BMOC Week I: Gagnon, Krawchuk, Kucy, Radke, Robertson

Langley Blaze alum and Southern Arkansas Muleriders infielder Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) has been named a Division II Second Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Photo: Southern Arkansas Athletics

January 30, 2024

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

We’re back.

While it may be cold and cloudy in many parts of the country, several Canadians are experiencing brighter days out on the diamond.

With the college baseball season getting underway last week, Canucks are already making an impact for their teams.

Check out the best from Week 1.

Nicoll not sneaking up on anyone

Southern Arkansas University infielder Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) has been named a Division II Second Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Nicoll led the Muleriders with a .355 average while swatting 11 home runs, driving in 69 and posting a 1.033 OPS in 2023.

A Canadian Spartan an All-Big South pick

Outfielder Daniel Gernon (Cloverdale, BC) is a preseason All-Big South Conference selection out of the University of South Carolina Upstate. The redshirt senior enters his final season of college baseball coming off a campaign in which he hit .283 average with nine home runs and a .910 OPS.

Falcons set to take flight

A couple of Canadian falcons could be flying high this season in Alabama. University of Montevallo infielder Connor Crowson (Okotoks, Alta.) and right-handed pitcher Seth Gurr (Coaldale, Alta.) are on the Gulf South Conference’s Players to Watch list. Both Crowson and Gurr are Bossier Parish Community College transfers.

Fieldhouse Pirates grad Carter Krawchuk (St. Catharines, