DENVER – Grand Canyon is the preseason favorite to win the 2020 Western Athletic Conference baseball title while NM State’s Nick Gonzales and GCU’s Kade Mechals were selected WAC Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively in a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Lopes received just two first-place votes but picked up six second-place votes to top the preseason poll with 73 points. Sacramento State was a close second, using four first-place votes to total 71 points. NM State was third with two first-place votes and 66 points overall, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley, with two first-place votes, and California Baptist tying for fourth at 55 points. CSU Bakersfield was selected sixth with 39 points, followed by Seattle U (35), Utah Valley (29), Northern Colorado (18) and Chicago State (9).
Gonzales and Mechals highlight the Preseason All-WAC squad. Gonzales is joined by teammates Kevin Jimenez and Tristan Peterson while Mechals is joined by fellow Lopes Pierson Ohl and Frankie Scalzo. UT Rio Grande Valley also had three selected as Conrado Diaz, Coleman Grubbs and Christian Sepulveda represented the Valley. Sacramento State had a pair honored as Matt Smith and Scott Randall each made the list. California Baptist’s Chad Castillo earned a nod, CSU Bakersfield was represented by Tyler Jorgensen and Utah Valley’s Mick Madsen was honored to round out the 14-member team.
The 2020 season begins on Friday, Feb. 14. WAC play is set to begin on March 20.
2020 Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1, Grand Canyon (2) 73
2. Sacramento State (4) 71
3. NM State (2) 66
T4. UT Rio Grande Valley (2) 55
T4. California Baptist 55
6. CSU Bakersfield 39
7. Seattle U 35
8. Utah Valley 29
9. Northern Colorado 18
10. Chicago State 9
2020 Preseason All-WAC Team
Catcher: Conrado Diaz, Sr., UT Rio Grande Valley
First Base: Tristan Peterson, Sr., NM State
Second Base: Nick Gonzales, Jr., NM 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., NM 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
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Gonzales, Jr., 2B, NM State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kade Mechals, Sr., RHP, Grand Canyon
