GCU baseball's Tyler Wilson named WAC Player of Year, Gregg Wallis Coach of the Year
Grand Canyon baseball loaded up on Western Athletic Conference honors ahead of the tournament this week in Mesa.
The top-seeded Lopes got a double-bye to Thursday's double-elimination tournament at Hohokam Stadium with a noon start.
Senior outfielder Tyler Wilson was named Player of the Year, and Gregg Wallis, for the second year in a row, was named Coach of the Year. This is Wallis' second season leading the program.
Wilson, a Chandler Hamilton High School graduate, had his best season at GCU, becoming the first Antelope to win Player of the Year honors since Quin Cotton in 2018.
Wilson hit .405 in conference play, leading the WAC. He was top 10 in the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, runs scored, RBIs, doubles and home runs. He never hit below .300 in any of his four seasons playing for GCU.
Wilson hit .383 overall this season with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 59 RBIs.
He started his career as a catcher, moved to first base and designated hitter and mostly playing outfield this season.
Under Wallis, GCU had one more WAC win than it did last year. He has led the Lopes to a 45-14 conference record the last two seasons combined.
Making first-team All-WAC are starting pitcher Isaac Lyon, and designated hitter Beau Ankeney. Outfielder Cade Verdusco made second-team All-WAC and first-team All-Defense, along with shortstop Emilio Barreras, and outfielder Eddy Pelc.
Catcher Alton Gyselman made second-team All-Defense.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grand Canyon baseball loads up on WAC honors ahead of tourney
