* Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ont.), of the Miami of Ohio RedHawks, shown here during Cape Cod summer league play with the Wareham Gatemen, earned All-Canadian First Team honors. ....

 

Kenning, Crain top 3rd All-Canadian Team

By Bob Elliott

Outfielder Ryan Kenning had so many RBIs, he almost reached triple digits.

Closer Jesse Crain was so dominant he had a non-existent earned run average until his final outing of the season.
Kenning and Crain were the only unanimous selections on our third annual All-Canadian College team.   Kenning (senior, North Vancouver, BC), of the New Mexico State Aggies, and Crain (junior, Toronto, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars, were named on all 16 ballots by our crack panel, composed of three former major-league scouting directors, professional scouts, college coaches, amateur coaches and our in-season staff.

Our voters went off the numbers and how each player performed for his respective team. They were told a player’s status in the June draft should not be a deciding factor in the voting. After all, drafted players have their signing bonuses to keep them warm.
Our panel was asked to name a first, second and third place for each position and points were awarded on a 3-2-1 basis.
 

Clark Andres (junior, San Clara, Man.), of the Mayville State Comets, named to the first team at the DH spot, was the only other player to garner double figures in the voting (13, first-place votes).

Players get injured, players get homesick, some have bad years and some have good years. But the one constant in this our third team is first baseman Mike Galloway (junior, St. Thomas, Ont.), of the Miami of Ohio RedHawks, who was selected to the first team. Galloway made the 2001 first team at third base when he played for the Central Michigan Chippewas. And in 2000 Galloway shared first base with Trent Kitsch(Kelowna, BC).

And as Jackie Gleason, used to say, and away we go … the best of the 551 Canadians playing south of the border:

First Team
Right-handed starter: Ryan Astle (senior, St. Albert, Alta.) of the Mary Marauders.

Astle was the best of the 29 right-handed pitchers on our ballot. Only two had zeros in the loss column, Tim Grant (sophomore, Vancouver, BC) of the Dartmouth Big Green, who went 2-0 in six starts and Astle. Only one had a zero in his ERA column. Astle went 10-0 in 15 games with a minuscule 0.71 ERA. Astle pitched Mary to an 11-1 win over the Mayville State Comets in the opener of the NAIA, Region III tourney at Jack Brown Stadium in Jamestown, ND.  Astle limited the Comets, who wound up reaching the NAIA World Series, to four hits, striking out four. Astle made 10 starts for Mary and pitched eight complete games, including three shutouts. In his six relief appearances he picked up four saves. In 68 2/3 innings, Astle struck out 70 and walked only 26.

Left-handed starter: Jeff Francis (junior, North Delta, BC), of the British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Francis edged Ryan Balan (senior, Whitby, Ont.) for top spot as a repeat all-Canadian team winner. Francis was voted to the NAIA all-region team, his second consecutive selection. He was 7-2 with a 1.93 ERA, fanning 101 in 74 2/3 innings. He pitched in 14 games, 13 starts and pitched three complete games. In the NAIA Region I playoff tournament at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell, Idaho, Francis only pitched two innings and 31 pitches. He started the opener and by the time he took the mound UBC was beating Western Baptist 8-0, so Francis was lifted as UBC won a giggler 19-3. Francis was needed to pitch a scoreless ninth as the T-Birds beat Concordia 9-7. Francis wasn’t used a third straight day.  He was selected ninth over-all in the June draft by the Colorado Rockies and was given a $1.85 million US signing bonus.

Closer: Jesse Crain (junior, Toronto, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars.

Crain doubled as his team’s shortstop and closer.  Crain pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief as Houston lost 5-2 to the Texas Longhorns in the third and deciding game of the NCAA Super Series. The Longhorns went on to win the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Against the Hook ‘Em Horns, Crain, born in Toronto and attended high school in Boulder, Col., allowed four hits and one run — the first run he allowed all spring. Crain gave up an RBI triple in the seventh to end his consecutive-inning scoreless streak at 35.2 innings — the second longest in UH history.  It was the only earned run the San Jacinto College transfer allowed he allowed in 36.2 innings.  Crain was named to the Conference-USA all-tournament team. He had a an ERA of 0.23, a 4-0 record, picked up 10 saves and struck out 46 in 38 1/3 innings. The Minnesota Twins selected Crain in the second round and the Twins gave him a signing bonus of $650,000.

Catcher: David Harriman (senior, Surrey, BC), of the Armstrong Atlantic Pirates.

Harriman set a school record and tied a Peach Belt Conference mark with his season-opening, 41-game, consecutive-game hit streak. After receiving honorable mention on the 2001 all-Canadian team, he was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II All-America first team. He also earned first-team PBC honors for a second straight year.  Harriman hit .412 in 55 games with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 69 RBIs.

