BMOCs Holgate, Romanin, Bouchey, Kirwer

Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 8-for-12 with two RBIs for the Niagara Purple Eagles as he and Thomas Rodrigues (Pierrefonds, Que.) combined to go 14-for-26 with 11 RBIs. Kirwer earned MAAC Baseball Rookie of the Week after hitting .667 with two RBIs and three stolen bases against Monmouth.

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

It was another pretty good week for Canadians in college baseball. One lead his team to a 20 game win streak that was finally halted, while Canada’s college team took 3-of-4 and a whole lot more in this week’s edition of the BMOC. So lets get it rolling …

Six Canadians stand out for Purple Eagles:
Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was at it again for Niagara, this time going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in a 14-13 extra inning Game 1 slugfest loss to Monmouth. In Game 2, Kirwer would do himself one better, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in Niagara’s 9-4 win. Kirwer would have a repeat performance going 3-for-4 in Game 3, this time with a run scored and a stolen base but it was not enough as Monmouth escaped with a 7-4 win.

Batting right behind Kirwer in the No. 2 spot over the weekend wasThomas Rodrigues(Pierrefonds, Que.), and he was clearly paying attention in the on-deck circle. In the Game 1 loss he would go 3-for-6 with a run scored and four RBIs. In Game 2 he went 2-for-4 with another run scored and another four RBIs. Game 3 saw the shortstop go 1-for-4 with a walk and RBI. I’ll do the math for you, Kirwer and Rodrigues went a combined 14-for-26 with five runs scored and 11 RBIs. Not a bad 1-2 at the top of the Purple Eagles order.

Joel Brophy (Burlington, Ont.) would go 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs for the Purple Eagles in their Game 1 of their doubleheader, a loss to Monmouth. He would then follow that up by going 1-for-3 with another run scored in game 2.

Geoff Seto (Richmond Hill, Ont.) went 2-for-5 with a walk, two runs and two RBIs in Niagara’s Game 1 loss in their doubleheader. He would have another good game going 2-for-2 with a run scored in Game 2.

Michael Bucci (Toronto, Ont.) threw three innings, giving up six hits but only one run while walking one and striking out two in Niagara’s doubleheader game 1 loss.

Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) would go 1-for-1 with an RBI while pinch hitting in the front end of Niagara’s doubleheader against Monmouth. He would then throw two innings, allowing one hit, one run, two walks and three strikeouts in the back end of the doubleheader. He would then throw again, going two innings, giving up three hits, two runs, a walk and three strikeouts in Niagara’s 7-4 game 3 loss.

Holgate helps Tigers hammer competition:
So how about that 20 game win streak? No, I am not talking about the 2002 Oakland Athletics, I am talking about the 2015 University of West Alabama Tigers. Although UWA does not boast names likeEric Chavez, Miguel Tejada or David Justice, they do have a standout of their own in Mitch Holgate (Windsor, Ont.) and yes he is Canadian. Holgate was right in the middle (literally batting in the middle of the order) during his team’s run. The reigning Gulf South Conference Player of the Year and former Freshman of the Year is batting .355 on the year through 39 games, all starts. He has also collected seven home runs and 37 RBIs to go along with 38 runs scored and a .447 on base percentage. Let’s jump forward to the past week for Holgate. It started off Sunday, after rain pushed back the opener of their series against West Florida. He would go 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs in Game 1. He would then go 1-for-3 in the finale, a loss that would snap the 20 gamer. Apparently Holgate took that personally as he and his teammates tried to start a new streak against Montevallo. Holgate would post a 3-for-5 day with another home run and a double en route to the 8-3 UWA win. UWA gears up for post-season play as they have one more against Montebello on the road and a weekend series with second place University of Alabama Hunstville. UWA and UAH will be playing for the right to host the 2015 GSC Conference Tournament and regular season crown.

Degano pitches Sycamores to win:
Maybe I should just start pencilling in Jeff Degano (Surrey, BC) into this column and just fill in the pitching line after each start, it may save me a few minutes. Needless to say Degano was again giving opposing players fits over the weekend. This time it was No. 16 Dallas Baptist’s turn to try and solve the left hander. The key word there was “try” and that they did. The real word should be “unsuccessful.” Degano would throw eight solid innings, giving up 10 hits, four earned runs, a pair of walks with seven strikeouts. The Patriots shouldn’t feel too bad, they aren’t the first victims and probably will not be the last.

Bouchey big for ULM:
There was a warhawk sighting this past weekend in Louisiana, even stranger it was a Canadian warhawk. What a warhawk is, is a debate for another time. What is for certain is the quality workBrayden Bouchey (White Rock, BC) is doing on the mound for the University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks. His week started off with two innings of work against Northwestern State where he would allow a hit, a run, two walks and punch out one in ULM’s 5-1 victory. He would also pick up the win in the game, his fourth of the season to improve his record to 4-1 on the season.

