BMOC: Goodall, Handley, Rizquez, Williams

Josh Williams of the Dodge City Conquistadors earned all-tourney honors at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Col. 

Goodall, Handley, Rizquez, Williams

BMOC 15
By Matt Betts

As postseason play heats up in Division I and champions are crowned in Division II, III and NJCAA Canadians continue to be beneficial to their respective teams. In this week’s edition of the BMOC we highlight national championships, regional wins and personal awards. 

Lets take a look around college baseball.

Rizky Business:
Andris Rizquez (Hamilton, Ont.) and the Lewis Clark State Warriors accomplished the ultimate goal this past week, claiming the NAIA National Championship. They opened up their national championship run with a win over Davenport. Rizquez chipped in with a run scored in that contest. It was then a 7-4 win over Concordia before they suffered their first loss of the tournament, a 12-10 defeat at the hands of Alabama’s Faulkner University. It would then be three straight wins on route to the national title. The national championship is Lewis Clark State’s 17th in school history. Rizquez, a Central Arizona Community College transfer, ended his season hitting .254 with a home run and nine RBIs over 34 games, making 14 starts. Darren Kolk (Duncan, BC) hit .297 in 32 games with three doubles, five homers and 16 RBIs, starting 20 games.

Davenport’s run comes to an end:
It was two and out for the Davenport Panthers. Losses to Lewis Clark State and St. Thomas would spell the end of the Panthers season. Zac Wilson (New Lowell, Ont.) would collect a hit in the opener of the NAIA World Series. He would then go 2-for-4  with a run scored against St. Thomas. Zack Sardellitti (Maple, Ont.) would also get his only hit of the tournament, a home run.

Embry-Riddle finishes 2-2:
It was a .500 showing for Liam Goodall (Nanaimo, BC) and the Embry-Riddle Eagles at the NAIA World Series. They would open their tournament with an impressive 9-1 victory over Tabor. That would be followed by a 7-6 loss to Faulkner. Goodall would work a walk and come around to score in that game. With their backs against the wall, ERU would pull out a 6-5 win over Concordia. Goodall would have his best game yet in this one. He would go 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Unfortunately for the Eagles, their tournament would come to an end thanks to the eventual tournament champs from Idaho. Goodall finished his campaign hitting .358 with three home runs and 59 RBIs.

Croft, Wood lead San Jacinto in World Series:
It was also a .500 finish for San Jacinto junior college in the NJCAA World Series. It wouldn’t start off well for the Gators as they dropped their first game to McLennan 3-1. Alex Wood (Vancouver, BC) would finish that game with a walk. They would bounce back to eliminate Delgado with a 12-3 win, Wood was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs. It was the Conquistadors of Dodge City on tap next for the Gators and they would come away with a 9-7 win. Wood went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. That would set up a rematch with McLennan and it did not go San Jacinto’s way, eliminating the Gators from the World Series. Wood had five doubles, two triples, six homers, 41 RBIs and a .921 OPS. Josh Croft (Powell River, BC) had 16 doubles, two triples, four homers, a .393 average and a 1.052 OPS.

Williams named to All-Juco World Series Team:
Josh Williams (Toronto, Ont.) was named to the all-JUCO World Series team for his efforts in Grand Junction, Col. over the past week. The tournament got off to a rocky starts for Williams' Dodge City Conquistadors. They lost their opener to eventual champion Northwest Florida State College 7-1. Dodge City would bounce back with a huge 23-11 win over USC Sumter Fire Ants. In that contest Williams went 3-for-5, including a two-run homer over the centre field fence, a solo homer to right, a walk, four runs scored and three RBIs. Dodge City’s run would come to an end the next day against San Jacinto but Williams went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in the loss. Williams earned All-Tournament status as a DH from the clean-up spot as during the tournament, the left-handed hitter went 5-for-10 for a .500 average.  He collected one double, two homeruns and led the team with five RBIs. Williams finished his season hitting .381 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, 32 runs scored in 45 games.

