BMOCs Berube, Black, Grahm, Romanin

 INF Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) collected his first hit for the Chicago State Cougars four years ago this spring as a freshman. In all, he had 64 hits in 53 games in 2012. As a sophomore he had 46 in 47 games and last year he had 63 in 54 games. The former Ontario Terrier, who played for coach Scott VandeValk, had two hits against the  Northwestern Wildcats giving 49 this season and 222 in his career for the Chicago State all-time school hit record.

With the Division II and NJCAA post seasons about to begin and Division I postseason races heating up it was an exciting week for college baseball. This week featured milestones and honours as some All-Conference teams were announced. It was a big week for Canadians across the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. Here’s the round up of the last week in college baseball.

Romanin all-time hits leader:
During a non-Conference midweek game at Northwestern University,Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) used a 2-for-4 performance to become the all-time hits leader at Chicago State University. Romanin, a senior, has now collected 222 hits in his CSU career, passing Michael Carpens previous school record of 221 from 2008-2011. He would start out his week going 1-for-3 with a walk in an 11-0 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Hosting New Mexico State over the weekend, Romanin would collect a hit going 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs in Game 1. He would record another walk in Game 2, with another RBI. Romanin would break out in a Game 3 victory going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. It was then a 1-for-3 game with a walk in a midweek with Valparaiso. This would put Romanin within striking distance of the record. The next game, against Northwestern, Romanin etched his name in the record books. Romanin is hitting .312 on the year with six home runs and 32 RBIs. And to top off his memorable week Ramanin, the son of Blue Jays crack P.R. exec Mal Romanin, who named his son after his favorite player Don Mattingly, won student-athlete of the year honors Thursday night.

How about another record:
Tim Black (Mount Hope, Ont.) would put his name in the record books as well this past weekend, setting the all-time saves record at Central Michigan University. He would set the record in the Chippewas 3-1 victory over Bowling Green. Black would toss a perfect ninth to record his 10th save of the season and 19th of his career, surpassing Bob Cavanaugh’s record of 18 between 1893-1986. Black currently holds an 2.55 ERA to go along with a 3-1 record.

Graham not short on power:
What does Dioner Navarro and Brett Lawrie have in common with Tristan Grahm (North Vancouver, BC)? At first glance, you would probably say nothing. How about home runs? Yes, that’s right, home runs. Grahm has currently swatted 12 home runs this season, matching the totals of both Navarro and Lawrie in all of 2014. It took Navarro 139 games to get there and Lawrie 70. It has taken Grahm just 39, although he is not facing major league calibre pitching, the feat is still impressive. Now, let’s take a look at his last week. He got it started against Bossier Parish in a doubleheader. In Game 1 he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Game 2 saw him go 3-for-5 with a double, run and another two RBIs. Next up was a game at Panola College and Grahm would yet again go collect a pair of hits going 2-for-5 with a walk, two runs and two RBIs. They would then be the home team in the back end of the doubleheader and Graham would collect a hit by going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two RBIs. Hosting Panola the next day, Grahm would cap his week with a 1-for-4 performance with a run scored. Graham is now hitting an even .400 on the season.

Robson big for Bulldogs:
It was a tough weekend when Florida swept away the Mississippi State Bulldogs a couple weekends ago and they would look to turn their fortunes around against Arkansas this past weekend. Game 1 would go to Arkansas 7-6, Jacob Robson(Windsor, Ont.) would go 2-for-5 in the game. Game 2, another loss this time by a 6-1 score would give Arkansas the series win. This was despite Robson’s best efforts as he went 3-for-4 in the game. Mississippi State would finally snap their skid, edging Arkansas 2-1. In the finale, Robson would go 3-for-5 while hitting in the two spot. It has been a rough couple weekends for the Bulldogs, but not so rough individually for Robson.

Kellogg handed no decision:
Despite a quality start that saw Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) throw 6 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs, walking two and striking out two, it was not enough as Tennessee Tech snuck away with a 7-4 victory. Kellogg was handed the no decision to the 20-20 Golden Eagles.

Degano dealt no decision:
Five scoreless innings wasn’t enough to earn a win for Jeff Degano (Surrey, BC) over the weekend. Lucky for his Sycamores they would pull out the 6-4 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock. Over Degano’s five innings he would allow just two hits, a walk while striking out eight.

