BMOC Week 1
By Matt Betts
Yes, it’s that time of year again folks. The BMOC is back as college baseball’s 2016 season has officially kicked off and Canadians are already making an impact. So lets jump right into it with the top Canadians so far in college baseball.

Osborne helps spark Spartans
It sure didn’t take long for JD Osborne (Whitby, ON) to settle in with his new teammates at the University of Tampa. The defending Division 2 national champions kicked off their season with a three game set against Bentley University. In a 7-2 Game 1 win, Osborne would go 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. What was even more impressive was that one of those hits was a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. Game 2 saw the Spartans roll past Bentley 16-2. Osborne would not collect a hit but would draw a walk and score a run. Game 3, a 5-0 Tampa victory, saw him draw another walk and score another run.

Oz on the Spartans post-game show

A couple Canadians lead Florida Tech
It may not have been how Florida Tech freshman Alex Tonelli (Toronto, Ont.) pictured his college career beginning, but his first series sure ended well. After starting and going hitless in the Panthers first two games, 6-1 and 4-3 wins, Tonelli ended his weekend with a pinch hit RBI single. The Toronto natives first collegiate hit scored fellow Canadian Daniel Szpik (Toronto, Ont.). That’s one way to remember your first college knock.

Szpik was not to be outdone. He would go 1-for-5 with an RBI in the Panthers Game 2 victory. The sophomore outfielder would save his best performance for Game 3, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored despite the Rollins College Tars sneaking out a 4-3 loss.

Valdez comes up big for Barry
It was a good opening weekend for Canadians in the Sunshine State Conference. Ramon Valdez (Chestermere, Alta.) started off his senior season at Barry University on a good note with a 3-for-3 performance that included a walk, a pair of RBIs and three runs scored. He would also leave the yard for his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth. His Bucs would down the Catawba Indians 12-7. Next up, the Bucs would pound Tusculum 13-1 with Valdez drawing a walk, collecting an RBI and scoring a run. Barry would then round of the weekend with a tilt against Newberry. Although Newberry would walk away with an 11-9 win, that would not stop Valdez from feasting on the Wolves pitching staff. He would go 3-for-4 in the finale with three RBIs. Not a bad start to your senior campaign.

Liam leads Eagles
Liam Goodall (Nanaimo, BC) picked up right where he left off in 2015. His Embry-Riddle Eagles took on Palm Beach Atlantic in their season opening series and Goodall made an immediate impact. He would go 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in the 2-0 Game 1 victory. Goodall would hit a triple, walk, knock in an RBI and score a run in his teams 6-1 victory in Game 2. Game 3 of the series was an offensive fans dream. Palm Beach Atlantic would take an 18-12 decision but Goodall made sure to pick up a hit, draw a walk, record an RBI and reach on a hit by pitch. Embry-Riddle is a provisional member of the Sunshine State Conference.

Lamanna, Schnurr provide relief for Lakers
Junior right handed pitcher John Lamanna (Toronto, Ont.) would throw a scoreless inning of relief for the Mercyhurst Lakers in their 8-3 Game 3 win against Stillman College. Lamina would not allow a hit or a walk in his inning.

It was Mike Schnurr (Waterloo, Ont.) who would provide some relief in Game 4 against Stillman. Schnurr would retire the only batter he faced on route to helping his team to an 9-4 victory.

Gagne helps hold down Henderson State
Cisco college transfer Alex Gagne (Ottawa, Ont.) would throw a scoreless inning of relief in Game 3 of Tarleton State’s 13-5 win over Henderson State. Gagne would allow a hit, but that was all as he did not walk a batter.

Storrie collects save for Galveston
Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) would lock down Galveston College’s 2-0 victory over Temple with a shutout seventh and final inning. Storrie would not allow a hit, would walk one and strikeout one on the way to his first save of the season.

Pouwells leads off for El Paso
Ryan Pouwells (Vancouver, BC) would lead off Games 1 and 2 for El Paso Tejanos against Scottsdale over the past weekend. In Game 1 he would go 1-for-4 with a run scored in a 12-7 loss. Game 2 would see Pouwell contribute even more and would lead El Paso to a 6-2 victory. Pouwells went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base in the back end of the doubleheader. Scottdale would go on to win the next two games of the weekend 13-7 and 8-1.

Mueller enters in relief
Michael Mueller (Mississauga, Ont.) would throw an inning of relief in Scottsdale’s 8-1 win over El Paso. In that inning Mueller would not surrender a hit, a run or a walk. He would strikeout one to collect a clean appearance.

Central Arizona claims three wins
Infielder Mitchell Robinson (Surrey, BC) would help his Central Arizona team to three wins over the weekend. In Game 1 against Phoenix, Robinson would go 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Central Arizona would take the game by a score of 8-4. To say the second game was a blowout would be a bit of an understatement. Central Arizona would cruise to a 21-2 victory behind the bat of Robinson. He would go 2-for-4 with a home run and a double to go along with four RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base. Game 3 would be closer as Central Arizona would take it 6-3. Robinson would round out his attack with a 2-for-4 day that also included a walk. Not a bad weekend for the western boy.

Wood is just wonderful for San Jacinto
Max Wood (Vancouver, BC) had himself a stellar weekend for the Gators of San Jacinto. He would open play with a 1-for-3 game with two RBIs and a run scored in an 11-0 victory over Salt Lake. San Jacinto’s bats would stay hot in their 16-7 win over Colorado Northwestern. Wood would go 3-for-3 in that game with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. He would close out his weekend with a 1-for-4 game with a walk, RBI and run against Southern Nevada, a game San Jacinto would win 11-5. 

Krahn contributing for The Master’s
The Master’s College has stormed out to a 5-0 record to start the 2016 season and Tyler Krahn (Abbotsford, BC) certainly has something to do with that. Krahn would pinch hit and draw a walk in The Master’s second game against Simpson, a 9-0 win. In Game 3 against Simpson, Krahn would draw a walk and score a run. He would close out the series with a 1-for-2 game that included a RBI and a run scored. Up next was Bethesda and a 3-0 win. In that game Krahn would go 2-for-4 with another RBI and run scored. The Master’s College takes on UC San Diego this weekend.

Make sure to continue checking back each week as the college baseball season heats up and Canadian baseball players continue to make our country proud.

Contact Matt Betts <mattbetts41@gmail.com> if you know someone who had a good weekend on the college campus.