mark in the league and led to a number of high-scoring first innings for the Lopes.
Daniel Avitia, First-Team All-WAC (Starting Pitcher)
The reigning WAC Pitcher of the Year and WAC Freshman of the Year had an impressive follow-up campaign that included ranking third in WAC play in wins (six) and strikeouts (62). He did not lose a conference game, going 6-0 for the regular-season champion Lopes. Avitia had a top-10 WAC ERA (4.30) and fifth in opposing average (.248).
Zach Yorke, Second-Team All-WAC (First Baseman), All-Defensive Team
Yorke compiled an impressive freshman campaign where he ranked second in the conference with 39 RBIs and third with a .514 on-base percentage in WAC games. The first baseman was one of eight qualifying WAC hitters to hit over .400 in conference action, checking in at .404. He set GCU's freshman RBIs record in the D-I era and is approaching the all-time mark for a Lopes freshman.
Zach Thornton, Second-Team All-WAC (Starting Pitcher)
Thornton went 7-1 in WAC action, tied for the conference lead in wins. He also tied for the most innings pitched in conference play (60 1/3 innings) and finished in the top 10 in ERA (ninth, 4.33) and strikeouts (fifth, 55). Thornton is a two-time WAC Pitcher of the Week and opened conference action with 13 strikeouts in a scoreless seven-inning outing against New Mexico State.
Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Second-Team All-WAC (Relief Pitcher)
Cooper-Vassalakis tied for the conference lead with four saves during WAC play. In 16 2/3 innings stretched over 10 conference outings, the graduate righty posted a 1.08 earned-run average and a .175 opposing batting average. He had the second-best ERA in the conference among pitchers to throw at least 10 innings in conference play.
Cade Verdusco, All-Defensive Team
Verdusco's throwing arm out in right field earned a deserving reputation throughout the 2023 campaign. The junior had 51 errorless chances in right field during conference action and one outfield assist. He had four outfield assists on the season, but his reputation forced teams to stop attempting advancements as aggressively.
Emilio Barreras, All-Defensive Team
The freshman appeared in 24 of 29 games, making spot starts at shortstop as well as playing third base. Manning two of the toughest positions defensively, Barreras committed only one error in 73 chances in conference play. He was a part of eight double plays and made a handful of highlight-reel defensive plays during the season.Â
Major WAC awards |
||
| Award | Player | School |
| Player of the Year | Grayson Tatros | Abilene Christian |
| Pitcher of the Year | Liam Rocha | California Baptist |
| Freshman of the Year | Wehiwa Aloy | Sacramento State |
| Coach of the Year | Gregg Wallis | Grand Canyon |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Jacob Wilson | Grand Canyon |
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ BaseballGCU Baseball - WAC Tournament vs. Utah Tech - Highlights
Thursday, May 22
Baseball at Stanford - Barreras' game-winning double
Saturday, May 10
Baseball vs. Arizona (5/6/25) - Yorke homers twice to break record
Wednesday, May 07
GCU Baseball - Eli Paton walk-off single vs. UTA
Saturday, April 26