Another no decision:
Steven Dressler (Burlington, Ont.) was handed a no decision in his Cisco Wranglers game against Temple College over the weekend. Dressler would go 7 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits, five runs — two earned — while walking three and striking out three.

Shaw grinding it out for Sooners:
The week started with a walk and a pair of runs scored for Chris Shaw(Winnipeg, Man.) and it would get better over the weekend against Sam Houston State. In Game 1 of the weekend series Shaw would go 1-for-3. He would again go 1-for-3 with a home run, a run scored and pair of RBIs. Shaw is hitting .245 in 41 games, 39 starts with five home runs and 14 RBIs.

Craig-St. Louis helps Ducks down Huskies:
It was a 2-for-4 game with a run scored for Phil Craig St-Louis (Gatineau, Que.) in the only loss Oregon would be handed in their weekend series with the University of Washington Huskies. Game 2 would see Craig-St. Louis again go 2-for-4, this time with a pair of runs scored and an RBI in a 4-3 Oregon win. It would take 11 innings, but Oregon would take home a 3-2 victory in the final game of the series. Game 3 saw a pair of walks and an RBI for Craig-St. Louis.

Foster powers Northeastern:
Looking to improve on his draft position from last year (38th round to Houston)Michael Foster (Pickering, Ont.) would have a good week for the Northeastern Huskies. It would start with a knock, a run and an RBI against Harvard. Next up was three hits in Game 1 with a pair of runs and RBIs against the Pride of Hofstra. After another hit in Game 2, Foster would collect three walks and a run scored in the finale. Northeastern swept their week going a perfect 4-0.

Spiwak returns to the BMOC:
Lets just say it wasn’t Midland College’s best pitched game against Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) and Odessa College. Odessa would pound [owen spiwak]  out 17 hits en route to a 20-5 victory. Spiwak would go 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He would then record a hit, a run and an RBI in a 12-2 drubbing at the hands of New Mexico Junior College in Game 1 of a doubleheader. In the back end it wasn’t much better for Odessa as they were dropped again, this time by a score of 11-2. The good news? Spiwak would collect another hit. Odessa would return home to host a doubleheader against New Mexico Junior College and would finally get some revenge as they took game 1 11-10. Swipak would have his best game of the week going 4-for-5 with a run scored and five RBIs. Unfortunately for Odessa, it would not last long as they dropped the nightcap 12-4 despite a hit, a run and another RBI from Spiwak.

Osborne garners All-Conference honour:
The Suncoast Conference announced their all-conference teams this week and there was a familiar face to Canadian ball fans. Familiar, yes, but not surprising. JD Osborne (Whitby, Ont.) was named to the Suncoast Conference first team as an infielder/catcher. The college community should not be surprised with this news. Osborne hit .358 with two home runs, 50 RBIs, 41 runs scored and six stolen bases over 49 games. Now lets take a look at how Osborne ended his regular season. It started off with a hit and a run against South Florida State. He would then earn a pair of walks with a run scored the next day against Hillsborough Community College. Osborne would end the regular season with a bang going 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and three RBIs. Polk State now will play an exhibition game against IMG Academy before heading out to the FCSAA/Region 8 State Tournament at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

Boyd back at it:

 I feel like every time I write something on JD Osborne, one on Louis Boyd (Vancouver, BC) follows it up so why stop now. Boyd has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Cochise Apaches and this past week was no different. It started in the back end of a doubleheader at South Mountain Community College where Boyd would go 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Cochise would then come home to host a double dip against Central Arizona College. Boyd would collect a hit in Game 1 with a run scored in a 4-0 Cochise win. Cochise would drop the finale 9-6 but Boyd would have himself a game going 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and three RBIs. Boyd is hitting .307 on the year so far with three home runs, 35 RBIs, 56 runs and nine stolen bases through 55 games. Cochise has one series left in Douglas, Az. against South Mountain Community College before postseason play begins.