First base: Mike Galloway (junior, St. Thomas, Ont.), of the Miami of Ohio RedHawks.

Galloway earned Mid-America Conference first-team honors after transferring from the Central Michigan Chippewas. At CMU he was named NCAA Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and first-team selection. In 2002, Galloway led the conference with a .436 average at the end of the regular season. His versatility with the RedHawks led to his being named the MAC’s top utility player. He started all 59 games for the RedHawks, 34 at first, 15 behind the plate, nine at third, and one as a designated hitter.  Galloway also led the MAC in hits and runs scored. His final batting average of .422, after the MAC tourney, was the second-highest, single-season mark behind Chris Sexton’s .429 average in 1993. Galloway’s 94 hits, 161 total bases, 72 runs, and 63 RBI are also all the second-highest season totals at Miami. On a national level Galloway’s .422 clip was tied for 22nd among all Division I players. He was drafted in the 14th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and signed.

Second base: Gamin Teague (senior, Brampton, Ont.), of the Grand Valley State Lakers.

Teague earned North Central region first-team honors leading the Great Lakes Conference with nine home runs. He was second in the conference with a .662 slugging percentage. Teague also led the Lakers with a .362 average. He also had 13 doubles, and 30 walks.  His strong year helped Grand Valley State to its first NCAA Division II tournament appearance since 1994.  Teague earned all-Canadian second-team honors in 2001.

Third base: Monte Scott (senior, Calgary, Alta.), of the Peru State Bobcats.

Scott was a two-way threat at third and on the mound for the Bobcats. Scott hit his 18th homer as Peru State beat the Doane Tigers 11-3 in the Region IV NAIA tourney in Fremont, Neb. Scott drove in four runs on the day.  His efforts did not go without notice as he won Midlands Conference Player of the Year. Scott also earned first team All-Conference honors at third.  Scott had an average of .373 with nine doubles, a triple, 18 homers and 56 RBIs.

Shortstop: Daniel Grant (sophomore, Thunder Bay, Ont.), of the Parkland Cobras.

Grant helped Parkland beat Frederick 6-3 to win the NJCAA Division II World Series and was named World Series MVP at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Grant homered and drove in three runs to help Parkland force a deciding game by beating Frederick 7-3 in the final. Grant went 8-for-26 (.308) in the championship tournament.  He was also named conference, region and Illinois Player of the Year as well as winning all-American honors.  Grant hit .411 with 12 doubles, four triples, three homers and 45 RBIs, while stealing 15 bases.

Outfield: Ryan Kenning (senior, North Vancouver, BC), of the New Mexico State Aggies; Jean-Francois Dufour (freshman, Beauharnois, Que.), of Saint Rose Golden Knights; and Jon Bosnick (sophomore, New Westmister, BC), of the Garden City Broncbusters.

Kenning won all-America honors as he was selected to the first team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, while leading the nation with 96 runs batted in. He finished with a .319 average and 24 home runs, one shy of the NMSU record. He tied a school record with 42 extra-base hits. His 96 RBIs set a school and Sun Belt Conference record. Kenning also had a team-best .725 slugging percentage. He added 15 doubles and three triples. Kenning was also named District VIII Player of the Year by the NCBWA and was a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Rotary Smith Award. Kenning won the NCAA Home Run Challenge in Omaha, Nebraska and was a 12th round draft pick of the Anaheim Angels.

Dufour won the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year honor. The NE-10’s 12 head coaches conducted the voting. He was also chosen a first-team All-League pick.  Dufour batted .356 and tied for the conference lead with 19 home runs and set a Saint Rose single-season record with 67 runs scored. His 69 hits and 57 RBIs were among the top five marks in school history. Dufour was also among the conference’s top-10 players in hits, runs scored, RBI, slugging percentage (.722) and home runs.

Bosnick helped Garden City to the eastern NJCAA Sub Regional where the Broncbusters lost to the Hutchison Dragons.  Bosnick hit .422 in 60 games with 17 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 56 RBIs.

DH: Clark Andres (junior, San Clara, Man.), of the Mayville State Comets.

Like Crain, Scott and others, Andres was a double-duty man. Besides being the Comets best pitcher, Andres was some kind of slugger as Mayville State reached the 46th Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho for the first time.  Andres homered in Mayville State’s 16-11 win over Ohio Dominican and pitched the win.  On the season, he hit .357 with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 56 RBIs.

Second Team
Right-handed starter (tie): John Axford (freshman, Port Dover, Ont.), of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Brooks McNiven (junior, Vernon, BC), of the British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Axford made 12 starts for the Irish in his freshman year as Notre Dame went 50-18 to finish No. 6 in the final Baseball America rankings, the school’s highest-ever ranking.  Axford was 5-2 in 17 games — 12 starts — with a 3.95 ERA. He fanned 64 hitters in 70 2/3 innings.

