Contreras earns WAC Player of the Year honors

On an all-conference team dominated by the West Division, Carlos Contreras took top honors, being named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Contreras was one of four Bearkats to earn all-conference honors on Tuesday, a day before play is set to begin in WAC Baseball Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.

Contreras, also a first team selection, is joined by teammates Justin Wishkoski and Lance Lusk, who were both second team picks. Freshman catcher Walker Janek was named to the All-Defensive team.

Contreras, a junior outfielder from El Paso, led the WAC with a .447 batting average in league play and helped the Bearkats win the Southwest Division. Also boasting WAC-bests in on base percentage (.520) and slugging percentage (.854), he was also the league leader in hits (55), RBIs (61) and triples (4).

For the season he leads the NCAA in runs batted in with 89 and is fourth in the country in hits with 90, 8^th in batting average (.404).

Wishkoski made an immediate impact in his first season with the Bearkats. He's hit .372 so far this season, which is second on the club. He's also second on the team in hits (80), Runs (59), RBIs (49) and he leads the team in doubles with 17, tied with Contreras. Defensively, he led the team in chances with 326 and committed just 12 errors.

Lusk was a force at the back end of the bull pen in 2022 for the Kats. He posted a 5-0 record while recording 8 saves. The senior from Spring had a 2.21 ERA in 25 appearances this season, striking out 46 batters in 36 2/3 innings of work.

Janek stepped right in as freshman and took control of the catching duties. The threw out 33 percent of would-be base stealers, with 10 runners caught stealing while committing just 2 errors.

2022 WAC Awards
Player of the Year: Carlos Contreras, Jr., OF, Sam Houston
Pitcher of the Year: Daniel Avitia, Fr., RHP, Grand Canyon
Defensive Player of the Year: Harrison Spohn, Sr., 2B, California Baptist
Freshman of the Year: Daniel Avitia, RHP, Grand Canyon
Coach of the Year: Andy Stankiewicz, Grand Canyon

2022 First Team All-WAC
Catcher: David Martin, So., California Baptist
First Base: Logan Gallina, So., NM State
Second Base: Harrison Spohn, Sr., California Baptist
Third Base: Juan Colato, R-Sr., Grand Canyon
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, So., Grand Canyon
Outfield: Tayler Aguilar, Jr., Grand Canyon
Outfield: Chad Castillo, Jr., California Baptist
Outfield: Carlos Contreras, Jr., Sam Houston
DH/Utility: Parker Schmidt, So., Dixie State
At-Large: Tyler Wilson, So., C, Grand Canyon
Starting Pitcher: Daniel Avitia, Fr., Grand Canyon
Starting Pitcher: Kevin Stevens, R-Sr, UT Rio Grande Valley
Relief Pitcher: Jack Dallas, Sr., Lamar
At-Large: Vince Reilly, Jr., RHP, Grand Canyon

2022 Second Team All-WAC
Catcher: Kaden Hollow, So., Dixie State
First Base: Justin Wishkoski, So., Sam Houston
Second Base: Kemuel Thomas-Rivera, Gr., Tarleton
Third Base: Mitchel Simon, So., California Baptist
Shortstop: Bash Randle, So., Abilene Christian
Outfield: Brett Cain, Gr., UT Rio Grande Valley
Outfield: Matthew McDonald, Sr., Lamar
Outfield: Brandon Pimentel, Jr., UT Rio Grande Valley
DH/Utility: Russell Stevenson, Sr., California Baptist
At-Large: London Green, Sr., OF, Tarleton
Starting Pitcher: CJ Culpepper, So., California Baptist
Starting Pitcher: Adam Wheaton, Sr., Lamar
Relief Pitcher: Lance Lusk, Sr., Sam Houston
At-Large: Nick Hull, Gr., RHP, Grand Canyon

2022 All-Defensive Team
Kirkland Banks, Jr., IF, Lamar
Logan Gallina, So., C, NM State
London Green, Sr., OF, Tarleton
Walker Janek, Fr., UT, Sam Houston
Chase Kemp, Sr., IF, Lamar
Isaac Lopez, R-Fr., IF, UT Rio Grande Valley
Bash Randle, So., SS, Abilene Christian
Harrison Spohn, Sr., IF, California Baptist
Jacob Wilson, So., SS, Grand Canyon
Cade Verdusco, So., OF, Grand Canyon

Contreras earns WAC Player of the Year honors

Players Mentioned

Carlos Contreras

Walker Janek

Lance Lusk

Justin Wishkoski

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