Another familiar face:
Brad Antchak (Delta, BC), if you don’t recognize his name by now you clearly aren’t a weekly reader. Saying that, I’ll just get right into it. First off, he is pretty good, as he displayed against Rose State this past week when he went 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. He would follow that up with a hit and an RBI in the front half of a doubleheader with Connors State (Bryce Dimitroff and Connor Stevenson’s Connor State Cowboys, but we’ll get to that later.) He would record another hit, one that left the yard, in the back half along with a run scored and three RBIs. It was then Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College’s turn to host Connors State for a doubleheader. Antchak would work a walk in Game 1, while recording a hit, a pair of walks, a pair of runs scored and an RBI. NEO would end their week with a game against MCC-Longview where Antchak would swat a double and a pair of RBIs. Antchak and NEO now have a doubleheader on the road against Eastern before coming home to host a doubleheader against Eastern before heading off to the Region II Tournament. Antchak is hitting .358 on the season with 10 home runs, 53 RBIs, 43 runs and 12 stolen bases through 39 games. Something tells me we might be seeing another Canadian all-conference selection.

Lets get to the Canadian Cowboys:
So despite Brad Antchak having a pretty good series against Bryce Dimitroff (Burlington, Ont.) and Connor Stevenson’s (Keswick, Ont.) Connors State came away with 3-of-4 wins in the series. First, let’s look at Dimitroff. It began even before the series as Dimitroff went 2-for-5 in a 6-3 win over Northern Oklahoma College-Enid. Then came he collected a hit, a walk, a run and an RBI in Game 1, a hit a walk and a run in Game 2 at home before heading on to road. In Game 1 on the road he would go 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs before going 3-for-5 with a walk and a couple of runs scored in the back half. He would round out his week with a monster day against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid going 5-for-6 with two runs and two RBIs. Dimitroff is hitting .355 with two home runs, 29 RBIs, 47 runs and seven stolen bases through 45 games.

Connor Stevenson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI in the finale against NEO. He then went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and two RBIs against Northern Oklahoma College-Edin. Connors State gets ready for Arkansas Baptist College in their final games of the season this week. Stevenson is hitting .324 with 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, 31 runs and three stolen bases over 42 games played.

Holgate named to 1st team:
Mitch Holgate (Windsor, Ont.) was named First Team All Gulf South Conference this past week after a season that saw him hit .382 with 11 home runs, 42 RBIs, 44 runs and 17 stolen bases over the course of 43 games, all starts. He got this week started off at home against Montevallo by going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in an 8-3 West Alabama win. UWA would travel to Montevallo the next night and pull out a 10-6 win while Holgate collected a hit two runs and an RBI. With the regular season championship and the right to host the conference tournament on the line, UWA welcomed the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers to Tartt Field over the weekend. In Game 1 of the doubleheader that was pushed to Sunday due to weather, Holgate went 2-for-4 with an RBI in a 7-2 UWA win. In the late game he went 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs to carry the Tigers to a 12-3 win and the regular season crown. UWA would complete the sweep with an 11-1 win on Monday with Holgate going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. UWA will play their first game of the tournament Saturday against Delta State. UWA placed eight players on either the first of second team under head coach Gary Rundles who was name GSC Coach of the Year.

UBC Swept by Lewis-Clark State:
It wasn’t how the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds would have chosen to end the season, being swept in a four-game series by Lewis-Clark State College but there were some individual bright spots for the T-Birds. Tyler Enns (Winnipeg, Man.) collected a hit in Game 1 before going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in game 2. He would also collect a hit in the third game of the series before going 2-for-4 in the finale.

Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) had a hit in Game 1, was 2-for-5 in Game 2 and had another hit in Game 3. He would go 1-for-2 with a walk in the final game.

Brody Hawkins (Delta, BC) went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in Game 2.

Cam Firth (London, Ont.) would provide the loan spark and run in a Game 1 loss by hitting a solo home run, his sixth of the season. He then went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Game 3.

Starter Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) was “outstanding” said coachTerry McKaig in taking a no decision in Game 3. He would go six innings, allowing five hits, giving up two runs and four walks while striking out 10.

Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC), eligible for the 2016 draft, was also “outstanding” but took the tough luck loss by going 4 2/3 innings of relief, scattering two hits, allowing two runs (one earned), while walking four and striking out eight in the Game 3 11 inning loss.

