BMOC Week 7
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
This week’s edition of the Big Man On Campus features quite a few new faces. As each week in college baseball passes there are more and more Canadians stepping into the spotlight. The top performances from the week that was.

Not bad Service
The Lions of Southeastern Louisiana were hoping to get their week off to a good start against Southern Mississippi. They did that with the help of Julien Service (Sarnia, Ont.). Service would swat a home run on route to going 2-for-4 with another run scored. Next up was a weekend clash with Incarnate Word. Game 1, an 11-0 Lions win, would see Service go 3-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two runs. After collecting a walk in a 4-2 Game 2 win, he would hit a double to round out his weekend in Game 3. Service and the Lions would earn the sweep, winning the finale 9-0. He is hitting .317 on the year. 

Thibideau big at the dish for Osprey
It was a big week for the University of North Florida Osprey. First up was a midweek battle with the No. 1 Florida Gators. North Florida would hang tough but would drop the decision 5-4. Chris Thibideau (Dartmouth, NS) would collect a hit in that one. The weekend would see a series with UNC Wilmington and Thibideau built off his hit against the nations best team. In Game 1 he would explode for a 4-for-5 game with a home run. He would also knock in another run in North Florida’s 3-2, 11-inning win. It was a 3-for-5 performance with a solo shot, a double and two runs scored in North Florida’s 13-1 Game 2 win. Game 3, an 12-11 North Florida win, included a Thibideau double, walk, RBI and run scored. 

Brophy a bright spot
It wasn’t a good weekend for the Niagara University Purple Eagles. They would drop all four games in their series with Brigham Young University. However, Joel Brophy (Burlington, Ont.) did provide some strong play for Niagara. After being hit by a pitch in Game 1 he would go 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk and three runs scored in a 14-10 loss. He would again go 3-for-4 in Game 3, a 14-2 loss. One of those hits was again a double and he would also score a run. 

Wilson with a big weekend
When you start off your weekend with a 2-for-5 game with three RBIs, you sure hope its a sign of things to come. That is exactly what Liam Wilson (Ayr, Ont) did in Canisius’ Game 1 loss to Cincinnati. In their Game 3 loss, Wilson would get on via a hit and a walk. He would also have two RBIs and a run scored in that one. He would finish out his weekend with a 2-for-3 game with a walk and a run. 

Nice outing for Shepley
Although Canisius dropped Game 2 of their series with the University of Cincinnati, Josh Shepley (Windsor, Ont.) did his best to hold the Bearcats off balance. Shepley would throw 6 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned) while not giving a free pass and striking out six.

Brand new name
Lets start with someone who is making his first appearance in the BMOC. Billy Brand (Burlington, Ont.) had himself a solid week for Cleveland State Community College. In a midweek tilt with Clark State, Brand would collect a hit, draw a walk, knock in a run and score one as well. On the weekend he would get off to a hot start going 2-for-3 including a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in his teams 6-5 win over Jackson State. He would be back at it in Game 2 with a hit, walk and an RBI as his team took a 2-0 decision. They would not earn a sweep, dropping the third game 6-5, but Brand finished strong with a pair of hits, a walk and an RBI. It was a week certainly worth a mention.

Dennis doing his thing
It was another good start for Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ont.) over the weekend for California University of Pennsylvania. Against Davis and Elkins, Dennis would collect the win going all seven innings, surrendering six hits and three runs. He would not walk a batter and would strikeout six. He improves to 2-1 on the season.

Suzuki saves his 2nd
Yuji Suzuki (Toronto, Ont.) earned his second save of the season in Concordia St. Paul’s 4-3 win over Augustana. Suzuki would throw an inning, giving up two hits, a run (unearned), with a punch out. 

Speaking of saves
Suzuki wasn’t the only Canadian pitcher to earn a save over the last week. Josh Egert (Burlington, Ont.) would save Game 1 of Southeastern University’s weekend series against St. Thomas. He would throw a clean 1 1/3 innings. It was his second save of the year. He would see action again in Game 3, this time going 2 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, a run, issuing a walk and striking out one. He is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA through eight appearances thus far.

UBC takes one from #1 Lewis Clark State
It was a great start to the weekend for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. They would thump #1 Lewis Clark State 12-1 in Game 1 of their series. Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, BC) would go 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Brendan Rose (Calgary, Alta.) would also chip in two hits with a double, a walk, a RBI and a pair of runs scored. Alex Webb continued his spectacular season by going a complete game seven innings, scattering four hits, a run and a walk while striking out seven. Webb is now 7-0 on the year
Lewis Clark State would get their revenge in Game 2 downing the T-Birds 5-2. Cusati would get another hit. He would also walk and be hit by a pitch. Rose would also get a base knock and a walk. Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) would see his record drop to 4-2 as he tossed five innings and took the loss. He allowed five hits, two runs (one earned) with three walks and eight strikeouts. 
The Warriors would earn the series win in Game 3 by topping UBC 5-1. Cusati was back on the game sheet with a 2-for-3 day. Rose would also collect a hit in the loss. Griffin Goyer (Burnaby, BC) would provide the only offence by launching a solo home run. Connor Noble (Vancouver, BC) did his best to keep his team in it by tossing six innings, surrendering four hits, three runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Noble is now 5-2 in 2016.