Thibideau leads Midland to 4-of-5
Well it was not quite 20 in a row but four in wins in five tries isn’t bad either. That is exactly what Midland College did this past week, backed by Chris Thibideau (Dartmouth, NS). Thibideau actually started his week off 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI in Midland’s only loss, 11-9 to Howard College. Eager to prove he was not the bringer of bad luck, Thibideau responded the next game with a 2-for-5 performance with a double that included a pair of runs and an RBI in the front end of a doubleheader against New Mexico Junior College. Midland would win the game 14-9. In the back end of the double dip, Thibideau would go 1-for-5 with an RBI in their victory. Returning home the next day for another doubleheader against NMJC, Thibideau chipped in with a 1-for-3 game in Game 1 and went 1-for-4 in game 2 with a run scored. All in all the Midland second baseman is batting .317 on the yeaqwith eight home runs, 36 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 10 stolen bases through 44 games.

Pinero powers Cavs past Miami:
Looking to get back on track after back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech last weekend, the Virginia Cavaliers used a solid week from Daniel Pinero(Toronto, Ont.) to power their way to four wins over the past week. It started out with a visit from William and Mary. Pinero, batting second, would go 1-for-4 with a run scored to get Virginia back in the win column. The real story however, was over the weekend when the Miami Hurricanes made a trip to Charlottesville, Va. Pinero would go 1-for-5 with an RBI in the 3-2 Virginia win. Game 2 would see Virginia take the series with a 5-2 victory and a 1-for-3 game that included a walk for Pinero. Miami would head back to the sunshine state with a win as they took Game 3 8-6, but it would be Pinero’s best performance of the weekend. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and a pair of RBIs. Virginia takes on Liberty in a midweek before heading to Raleigh, North Carolina for a huge ACC battle with North Carolina State.

Gators devour Bulldogs:
It was a gloomy weekend in Starkville, Miss. this past weekend and no I’m not talking about the weather. The Florida Gators were in town, and  [jacob robson] when they left they were three wins richer. Jacob Robson(Windsor, Ont.) would score a run in a Game 1 loss for MSU. In Game 2 he would collect a hit going 1-for-4 with another run, Mississippi State’s only in a 2-1 loss. He would also score another run in the finale but it was to no avail as the Gators completed the sweep.

Sticking with the major conferences:
It was lucky No. 7 forRyan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) over the weekend against the University of Washington. Kellogg would pick up his seventh win on the season by throwing eight innings, scattering eight hits, allowing three runs (two earned) with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. Yet another solid performance from the Ontario left hander. He is now 7-1 with a 3.63 ERA on the season.

Mattingly as in Don & Mal
Chicago State used the long ball to the fullest at Cougar Stadium in Tuesday afternoon’s non-conference contest against Roosevelt University asMattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) hit a career-best three home runs in a 17-6 win. CSU increased its lead to 6-0 in the second thanks to Romanin’s first homer of the day, a grand slam that went 360 feet into left field. Romanin struck again in the bottom of the sixth with an inside-the-park home run that also scored a run for a 16-1 lead. Romanin finished the day hitting a perfect 3-for-3 that included career highs of seven runs batted in and four runs scored.

Foster feeds on NYIT:
After earning a pair of walks in a midweek game with Quinnipiac, Michael Foster (Pickering, Ont.) went to work as his Northeastern Huskies host the New York Institute of Technology Bears. Game 1 would see Foster lead off and go 2-for-3 with two more walks, a run scored and an RBI. He would then go 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and four RBIs. Northeastern would take 2-of-3 against NYIT.

Craig-St. Louis holding down the nest:
Phil Craig-St. Louis (Gatineau, Que.) seems to be fitting in just fine as the lone Canadian at Oregon until Demi Orimiloye arrives on campus in the fall, if he arrives after the draft. Craig St.-Louis and the Ducks started their week with a 5-2 win over Portland, in which Craig-St. Louis would record an RBI. Oregon then took the trip south to Los Angeles to take on USC. In Game 1, Craig-St. Louis would score a run and knock in an RBI. In Game 2 he would go 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. USC would take the series 2-1. Oregon now readies for a home series this weekend with the University of Washington.

Pair of Eagles help take down Ball State:
Mitchell McGeein (Calgary, Alta.) would go 2-for-4 with a run scored in the only game Ball State would win over the weekend. McGeein and his  [McGeein_Mitchell] Eastern Michigan Eagles would take game 2 8-4 with McGeein going 1-for-4. In the rubber match, McGeein would go 1-for-5 with a run and two RBIs in the 9-8 EMU victory.

Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ont.) would earn his second save against Ball State in EMU’s 8-4 victory. Beaton worked 3 innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.

Two Canadians back Black Bears:
It has been a year the Maine Black Bears can’t be overly pleased with. With that being Brian Doran (Ayr, Ont.) helped his teammates out over the weekend as they hosted Hartford. In Game 1 of the doubleheader he went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. In Game 2 he would collect another hit, this time going 1-for-2 with a walk and another two RBIs. Maine would win the first two games of the series before dropping the finale. He would then get the day off in Maines 6-3 extra inning Game 3 loss. Doran is currently hitting .238 with a home run, 18 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 33 games.

Steven Adam (Tecumseh, Ont.) would also help lead the charge for the Black Bears in their series win. In Game 1, Adam would go 1-for-3 with a run scored. He would one up himself in Game 2, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the victory. In the finale he would go 1-for-6 with a run scored. Adams is hitting .235 with an RBI and four runs scored over 13 games.

Dressler putting together outstanding campaign:
With a lot of the focus on left handers Ryan Kellogg and Jeff Degano, don’t take your eye off of Cisco College’s Steven Dressler (Burlington, Ont.) Dressler picked up another win over the weekend by tossing eight innings, allowing just six hits and giving up one unearned run. He would walk just two and strikeout seven in his teams 10-1 win over North Central Texas College. Dressler is now 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA over 61 innings.

Graham picks up win:
Phillipe Graham (St. Chrysostome, Que.) makes his first appearance on the BMOC after pitching his Mid America Nazarene University Pioneers to a 10-1 win over Graceland. Graham was solid over six innings allowing just one hit, one run, a pair of walks and eleven strikeouts.

Antchak continues to produce:
It was another big week for shortstop Brad Antchak (Delta, BC). It kicked off against Rose State in Game 1 of a doubleheader, a big 16-2 win, he went 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. In the second game, would go 2-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs in the 9-7 win. After picking up the two wins on the road, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College would come home to take on Rose State in another double dip. In Game 1, another 13-7 win, Antchak would go 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs. To round out his week, and a sweep of Rose State, Antchak would go 2-for-5 again with another run and RBI.

Boyd’s bat leads Cochise:
It was a four game road trip for Cochise College over the weekend. It would start off with a doubleheader against Yavapai College. Yavapai would take Game 1, 2-1, but Louis Boyd (Vancouver, BC) would go 2-for-2 with a walk. Game 2 would see Cochise respond in a big way, topping Yavapai 16-12. In that contest Boyd would go 2-for-5 with a walk and three runs scored. After Yavapai it was a trip to South Mountain Community College for another doubleheader. After taking Game 1, 3-2, Cochise would drop the second game but Boyd was yet again locked in at the plate. He would go 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI.

Newton pitches well in loss:
UBC sure could not blame starter Jeremy Newton (Toronto, Ont.) for their Game 1 loss to Corban. The third year hurler would toss seven quality inning, giving up nine hits, two runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Five runs would cross the plate after Newton was done to sink the T-Birds 7-3.

Webb picks up win #8:
Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) imrpoved his record to 8-3 with a win over the weekend in game 2 of a Saturday doubleheader with Corban. Webb  [alex webb] would go seven innings, scattering seven hits, giving up two runs (one earned) without walking a batter and striking out 11.

Lillis-White continues to dazzle:
It was another start, another win for UBC Thunderbird starterConnor Lillis-White (Toronto, Ont.) over the weekend. Lillis-White would toss six innings, allowing just four hits, three runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out six. It would be his ninth win on the year, bringing his record to 9-2.

Sticking with the starters:
Brad Smith (North Vancouver, BC) would only need to get his team through 4 1/3 before the bullpen took over as the UBC Thunderbirds dropped Corban 7-6 in the finale of their four game set. Smith would give up eleven hits and five runs, but only one of those runs were earned. He would also walk one and strike out one.

How about some relief:
Game 2 saw Alex Graham (North Vancouver, BC) shut it down for the victory. Graham would throw two hitless innings of relief behind started Newton. He would walk one and strikeout one as well. He would be back at it in Game 3, picking up the win. In this game he would throw 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Graham is now 6-1 on the year.

Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) picked up his third save of the season in the game three win over Corban. Taylor would toss three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, a walk and striking out two.

Tyler Gillies (London, Ont.) was also solid in relief for the T-Birds. In game 3 he would go three innings, giving up three hits, a run, a walk and a pair of strikeouts in the victory.

Lets not forget about the O:
Tyler Enns (Winnipeg, MB) would lead the charge in games 1, 3 and 4 for UBC over the weekend. End would start off his weekend by going 2-for-5, then in game 3 he would go 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. He would finish it up by going 2-for-5 again with another run and RBI.