UBC finishes the season 35-16 (18-9 in conference) and will take on Menlo College in the NAIA West Grouping Championships this Friday (May 1st.) The Thunderbirds took 3-of-4 from Menlo during the regular season.

Suzuki earns save:
Yuji Suzuki (Toronto, Ont.) would earn his third save of the year for coach Lunch McKenzie and his Concordia University-St. Paul Golden Bears as they clipped Winona State. Suzuki threw two innings, allowing a hit and a run. He did not walk a batter nor did he strike one out.

Brophy leads Purple Eagles:
Catcher Joel Brophy (Burlington, Ont.) would go 4-for-5 with two RBIs in Niagara’s series opening 7-2 win over the Jaspers of Manhattan. He would add a hit in Game 3, an 8-4 Manhattan victory. In a midweek doubleheader against the University of Buffalo, Brophy would go 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Game 1, a 13-12 Buffalo win.

Kirwer kickstarts Purple Eagles:
Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) would lead off for the Niagara Purple Eagles against the Manhattan Jaspers and record a hit and score a run in the first game of their series. He would close out the series with a hit, a walk and another run scored. He would hit his stride in a midweek doubleheader with Buffalo. In Game 1 he would go 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI and would score a run and drive in another the second game.

Rodrigues rips for Niagara:
It was another good week for Niagara Purple Eagles shortstop Thomas Rodriques (Pierrefonds, Que.). He would start his weekend by going 2- [thomas Rodrigues_1_] for-5 with a run scored in Game 1 of their weekend series. During the mid-week doubleheader with Buffalo he would start off with a pair of walks, a pair of runs scored and an RBI in the 13-12 loss.

Seto steps up for Eagles:
Starting of his weekend with a 1-for-4 game with a walk and an RBI, second baseman Geoff Seto (Richmond Hill, Ont.) would do his best to help his Niagara Purple Eagles. He would then go 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in a Game 3 loss to Manhattan. In the front half of the doubleheader with Buffalo he would get a hit, a walk and a run. He would record a walk in the night game.

Procopio strong in Purple Eagle pen:
Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) would go 2 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit, one run — zero earned — while walking one and striking out three for the Purple Eagles in their Game 3 loss to the Jaspers. He would come back in Game 1 of the doubleheader with Buffalo for a scoreless inning, allowing zero hits, zero walks and striking out two. He would also have a pinch hit in Game 2.

Bucci offers relief:
Michael Bucci (Toronto, Ont.) would throw 1/3 of an inning, allowing no hits, runs, walks and would not record a strikeout in Game 3 against Manhattan. In the 13-12 loss in Game 1 of the doubleheader with Buffalo he would toss an inning, surrendering three hits, three runs — one earned — with a walk and two strikeouts.

Coll pinch hits:
Redshirt sophomore Hayden Coll (Richmond Hill, Ont.) would come on and pinch hit, making the most of his opportunity. He would drive in two runs as well in Game 1 against Manhattan, a 7-2 win. Coll his hitting .240 with five doubles on the year with three RBIs and two runs and a stolen base in 12 games, eight starts.

Berube takes tough luck loss:
Marc Berube (Trois Pistoles, Que.) would go six strong innings, allowing six hits, two runs — one earned — with a pair of walks and four strikeouts on the way to a quality start. Unfortunately, for Berube and the Pittsburgh Panthers it was not enough as Fairfield escaped with the 3-2 victory. Berube took the loss and dropped his record to 1-6. He currently holds a 4.23 ERA over 10 appearances, all starts through 55 1/3 innings. He has recorded 35 strikeouts to 13 walks with opponents batting .276 off the right hander.

Northwestern Oklahoma State boasts Canadians:
With seven Canadians on their roster, Northwestern Oklahoma State has relied heavily on their northern content. Jeff Martin (Ajax, Ont.) would collect a hit in each game of their series with Arkansas Tech. He  [Jeff_Martin] would go 2-for-3 with an RBI against Hillsdale College. He would then collect a hit against Oklahoma Panhandle State and go 2-for-4 with an RBI against Southwestern Oklahoma State. He would also collect pair of hits and in their final two game of the season with two RBIs coming against Southwestern Oklahoma State in Game 2.