Holgate makes SportsCenter
Mitch Holgate (Windsor, Ont.) sure is good at hitting the baseball. In a 12-4 midweek win for West Alabama, Holgate went 2-for-4 with a three run shot and a walk. He would total four RBIs and three runs scored. Next up, the Tigers were suppose to hit the road to Memphis, TN to take on conference foe Christian Brothers. Weather had other ideas and the series was shifted to Tartt Field in Livingston, Ala. That wouldn’t slow down Holgate as he went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk. He would finish the game with an RBI and three runs scored. Game 2 would see him collect a hit and score two runs. He would hit a double, walk twice, knock in two and score another as UWA swept CBU with an 11-2 win. 
Holgate also received recognition for his defence over the weekend when he made a diving, barehanded catch to rob a sac bunt attempt by a Buccaneer hitter. The play was so impressive it earned #4 honours on SportsCenter’s SCTop10. Check out my Twitter @Bettsy41 for the video clip.
 

Patterson keeps pounding for Spalding
Blake Patterson (Calgary, Alta.) would go 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in Spalding University’s win over Transylvania. Next up was DeSales University and Patterson would hit a double, walk and drive in a run in his teams 3-0 win. He would end his weekend with a 2-for-5 game in Spalding’s 4-3 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Holmes feeling at home in Mount Mercy lineup
Devin Holmes (Simcoe, Ont.) would reach base five times for Mount Mercy over the past week. He would get it started with a hit in his teams 6-2 loss to Midland. In Game 3, a 7-3 win, he would have a hit, walk, a RBI and a run scored. He would end up having his best game at the dish in Game 4. In that game he would go 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored.

Triple Threat for Seminole State (OK)
Remember the last time Seminole State (OK) was mentioned in the BMOC? I sure do, my hands are still sore from typing out all the stats that three Canadians put up for them. Well, they were back at it again this past week.
In their 12-3 win over Gateway, Canadians had solid performances. Louis-Philippe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) went 2-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored. Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) would also have two hits while walking twice, knocking in a run and scoring two. Philippe Berthiaume (Lac St-Charles, Que.) would do the least amount of damage but would still collect a hit and walk.
Next up was an 18-12 win over Central Arizona. Pelletier hit a home run, walked and stole a base. He finished the game with a RBI and two runs scored. Toro also stayed hot with two hits, one of which was a home run, two walks, two RBIs and four runs scored. He would also swipe two bases. Berthiaume would go 2-for-5 with a walk, RBI and run.
It wasn’t much fun being a Western Nebraska pitcher either. Pelletier would torch them for two hits, one being a double and two runs scored. Toro would up his pace with a 4-for-4 game with four RBIs, two runs scored and another stolen base. Berthiaume would have a hit, a walk, score three runs and steal a base. Seminole State would win the game 11-8.
They would close out the weekend with an 8-3 win over South Mountain. Pelletier would have a hit, a walk and score a run. Toro would go 3-for-5 with a home run, triple, a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs. Berthiaume would hit a double and have another base hit. He would also drive in a run and score one himself while stealing a base as well.

Couple Canadians leading the lineup for NCCC
Zarley Cina (Kitchener, Ont.) would have eight hits, four walks, three RBIs and six runs scored for Niagara County Community College this past week. His teammate, Laine Renaud, (Hamilton, Ont.) would have four hits, two walks with two RBIs and two runs scored over the last week for NCCC.

E is for Eric, Erie
Eric Marriott (Niagara Falls, Ont.) had himself a nice week for Erie. In his teams 7-4 win over Monroe he had a hit, a walk and a RBI. In their 18-8 loss to Delta, Marriott had another hit and a walk. Facing Pasco-Hernando State he would again have a hit and a walk, this time with a run scored in the loss. He would have his best game going 2-for-3 in an 11-1 loss to Brookdale. Erie would get their revenge however, downing Brookdale 5-3 in their next game against them. Marriott had a hit, a walk and a run scored in that one. He finished his weekend with six hits, four walks, a RBI and two runs scored.

More Canadians are making a name for themselves as the 2016 season moves along. It is exciting to see what each week brings for Canadians in college baseball. Keep checking back weekly for updates.

If you know of someone who is deserving of a mention in this weekly column please email Matt Betts @ mattbetts41@gmail.com