BMOC Week 12: Bedard, Bourassa, Clay, Cratty, Marks, Turino

London Badgers alum Travis Keys (London, Ont.) set a New Aquinas Saints record when he struck out 16 batters in his start this week. Photo: New Aquinas Athletics

April 21, 2021

BMOC Week 12

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The push for the postseason is heating up. Canadians across college baseball are playing pivotal roles for their teams and it isn’t going unnoticed. Below you can find the top performances from the past week.

Keys named WHAC Pitcher of the Week for second time

Travis Keys (London, Ont.) was called upon early last week to start for the Aquinas Saints in their Monday game against Lawrence Tech. Keys threw a complete game, nine-inning shutout in a 5-0 win. The lefty surrendered three hits, walked two and recorded 16 strikeouts to set a Saints’ record. Later in the week in an 8-4 win over Cleary, he worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He gave up a hit, walked three and struck out three. For the second time this season, he was named the Wolverine Hoosier Pitcher of the Week.

Marks masterful, earns Pitcher of the Week

The USC Upstate Spartans put up only two runs in their series opener with Charleston Southern, but the lack of run support didn’t matter as Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) spun a complete game shutout. Marks allowed four hits, walked two and struck out nine to improve to 6-1 on the campaign. He was named the Big South Conference Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season.

Reyes rips opposing pitchers

Matt Reyes (Vancouver, BC) provided eight hits for Graceland University this past week. Reyes went 2-for-2 and hit a grand slam to break a 3-3 tie in the Yellowjackets’ 7-3 win over Hannibal-LaGrange. He homered again to end the week in an 8-7, Game 4 win over Culver Stockton. On the week he had eight hits, three walks and seven RBIs.

Ontario Terriers alum Sam Turcotte (Toronto, Ont.) earned a complete-game win in his start for Stony Brook this week. It was his third consecutive complete game. Photo: Stony Brook Athletics

Turcotte goes the distance, again

Make it three straight complete games for Stony Brook’s Sam Turcotte (Toronto, Ont.). This time it was the University of Maryland, Baltimore County that was on the wrong end of the right arm of Turcotte. He tossed all seven innings, giving up two runs on four hits with three walks in a 3-2 win in Game 1. The big right hander struck out six Retriever hitters.

Hicks hammers four homers

Opposing pitchers had a heck of a time keeping Connor Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) in the ballpark. In Mineral Areas four-game sweep of St. Louis, Hicks hit a home run in every game. When all was said and done, he collected seven hits, two walks, eight RBIs and a stole a base.

Turino launches four long balls

To say Luke Turino (Toronto, Ont.) was an offensive force for the Georgetown College Tigers would be an understatement. Turino hit four home runs last week in five games. He hit a two-run shot in an extra inning win over Indiana University Southeast and a Game 3 win in the Tigers’ series with Shawnee State. In between he hit a three run home run in a 12-1 win over Union and a 6-5 loss in Game 2 against Shawnee State. The sophomore infielder had seven hits, a walk and 15 RBIs total.

Gauthier shines in shutout win

Mathieu Gauthier (Candiac, Que.) spun seven scoreless innings to lead his No. 5 West Texas A&M Buffs to a 5-0 Game 1 win over Texas A&M International. Gauthier gave up a pair of hits and struck out nine to improve to 9-2. His nine victories tie him for the lead in that category in all of Division II baseball.

Okotoks Dawgs grad Michael Clapperton (Calgary, Alta.) had four hits, two walks and two stolen bases in three games for the University of Texas Permian. Photo: UTPB Athletics

Clapperton connects for four hits

From a team perspective, last weekend wasn’t pretty for Michael Clapperton (Calgary, Alta.) and his University of Texas Permian Baseball teammates as they were swept by St. Mary’s three games to none. On a personal note, Clapperton was quite good, as he pounded out four hits, worked a pair of walks and stole two bases. The Falcons will look to rebound this weekend as they host Lubbock Christian.