Pinero leads Cavs to Super Regional:
The Virginia Cavaliers are one step away from the College World Series. Standing in their way are the Maryland Terapins, who will come to Charlottesville, VA looking to take the next step as well. Virginia got their regional off to a good start, beating USC 6-1. They would then take down San Diego State in Lake Elsinore 3-1 before winning the regional with a 14-10, 11 inning win over USC. In the final, Danny Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) went 1-for-4 with a pair of walks and three runs scored. He is currently hitting .299 with six home runs, 28 RBIs, 54 runs scored and six stolen bases.

Missouri State set for date with Razorbacks:
Missouri State took care of business when they hosted the regional last weekend. Now the Arkansas Razorbacks stand in their way. In Game 1 of the regional they crushed Cansius 14-1 and Joey Hawkins (Whitby, Ont.) was 1-for-5 with a walk and two runs scored.He would then work a pair of walks and score a run in a 5-3 win over Iowa. In the final, again against Austin Guzzo (Brooklin, Ont.) and the Iowa Hawkeyes, Missouri State would take a 3-2 victory and a berth in the Super Regional. Hawkins would record an RBI in the clincher. They will now head to Fayetteville, Ark. 

Fagnan looks to upend in-state rival:
It took five games and four wins but the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs are off the the Super Regional. Fort Worth, TX was the location and it got off to a good start for Jeremie Fagnan (Calgary, Alta.) and TCU. They would pummel Sacred Heart 10-0 with Fagnan going 1-for-2 with three walks and three runs scored. In game 2 NC State had different ideas as they took a 5-4 victory. Fangs did his best to prevent the loss going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Next up was Stony Brook and TCU would hand them an 8-3 loss. Fagnan went 1-for-5 with an RBI in that game. That would set up a showdown with NC State, needing to beat them twice the Horned Frogs did just that. The first game would see TCU win 8-2 and Fagnan would go 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. That would set up a winner take all game and one of the best games of the regionals. Trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the eighth, TCU would score eight runs in the final three innings, including six in the bottom of the eighth to take the game and punch their ticket to the Super Regional. Fangs would go 1-for-5 with two RBIs in the 10 inning win. Fagnan takes a .281 average with four home runs, 27 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 45 games, 38 starts. TCU will take on in-state rival Texas A&M in the Super Regional.

Fighting Illini off to Super Regional:
Kelly Norris-Jones (Victoria, BC) and his University of Illinois Fighting Illini are off the to Super Regionals after sweeping their way through the regionals. They took care of Ohio 10-3 and Norris-Jones would pinch hit and earn a walk. They would then beat Notre Dame 3-0 and Wright State 8-4 in the final. They will host Vanderbilt in the Super Regional.

Canisius loses two:
It was a short stay for the Cansius Golden Griffins in their regional bid. They would open play with a 14-1 loss to Missouri State. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.), Jake Lumley (Windsor, Ont.) and Mike Krische (Langley, BC) would have the three Griffins hits. Panas’ hit was a home run, his 11th, accounted for the only run. Devon Stewart (Maple Ridge, BC) would throw 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, four runs with two walks and three punch outs. He would finish the year with a 7-7 record and a 3.84 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 98 1/3 innings pitched (most on the team) over 16 appearances, all starts. It was then a 12-6 loss to Oregon that was the end for Canisius. Panas would walk twice and score a run while Lumley went 2-for-4. Krisch would go 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) would walk and score a run as well for the Griffs. Iannick Remillard (Valleyfield, Que.) would throw 1 2/3 of scoreless relief allowing just one hit and striking out two Oregon hitters. Panas was recently named a Capital One Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He maintained a 3.77 GPA while hitting .372 with eleven home runs, 68 RBIs, 67 runs scored and 19 stolen bases over 64 games, all starts.

Craig-St. Louis, Ducks fall short:
The Oregon Ducks were hoping for better when they travelled to Springfield, Mo. for the regionals. They opened up play with a 3-1 loss to Iowa in which Phil Craig-St. Louis (Gatineau, Que.) went 2-for-3. Game 2 would see them keep their season alive, beating Canisius 12-6. Craig-St. Louis would go 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. They would then meet up again with Iowa and lose a heartbreaker, 2-1 in 11 innings Craig-St. Louis went 1-for-5 in the game and finished his season hitting .296 (2nd on the team) with two home runs, 38 RBIs, 33 runs scored and four stolen bases over 62 games, 61 starts. Craig-St. Louis and the Ducks will now wait to see if fellow Canadian Demi Orimiloye will arrive on campus this fall.

