TWO MORE VAQUEROS LOCK UP SCHOOLS FOR 2018

The Central Arizona baseball team has had enormous success over the years moving on players from their current roster to Division 1 universities around the country.  This is year is no different.  14 players have already sealed their plans for next year and two more have recently committed.  "It is really important for our program that we are giving players the opportunity to chase down their dreams, but ultimately the players are the one's impressing the recruiters who come to watch," said third year head coach Anthony Gilich.

Pikai Duque-Winchester (pictured below) will play for Grand Canyon University in 2018.  Winchester, a left handed hitting second baseman for the Vaqueros, hit .399 as a true freshman in 2016 and is currently at .340.  "I am so proud of Pikai," Gilich added, "He continues to work on his game every day, but more importantly he is of the highest in character of any player we have had here at Central Arizona." GCU is in their final year of transition to D1 and will be able to make the post season for the first time in 2018 when Winchester arrives.  Winchester has always been recognized nationally as one of the top players since winning a Little League World Series title for team Hawaii in 2008 and being selected in the MLB draft by the Rays in 2015.

 

Roger Varela (below) has also given his commitment to play for D1 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  Varela, a native of Yuma, AZ hit .394 for Central his freshman year and was selected 2^nd team ALL ACCAC shortstop for his efforts.  Varela has made the move to 3B this season and has continued to play outstanding.  "Roger is a gamer," said Gilich, "he is a player you appreciate more over time and always seems to come up big when it counts.  A true baseball player with a high IQ for the game."  Both UTRGV and GCU compete in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

Complete list of Vaqueros commitments for next year:
Pikai Duque-Winchester               - GCU
Roger Varela – UTRGV
Peyton Remy – New Mexico State
Andrew Edwards – New Mexico State
Will McAffer – Tulane University
Ty Johnson – Tulane University
Gio Lopez – University of Missouri
Bradley Gonzales – Dallas Baptist Univeristy
Ryley Widell – University of North Carolina
Grant Townsend – Oral Roberts University
Makoa Rosario (below) – Lewis-Clark State

Sati Santa Cruz – Lewis-Clark State
Andrew Chartrand – Friends University
Justice Nakagawa – West Texas A & M