Greg Marco (Waterdown, Ont.) would collect a hit and an RBI against Arkansas Tech in Game 2 of their series. He would go a perfect 1-for-1 against Oklahoma Panhandle State. He would collect another hit versus Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Jason Freeman (Mississauga, Ont.) would score a run in Game 2 versus Arkansas Tech and follow it up with a 2-for-3 game in Game 3. He would then go 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs against Hillsdale Baptist. Freeman collected a hit in the opener of their series with Southwestern Oklahoma State and would go 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Brad Drury (Mississauga, Ont.) threw a scoreless inning, allowing a run, a walk and striking out two in Northwestern Oklahoma States win over Hillsdale Baptist.

Mike Figueiredo (Toronto, Ont.) would throw a scoreless inning against Southwestern Oklahoma State allowing not a hit or a walk and striking out two.

Terriers round up:
Cole Peragine (Belle Ewart, Ont.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Stony Brook’s midweek win over Central Connecticut. He would then go 2-for-4 with two walks, four runs and an RBI in their Game 1 win at Albany. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in the finale. He would round his week out by going 2-for-5 with another walk, two runs scored and an RBI in a midweek with Fairfield.

Toby Handley (Whitby, Ont.) had a hit, three walks a run scored and three RBIs against Central Connecticut. On the weekend at Albany he would go 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBIs in Game 1 and 4-for-6 again with two runs and two RBIs in game 3. He would then go 3-for-6 with three runs in the midweek against Fairfield.

Jordan Mountford (Guelph, Ont.) went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in a midweek with Rhode Island. He the went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs in Bryant’s Game 1 win over LIU Brooklyn. In Game 3 (Game 2 of a Saturday doubleheader) Mountford pounded out two hits going 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs and would add a hit and an RBI in the final game of the series. To round up his week he went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI in a midweek against Boston College.

Ontario Blue Jays round up:
Joey Guaragna (Mississauga, Ont.) started his week out by going 2-for-4 in Old Dominion’s 11-5 win over Richmond. He would then score a run and record an RBI in game 1 of their weekend series against Florida Atlantic while walking once in Game 2. He would stroke a hit and draw a walk in the last game of the series.

Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) went 2-for-5 with a walk, a run and an RBI in Game 1 of Virginia’s ACC series with North Carolina State, Virginia took the game 8-3. He then went 2-for-4 with two runs in game 2 and would collect a hit in the final game, Virginia dropped the last two games.

Joey Hawkins (Whitby, Ont.) would draw a walk in a mid-week match with Missouri and would follow it up with a 2-for-5 game with a walk and a run against Illinois State in Game 1 of their weekend series. He would collect a hit and a run in game 2 and walk and score a run in Game 3. He would end his week with a hit, a run and an RBI in another midweek with Missouri.

Toronto Mets round up:
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ont.) earned second team all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Team for the second straight year. He also  [jack dennis] collected the Bruce Dal Canton Award, awarded to the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcan hurler “who truly exemplifies greatness of character.” He also threw a complete game, seven innings, allowing seven hits, two runs with a walk and five punch outs against Clarion. Dennis finished the year with a 5-1 record with a 4.06 ERA with four complete games over 57 2/3 innings in nine starts.

David Marcus (Whitby, Ont.) received first team all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Team honours. He would collect a hit and an RBI in Game 1 of a doubleheader against West Liberty. In Game 2 he exploded for a 3-for-3 day with three runs scored and seven RBIs in a 11-7 win. In Game 1 against Clarion he had a hit and an RBI while the next day in game 1 of the doubleheader he went 2-for-3 with a walk, run and two RBIs. In game 2 he collected a hit, a walk and a run scored. In a midweek against Shippensburg he went 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs. Marcus finished the year batting .391 with 14 home runs, 61 RBIs and 40 runs scored over 46 games, all starts.

Grant Tamane (Pickering, Ont.) of Rio Grande was named Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week on April 28th. He is hitting .399 with four home runs, 32 RBIs, 49 runs scored and five stolen bases over 50 games, all starts.

BMOCs
Week 10 _ Holgate, Romanin, Bouchey, Kirwer

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

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