Black continues to hit despite hectic Wright State schedule

Due to COVID-19 related issues Wright State’s series with Oakland University was cancelled. It was the second straight Horizon League series to be cancelled for the Raiders after COVID-19 protocols forced the cancellation of their series with Purdue Fort Wayne last weekend. The Raiders quickly pivoted and played a neutral site three game series with Florida Gulf Coast in Jacksonville, Alabama. The change in schedule didn’t seem to bother Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.) as he had five hits, three walks and a pair of RBIs in the series. He went 3-for-5 with a walk and the two RBIs in a tough 13-12 loss in Game 1.

Hill hurls five innings

Adam Hill (Mississauga, Ont.) threw five innings for Jefferson College, conceding three runs (one earned) on three hits in a 13-4 loss to State Fair. Hill walked two and struck out one in the outing.

Bourassa backs Dons win over San Diego

Make it three straight wins for San Francisco University’s Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.). Bourassa pitched eight innings and allowed one run on six hits in a convincing 12-1, Game 1 win over San Diego. He walked one and struck out five as he picked up his fourth win.

Two Canadians take the ball for Lindsey Wilson

Two Canadians provided two good starts for Lindsey Wilson College.

Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) threw nine innings, but it wasn’t a complete game as it took the Blue Raiders 14 innings to beat Bethel 3-1 in Game 3 of their series. After splitting the first two games, Achen allowed an unearned run on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six to get the game to extras.

Brady Cappe (Waterford, Ont.) suffered a tough loss in Game 1 of their series with Bethel. Cappe worked 8 2/3 innings and surrendered just one run on two hits. Unfortunately, that one run came across in the bottom of the ninth for a 1-0 Bethel win. The former Ontario Blue Jay hurler walked four and struck out 10.

Windsor Selects alum Liam Devine (Guelph, Ont.) struck out six in five innings for St. Bonaventure to pick up his second win of the season.

Devine earns second win

In Game 1 of St. Bonaventure’s series with Saint Joseph’s, they handed the ball to Liam Devine (Guelph, Ont.) and he came up with a respectable effort. Devine scattered seven hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings of work as the Bonnie took the game 8-3. The lefty walked four and struck out six to net his second win of the season.

Chester stymies Southern Idaho

Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) threw a complete game, seven innings as his Salt Lake Bruins downed the College of Southern Idaho 9-1 in Game 1 of their four-game set. Chester allowed five hits, the one run and punched out five.

Dillon provides long relief

Summoned from the bullpen in the fourth inning, Kurt Dillon (Cornwall, Ont.) delivered six innings in Galveston College’s 8-3 win over Alvin. Dillon scattered four hits, gave up two runs, walked three and struck out four.

Bells strong in St. Mary’s win

Dylan Bells (Regina, Sask.) went five innings in St. Mary’s 16-4 win in Game 1 against the University of Texas Permian Basin. Bells allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in the blowout. He worked around six walks and struck out eight to run his record to a perfect 6-0.

Langley Blaze alum Dawson Hurford (Victoria, BC) hurled six scoreless innings for Western Nebraska to lead them to a 7-0 win over Northeastern. Photo: Twitter

Hurford helps Western Nebraska blank Northeastern

Right hander Dawson Hurford (Victoria, BC) kicked it into cruise control on the mound for Western Nebraska in their 7-0 victory over Northeastern. Hurford yielded three hits over six scoreless innings for the Cougars. He walked two and struck out two to gather the win.

No. 7? No problem for Lefebvre

Charles Lefebvre (Laval, Que.) had his hands full in his start last week against No. 7 Iowa Western. Turns out he was up to the challenge as he worked five innings in a 3-2 win. The two runs on two hits he permitted gave his team a chance to win the game. The freshman walked three and struck out four in the upset victory. It was just the sixth loss of the season up to that point for the Reivers.

Bedard, Do Santos both have seven hits

Being a Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldog was a lot of fun last week, just ask their Canadians. The Bulldogs beat Cameron in a midweek contest before sweeping a three-game series from Arkansas Tech.