McNiven may have pitched in the shadow of first-rounder Francis, yet it was McNiven who led UBC in wins. McNiven went 10-1 in 14 games — 12 starts — with a 2.39 ERA, while fanning 66 in 86 2/3 innings.

Left-handed starter: Ryan Balan (senior, Whitby, Ont.) of the California-Pennsylvania Vulcans.

Balan earned Pennsylvania State Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team selection as a pitcher. When he wasn’t hitting home runs, Balan was on the mound. Balan was 7-1 with a 0.91 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched. He had six complete games. He held opponents to a conference-best .157 average.  Balan is the first all-American from California since eventual Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rick Krivda. Balan signed as a free-agent with the Boston Red Sox.

Reliever: Jordy McNiven (freshman, Vernon, BC), of the British Columbia Thunderbirds.

McNiven picked up four saves for the T-Birds, who went 33-19, not a bad way to break into the college ranks. McNiven, who joins his older brother Brooks on the second team, had a 1.65 ERA allowing 24 base runners in 16 1/3 innings, while striking out 22.

Catcher: George Kottaras (freshman, Markham, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys.

Kottaras hit a lusty .420 with 21 doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 63 RBIs for Connors.

First base: Karl Amonite (sophomore, Woodslee, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys.

The fences in Oklahoma were barely standing when Amonite was finished driving balls over and off the outfield walls. He hit .412 with 18 doubles, a triple, 17 homers and 71 RBIs.

Second base: Marc Chabot (sophomore, Kingston, Ont. — Canada’s first capital), of the Connors State Cowboys.

Chabot may look it like what we have here is an all-Connors second team, well, that’s because it is — up until this point as we move through the position players. Chabot hit .402 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers, 28 RBIs and a steady glove.

Third base: Geoff Zimmerman (junior, Moose Jaw, Sask.), of the Mayville State College Comets.

Zimmerman ended the Connors infield domination hitting .360 for the Comets, who reached the 46th Avista NAIA World Series with a 34-13 record. Zimmerman had 15 doubles, 12 homers and 42 RBIs.

Shortstop: Jesse Crain (junior, Toronto, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars.

Crain may seem familiar, like maybe you have heard of him before? Like about two screens back. Crain, transferred from San Jacinto, and took over the starting role. He hit .310 with 13 doubles, 11 homers and 47 RBIs.

Outfielders: Glenn Jackson (freshman, Toronto, Ont.) of the Barton Cougars; Ryan Balan (senior, Whitby, Ont.) of the California-Pennsylvania Vulcans and Len Elias (senior, Mississauga, Ont.) of the Bowling Green Falcons.

Jackson was named Tri-Freshman of the Year in the West division of the Jayhawk conference, as he was 40-for-41 in stolen base attempts to set a school record. His 10 triples broke the mark of seven set by Scott Moffitt in 1990. Jackson also hit .433 with five homers and 56 RBIs.

Balan earned North Atlantic Region Position Player of the Year in a vote by the region’s coaches. He hit .402 with 39 runs scored, 38 RBIs, eight doubles and 12 home runs for the PSAC Western Division champion Vulcans. Balan was fourth in the conference batting race and second in homers. He was 11-for-12 in stolen base attempts. He also makes our second team as the lefty starter.

Elias, a first-team all-Canadian in 2001, re-wrote the Falcons record book in his final season. He became the all-time, leading hitter in school history with the 252nd hit of his career. Elias now has six career records at BGSU (at-bats, hits, runs scored, doubles, total bases and RBIs). Elias hit .343 with 15 doubles, two triples, 10 homers and 57 RBIs.

DH: Aaron Izaryk (freshman, Markham, Ont.) of the Maine Black Bears.

Izaryk earned America East Conference first-team honors, was named to the conference All-Rookie team and shared the Louisville Slugger’s freshman All-American team at the DH spot. Izaryk becomes the 15th All-American in Black Bear baseball history.  Izaryk hit .367 with six doubles, a homer and 22 RBIs.

Third team
Right-handed starter (tie): Jim Ripley (sophomore, Pickering, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys, and Monte Scott (senior, Calgary, Alta.) of the Peru State Bobcats.

Ripley was an impressive 9-1 with a 3.35 ERA for Connors State, fanning 94, while walking only 19 in 56 1/3 inning.

Scott won Midlands Conference Player of the Year for his 18 homers at third and for an 11-4 record with a 1.97 ERA, while fanning 66 in 76 1/3 innings.