Morehead State, All-American bow out:
It was a season to remember for All-American Chris Robinson (Uxbridge, Ont.) but unfortunately it ended abruptly as the Morehead State Eagles would lose two straight at the Louisville Regional. Their first loss was to the hosts 7-2, Robinson went 1-for-4 in that game. They would then bow out to Bradley by losing 9-4. Robinson would go hitless but would walk and score a run. Morehead State finishes their season with a 38-22 record and Robinson would finish hitting .402 with nine home runs, 69 RBIs, 78 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over 58 games, all starts.

Kellogg beats Clemson:
Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) would throw seven innings, surrendering six hits, two runs, with four walks and six strikeouts to lead Arizona State to their opening game win over Clemson. They would go on to lose to Cal State Fullerton and Pepperdine to be eliminated from the Fullerton Regional. Kellogg finished his season with a 9-2 record and a 3.60 ERA over 115 IP spanning 16 starts.

Stony Brook goes 1-2:
It didn’t start nor did it finish how the Stony Brook Seawolves would have liked. Facing NC State in game 1 of the Fort Worth Regional they would fall 3-0. They would rebound by beating Sacred Heart 11-6 to keep their season alive. In that game Cole Peragine (Belle Ewart, Ont.) would go 1-for-5 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. Toby Handley (Whitby, Ont.) would out do his Canadian teammate going 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. The season would come to an end the next game against eventual regional champion TCU, losing 8-3. Peragine would draw a walk while Handley would go 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Paragine finished the season hitting .287 with 26 RBIs, 56 runs scored and three stolen bases while playing in all 52 games. Handley would finish with a .330 average (second on the team) with 35 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 12 stolen bases while also playing in all 52 games. Johnny Caputo (Toronto, Ont.) was also a member of the Seawolves and finished his season hitting .257 with a home run, 18 RBIs, 11 runs scored and three stolen bases over 28 games, all starts. The Seawolves finished the season with a 35-16-1 record.

Cougars eliminated:
The Houston Cougars didn’t quite have the showing most expected when they hosted the regional at Cougar Field last weekend. They won their opener against Houston Baptist 6-4, then lost to Louisiana-Lafayette 2-1 and Rice 3-2 in 20 innings  Robert Grilli (Toronto, ON) pinch ran and had two at bats in the final loss. He finished the year hitting .320 with two RBIs, seven runs scored and a stolen base over 21 games, six starts.

Western Oklahoma State College loses in final:
The Western Oklahoma State College baseball team made it all the way to the NJCAA Division II World Series only to lose two straight to LSU Eunice. In the opener of the World Series against Catawba Valley Community College Christopher Acosta-Tapia (Laval, Que.) would go 4-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in the 16-5 win. In Game 2, a 9-1 win over Frederick Community College, Acosta-Tapia went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs. They would win their third game over LSU Eunice 5-2 in 10 innings. They would then take down Catawba Valley again, this time by a score of 9-3 to book their ticket to the final. Acosta-Tapia would go 2-for-4 with two runs scored in that game. In Game 1 of the final against LSU Eunice they would lose by a score of 14-12. They would drop the final game 16-1 to finish second.. Acosta-Tapia finished his season hitting .397 with 10 home runs, 36 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over 54 games. Right handed pitcher Jason Tarapasky (Pierrefonds, Que.) was 3-3 with a 5.56 ERA in 15 games. He walked 13 and struck out 43 in 34 innings.

North Iowa wins one at NJCAA Division II  World Series:
Riley Pollard (Brampton, Ont.) and his North Iowa Community College teammates made it to the NJCAA Division II World Series. They would open up action losing to Kellogg Community College 5-1. They would respond by beating Madison College 11-1. They would finally bow out to Catawba Valley Community College by losing 9-0. Pollard would throw four innings, allowing two hits, a run, walking no one and striking out three in the final game. He would finish his season going 3-1 with nine saves and a 4.97 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings pitched in 25 appearances.

Greenough brothers have solid seasons:
Harrison Greenough (Markham, Ont.) would hit .321 with a .357 slugging mark for the Academy of Arts. His brother, Hunter, had a 2.89 ERA in conference play for Antelope Valley.