Alex Bedard (Levis, Que.) was 7-for-16 on the week with two walks, and two RBIs. He was 3-for-4 in both Games 1 and 3 of the series with Arkansas Tech. In the finale he finished a home run shy of the cycle. This season, the Bulldog leadoff man is hitting .392 and has stolen 22 bases in 23 attempts.

Ryan Dos Santos (Mississauga, Ont.) also went 7-for-16. Dos Santos walked once, drove in a run and was hit by a pitch. He’s hitting .344 on the year.

Chaput closes week with two, three-hit games

Samuel Chaput (Boisbriand, Que.) put up seven hits, including a home run, walked twice, drove in three runs and swiped a pair of bases for the Emporia State Hornets in four games. Chaput chipped in a 3-for-4 effort with a walk and a RBI in Game 2 against Missouri Western. He followed it up by going 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 19-4, Game 3 loss.

Vauxhall Academy grad Tyler Scott (Calgary, Alta.) had seven hits in four games for Bryan College this week. Photo: Bryan College Athletics/Twitter

Scott scoops seven hits

Four games were on the slate for No. 13 Bryan College last week. The first was a midweek game against Cumberland University, a game the Lions would win 10-6 behind two hits and a RBI from Tyler Scott (Calgary, Alta.). Columbia International was next for a three-game set. Scott went 2-for-5 in the opener, an 8-4 loss. The Lions dropped Game 2 by a 10-8 score, but Scott managed a hit and three RBIs. Looking to avoid the sweep, he went 2-for-4 with a RBI to help lead his squad to a 7-6 win.

Mendham homers twice for Gamecocks

David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) has been a mainstay in the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks lineup and this past week is a good example of why. Mendham turned in a 3-for-5 performance with a two-run home run in a 9-0 midweek victory over Charleston Southern. It was off to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a Southeastern Conference series with the LSU Tigers. Mendham had a hit and was hit by a pitch in a 5-1 loss in Game 1. The Gamecocks rebounded to win Game 2 by a 4-2 score thanks in part to a 2-for-3 game from Mendham. He swatted a two-run home run and worked a walk in a 9-0 win in the rubber match.

Cratty collects 11 hits in five games

Rhys Cratty (Langley, BC) contributed 11 hits, walked four times and drove in seven for Southwest Baptist in a 3-2 week. Cratty had a four-hit game, going 4-for-7 with two RBIs in a 16-14 Game 4 win over Truman State. He had at least two hits in four of the five games.

Ontario Blue Jays grad Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) had six hits in three games for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Photo: Oklahoma State Athletics

Hewitt, Cowboys take on TCU

Fort Worth, Texas was home to a series between two top 10 teams over the week. Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) and the No. 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys went on the road to face No. 6 Texas Christian University. Game 1 saw Hewitt post a 4-for-5 game with three RBIs in a tough 9-8 loss. After an RBI in an 8-7, Game 2 loss, he went 2-for-3 with a walk in a 12-6 loss in Game 3. It was a rough weekend for the Cowboys.

Barclay leads off for Mary

Tyrus Barclay (Wyoming, Ont.) played in three of the University of Mary’s four games last week, and was penciled into the leadoff spot in each. Barclay supplied five hits and a RBI for the Marauders.

Richardson wins his second for Northern Kentucky

The ball was given to Noah Richardson (Windsor, Ont.) in Game 3 of Northern Kentucky’s four-gamer with Youngstown State. Richardson told the bullpen to take the game off, as he threw a complete game, nine innings. He scattered six hits and gave up two runs in a 7-2 win. The 6-foot-4 left-hander punched out eight to push his strikeout total to 42 in 34 2/3 innings. His record now stands at 2-0.

Gollert evens record at 3-3

Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) made the start for Austin Peay in Game 2 against the University of Tennessee-Martin. Over five innings, Gollert allowed six hits, six runs (one earned) and walked four. He struck out four in the 10-6 win.