Left-handed starter: Ryan Lupul (junior, Prince George, BC), of the William Penn Statemen.

Lupul was 8-1 with a 2.36 ERA in nine starts, fanning 81 and walking only 18 in 61 innings.

Reliever: Ryan Harris (junior, Woodstock, NB) of the Maine Black Bears.

Harris was 4-1 with two saves as Maine reached the NCAA regionals in Los Angeles. Harris had a 4.85 ERA.

Catcher (tie): Alain Picard (junior, St. Foy, Que.), of the Maine Black Bears and Darrick Jones (senior, Baldur, Man.), of the Graceland Yellow Jackets.

Picard hit .340 with 20 doubles, six homers and 53 RBIs for Maine, America East champs.

Jones batted .439 with 15 doubles, three triples, six homers and 45 RBIs for Graceland.

First baseman: Gary Moraes (senior, Surrey, BC), of the LSU-Shreveport Pilots.

Moraes hit .360 with 16 doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 70 RBIs.

Second base: Tim Hinchliffe (junior, London, Ont.), of the Ashland Eagles.

Hinchliffe helped Ashland reach the 35th NCAA Division II championships in Montgomery, Ala.  Hinchliffe hit .337 in 60 games with 10 doubles, a triple, four homers and 46 RBIs.

Third base (tie): Mike Gillies (senior, Port Moody, BC), of the Nevada-Reno Wolfpack, and Hyung Cho(sophomore, Scarborough, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars.

Gillies, a second-team, all-Canadian, hit .344 with 13 doubles, nine homers and 49 RBIs.  Cho batted .270 with five doubles, a triple, six homers and 28 RBIs.

Shortstop: Aaron Hornostaj (freshman, Waterloo, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys.

Connors did place another member of its infield on the all-Canadian team. Hornostaj hit .403 with 10 doubles, one triple, four homers and 38 RBIs.  Selected in the 34th round of the 2001 draft by the San Francisco Giants, Hornostaj signed with the Giants for a $75,000 bonus.

Outfield: Danny Gibbons (junior, Toronto, Ont.), of the Central Michigan Chippewas; Matthew Stocco(freshman, Guelph, Ont.), of the Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers and Mark Zamojc (sophomore, Burlington, Ont.) of the British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Gibbons, a first-team all-Canadian in 2001, was bothered by injury in 2001, but still managed to hit .341 with 11 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 39 RBIs. He was drafted in the 24th round and signed with the Oakland A’s.

Stocco hit .321 with 12 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 48 RBIs.

Zamojc led UBC in hitting, with a .328 mark. He had 11 doubles, a triple, seven homers and 52 RBIs.

DH: C Brad Reid (senior, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), of the Southeastern State Oklahoma Savage.

Reid, a Central Michigan transfer, hit .340 with eight doubles, a triple, two homers and 36 RBIs.

Honorable mentions
Right-handers: Brad Grieveson (sophomore, Creemore, Ont.), of the Southeastern State Oklahoma Savage and Devin Monds (freshman, Ottawa, Ont.), of the Northeastern Huskies.

Relievers: Igor Roiberg (sophomore, Toronto, Ont.), of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and ShaneSowden (senior, Moose Jaw, Sask.), of the Central Missouri State Mules.

Catcher: Jeff Crinklaw (sophomore, Cambridge, Ont.) of Ohlone.

First base: Rich Dean (senior, Langley, BC), of the Mayville State Comets.

Second base: Vince Ircandia (freshman, Calgary, Alta.), of the Niagara Purple Eagles and Ivan Naccarata(sophomore, Longueil, Que.), of the Chipola Indians.

Third base: Mike Coe (freshman, Lethbridge, Alta.), of the Northeastern Oklahoma A & M Norsemen andRussell Martin (sophomore, Montreal, Que.) Chipola Indians.

Shortstop: Craig Hern (junior, Bindloss, Alta.), of the Mayville State Comets.

Outfielders: Sean Camilleri (freshman, Coquitlam, BC), of the Harding Bison; Alan Cantwell (senior, Saint John, NB), of the Louisiana State Shreveport Pilots; Darryl Cormier (sophomore, Toronto, Ont.), of the Bacone Warriors; David Lamky (sophomore, Cambridge, Ont.), of the Northwood Timberwolves; RichardLeach (junior, Port Lambton, Ont.), of the Tiffin Dragons; Charlie MacFarlane (freshman, Lantzville, BC), of the Eastern Oklahoma State Mountaineers; Corey Stang (freshman, Surrey BC), of the Northeastern Oklahoma A & M Norsemen; Al Stephens (junior, Ajax, Ont.), of the Troy State Trojans.

DH: Jake Toms (senior, Toronto, Ont.), of the Albany Great Danes.

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