Bailey Leasure is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde High School for AZPreps365.com.

GILBERT, Ariz.— Senior Isaiah Lopez has come a long way since being a freshman on the Campo Verde varsity baseball team. 

As Lopez begins his fourth season on the team, head coach Shawn Dukes is impressed not only with his play, but his emergence as a team captain. 

“Since when we brought him up to the varsity team at the end of his freshman season, he’s grown into a true leader,” Dukes said. “He’s the guy that is the glue to our team.” 

As a team captain, Lopez has played the role of a leader for the team. On the field, he helps teammates during batting practice and fielding drills. 

During a recent practice, one infielder was out of position to turn a ground ball into a double play. Lopez showed encouragement and helped give direction on where he should be in the field. 

That player executed a double play the next play.

Lopez has also taken younger players under his wing such as junior outfielder Jayden Smith.

“He’s definitely pushed me as a player every single day and just to have him to look up to is awesome,” Smith said. 

Smith has learned from Lopez the importance of hard work and to be aware of the grind of varsity baseball. 

With it being his last season as Lopez’s teammate, Smith is taking the time to appreciate him as a teammate and friend. 

“What I will miss the most is the friendship that we’ve had since I was a freshman and just working hard with him every day at practice,” Smith said. 

Lopez said that being on the varsity team for four years has helped him become a better player. 

“As a player, I think I have evolved on how quick the game picks up since my freshman season and playing with kids older helped with that transition,” Lopez said. “When you play with people who are more experienced and better than you, there’s a lot of things you can learn from them.” 

Along with being a team captain, Lopez plays three positions on the team: shortstop, second base and pitcher. According to MaxPreps.com, he had a hitting average of .389,with 35 hits in 90 at-bats and 20 RBIs in 2019. 

Despite those impressive stats, Lopez sees room for improvement this season. 

“I didn’t do bad last year, but I felt I could have done better,” Lopez said. “You can always get better, and as a team, we can improve on a lot.”

Lopez had a good start in Campo Verde’s first game of the season against Highland, going 2 for 4 with a double. 

Lopez said this team is closer on the field, which has helped him grow into a better leader and player.  

“I’m a very big family person and it definitely brings that into our atmosphere, which is really helpful and awesome,” Lopez said. “We have a lot of talent on our team, and that has made us more competitive with each other and has helped me evolve in a lot of ways.” 

Lopez said it’s important for him as a player to take time to focus on non-related baseball activities when off the field, like spending time with his family.

“I come from a big Hispanic family and we do barbecues all the time and other different family events,” Lopez said. “For me, anytime you can get your mind off baseball for a bit is nice, but when you’re here, you got to get your repetitions and take everything like it’s a live game.”

Lopez's future in baseball after his senior year is to be determined. 

“I want to play in a junior college,” Lopez said. “I hope I can go somewhere really fun for my last two years and if I can move past those two years in junior college, that would be great.” 

Dukes hopes his accomplishments on the field will be rewarded. 

“He’s made all-region, all-state and second team in the conference and has made the pinnacles of that,” Dukes said. “He’s got the ability but he is a little undersized, but if a coach takes a chance on him, they’re going to get a great player.”