Grieder continues to shine

The No. 7 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles put up 11 runs and Andrew Grieder (Spruce Grove, Alta.) surrendered just two in an 11-4, Game 2 win over the University of Saint Mary’s. Grieder held the Spires to a pair of runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out seven in yet another impressive start for one of the top teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Coaticook Rocket alum Sam Jalbert (Mascouche, Que.) fanned six batters in five innings in St. Joseph’s 6-1 win over Rivier. Photo: Jacques Lanciault

Jalbert steady for St. Joseph’s

Sam Jalbert (Mascouche, Que.) struck out six over five innings in St. Joseph’s 6-1 win over Rivier. Jalbert allowed five hits, the one run and walked one.

Sabiston good in relief for Greyhounds

It was clear Liam Sabiston (Calgary, Alta.) wasn’t intimidated to face the No. 13 Angelo State Rams. Sabiston produced five strong innings of relief for Eastern New Mexico in the 5-1 loss. He limited the opposition to one hit and two runs during the appearance. The Prairie Baseball Academy grad walked three and struck out three.

Johnston goes five scoreless

Matthew Johnston (Cypress River, Man.) tossed five scoreless innings and permitted a pair of hits and a walk for Mayville State, but it wasn’t enough as the bullpen allowed three runs in a 3-2, Game 4 loss to Waldorf.

LaMontagne, Quirion come up big for Cardinals

A pair of Canadian Cardinals were flying high for Lamar University.

Daric LaMontagne (Saint Amable, Que.) clubbed seven hits, walked twice and drove in two as the Cardinals split their four-game set with Nicholls State.

Anthony Quirion (Dixville, Que.) hit a solo home run in both Games 1 and 2. Quirion finished the series with five hits and three RBIs.

Coquitlam Reds alum Matthew Clay (Port Moody, BC) went 4-for-5 with a three-run home run, two doubles and five RBIs for the College of Idaho Yotes in their 15-9 loss to Oregon Tech in the second game of their series. Photo: Yotes Athletics

Clay with a big day for Yotes

Matthew Clay (Port Moody, BC) had a huge game for the College of Idaho Yotes in Game 2 of their series with Oregon Tech. Clay went 4-for-5 with a three-run home run, two doubles and five RBIs in the 15-9 loss. During the series he produced seven hits in total.

Benson bangs out 10 hits

The week was a success for Owen Benson (Toronto, Ont.) and Lake Michigan College. They took all five games and Benson had 10 knocks, including a pair of three-hit games. He combined the hits with four walks and four RBIs.

Tweet triggers offense out of the leadoff spot

Dawson Tweet (Russell, Man.) was back at it last week for Mesabi Range. Tweet, batting leadoff, picked up seven hits, five RBIs and a stolen base. He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in a 9-8, Game 3 loss to Vermilion. Game 4 saw him go 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a stolen base.

Magill helps Tribunes continue sizzling streak

The Monroe Tribunes have increased their winning streak to 14 games thanks to a four-game sweep of Jamestown. Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) had two, three-hit games in the series to go along with two walks and four RBIs. He smashed a home run and finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs in a 17-6 win in Game 3.

Aquinas has no answer for Fountain

Colton Fountain paced the Cleary offence with five hits, a walk, a RBI and a stolen base as the Cougars split a pair of games with Aquinas.

Team Nova Scotia and Vauxhall Academy alum Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS) is now 7-0 for the Iowa Western Reivers this season. Photo: Twitter

O’Toole, Reivers tame Iowa Central

With another complete game effort, Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS) improved to 7-0. O’Toole flung all five innings for the Iowa Western Reivers in a 12-1, Game 3 victory. Hitters could only muster a hit, an unearned run and a walk off the former Vauxhall Academy Jet. He also struck out one in the mercy shortened start.

Camacho-Soto brings the lightning for T-Birds

Williams Camacho-Soto (Burnaby, BC) had a hit, an RBI and was hit by a pitch in the Cloud County Thunderbirds 6-2, Game 1 win over Hutchinson. Camacho-Soto drove in a run in a 6-4 loss in Game 2 and went 2-for-3 in another loss, this time by a 7-3 score, in Game 3. He provided a hit and worked a walk as the T-Birds earned the series split with an 11-5 win in Game 4.