Kevin Biro (Deep Bay, BC) would back Tyler Enns the best he could to help UBC to three wins. He would get his weekend rolling in game 2 by going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. He would take that momentum into game 3 where he went 2-for-4 with another run scored and an RBI. In game 4, Biro would blast a three run home run on his way to a 2-for-5 day with two runs scored and three RBI’s.

Bryan Arthur (Abbotsford, BC) would chip in a hit in game 1, go 2-for-4 with an RBI in game 2 before going 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the finale to have a good weekends at the plate for the Thunderbirds

Terrier round up:
David Head (Claremont, Ont.) had a 2-for-4 game with an RBI over the weekend for Northern Kentucky in game 2 of a series with Stetson. He would also chip in with a hit going 1-for-4 in the finale, a 6-4 NKU victory. He would take his weekend performance into a midweek game with Butler where he would go 3-for-4 with an RBI in an 8-2 win. Next up he would go 2-for-5 in another midweek with the University of Evansville. He would also score a run in the game.

Jordan Mountford (Guelph, Ont.) would kickstart his weekend with a 2-for-5 game with a pair of RBIs against Mount St. Mary’s. In Game 2 of a doubleheader on Saturday, Montford would chip in by going 1-for-3. He would walk three times in Game 4 of the series while also scoring two runs in Bryant’s 14-9 victory. In a midweek with Rhode Island Montford went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Bryant went a perfect 5-for-5 in their games over the last week.

Toby Handley (Whitby, Ont.) would go 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two RBIs to start his week in a game against LIU Brooklyn. He would go 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI in the opener of a doubleheader with Georgetown over the weekend. Game 2 of the doubleheader would see Handley go 1-for-4. He would again go 1-for-4 with a walk in a Game 3 loss. Stony Brook would take 2-of-3 from Georgetown. In another midweek with Central Connecticut, Handley went 1-for-3 with three walks, a run scored and two RBIs.

Ontario Blue Jays round up:
Brandon Catena (Mississauga, Ont.) would throw a complete game in his first collegiate start for Garrett College in their 13-2 win. He would throw six innings, giving up seven hits, two runs (one earned), with two walks and three strikeouts.

Austin Hall (Peterborough, Ont.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored, 2 RBIs for Barton Community College in a conference win over Pratt Community College.

Austin Guzzo-Foliaro (Brooklin, Ont.) would come up with a pinch hit single and would score a run in a 4-3 Iowa Hawkeyes walk off win  [Guzzo-Foliaro, Austin] against Northwestern over the weekend. He would also draw a walk in a midweek game versus Northern Illinois.

Toronto Mets round up:
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ont.) would throw a complete game for California University of Pennsylvania over the weekend in a win over Pitt-Johnstown. He would throw seven innings, allowing 11 hits, allowing five runs with five strikeouts. He is now 3-1 on the season with a 4.33 ERA

Johnny Caputo (Toronto, Ont.) would go 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI in a midweek game with LIU Brooklyn.

Ellis Gerussi-Turner (Toronto, Ont.) would start off his week recording a run and an RBI against West Hills Coalinga for his Allan Hancock College Bulldogs in their 6-1 victory. He would then go 2-for-4 in a 7-1 loss to Moorpark College.He would close out his week with a 2-for-3 performance in another loss to Moorpark College.

How the West was won
Tyler Wiwchar (Winnipeg, Man.) had a hit in his only at-bat and knocked in a run as the Jamestown Jimmies rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Winnipeg Wesman 8-3. RHP Brendan Ethier (Calgary, Alta.) started for the Jimmies pitching two innings and allowing three runs — one earned — on four hits and one walk.

Alain Andre (Winnipeg, Man.) threw two scoreless innings andChris Hourihan (Winnipeg, Man.) had two hits and knocked in a run for the Wesmen.

BMOCs
Week 9 _ Goodall, Dennis, Robinson, Berube

Week 8 _ Bridgen, Filipeck, Mountford, Reichstein

Week 7 _  Wilson, Marks, Dressler, Fagnan

Week 6 — Siddall, Filipek, Kellogg, Degano

Week 5 — Degano, Berube, Quantrill, Stewart

Week 4 —  Bauml, Shaw, Panas, Lillis-White.

Week 3 — Black, Dressler, Romanin, Foster 

Week 2 — Robson, Doran, Germaine, Martin, Quantrill

Week 1 — Kellogg, Baksh, Guzzo-Foliaro, Gapp, Sardellitti, Harkness, Diedrick

Do you know a Big Man on Campus … Maybe a grandson? A son? A nephew or a former player? Email Matt Betts (mattbetts41@gmail.com) with the info or a link for next week’s edition.