Skujia seals series for Roadrunners

Roadrunners of California State Bakersfield made a trip across the pond for a four-game Big West Conference series with Hawaii. With a 2-1 series lead heading into the finale, Ethan Skujia (Victoria, BC) came out of the bullpen to help them win the series in Game 4. Skujia spun 5 1/3 innings scoreless innings, allowed two hits and struck out eight to pick up the win in the 8-4 final.

Massicotte throws all five in win

Mathieu Massicotte (Quebec City, Que.) makes his first appearance in the 2021 BMOC. Massicotte tossed a complete game five innings for Sussex County as they downed Orange County 17-5. He gave up eight hits, five runs (two earned), walked three and struck out nine.

Canadians take the mound for Marshalltown

Canadians started three games in Marshalltown’s four-game series with Southwestern. Let’s take a look at how they did, in order.

If you don’t score, you can’t win. Jackson Stephen (Cowichan Bay, BC) took the loss in the opener despite a strong start that saw him last seven innings. Stephen allowed three runs (one earned), seven hits, walked one and struck out three in the 3-0 loss.

Josh Ironside (St. Albert, Alta.) tossed eight innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits to earn the Tigers their first win in the series. Ironside walked two and struck out two in the 6-5 walk off victory.

Tom Leathem (St. Albert, Alta.) got the win in Game 4, his first of the season. Leathem threw five innings and surrendered two runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out three as his team earned the series split.

Yaoita, San Mateo get going

Kodai Yaoita (Victoria, BC) went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs as the College of San Mateo beat Canada in Game 1 of a three-game set. In Game 2, a 12-2 victory, he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. He completed his weekend with a hit in a 9-1 win. These were the first three games of San Mateo’s season.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Tyler Small (Mississauga, Ont.) had seven hits, walked twice and drove in three over four games for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Photo: Northeastern A&M Athletics

Small, Valle step up offensively

Two Canadians, Canadian Tyler Small (Mississauga, Ont.) and outfielder Mathieu Valle (Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Que.) had themselves good weekends for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Small provided seven hits, walked twice and drove in three over four games. Small went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in a 10-9 loss to Crowder. He followed that up with a 3-for-4 performance in a 9-6 victory over Seminole State (OK).

Valle contributed 10 hits, two walks, eight RBIs and stole a base for the Norsemen. Valle went 5-for-5 in a home run and four RBIs in a 16-8 loss in Game 2 against Seminole State (OK).

McGarry-Doyle hits homer, has nine hits in all

Noel McGarry-Doyle (Vaughan, Ont.) had nine hits, including a home run for Southeastern Community College in their eight games. McGarry-Doyle also walked five times, drove in three and swiped three bases as the Blackhawks went 4-4.

MacLeod punches out 11

Control was key for Mason MacLeod (Winnipeg, Man.) in his start for Itasca College last week. Taking on Rainy River in Game 1 of their series, MacLeod didn’t walk a batter, went seven innings and gave up two runs on nine hits. He struck out 11 in the 6-2 win.

Wilde was better than the outcome

Evan Wilde (Airdrie, Alta.) took the loss for Cloud County in a 6-4, Game 2 loss to Hutchinson. It wasn’t a bad outing, however. Wilde went five innings and gave up five runs (two earned). He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out seven.

Brunner gets win No. 4

Recent Wichita State University commit Graham Brunner (Sherwood Park, Alta.) constructed another good start for Barton Community College. Brunner pitched a complete game, seven inning shutout in a 2-0, Game 1 win over Butler. He gave up four hits and two walks in the tight contest. The left-hander and former Okotoks Dawg struck out four hitters on route to his fourth win.

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It’s hard to believe next week’s edition of this column will be the final one for the month of April. Time flies when you’re having fun they say, and many Canadians are having a blast playing the game we all love. Make sure to check back next week for another action packed BMOC.

Do you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com. Please note our week runs Monday-Sunday.

Looking for even more coverage of Canadians in college baseball? Follow Matt Betts on Twitter at @Bettsy41.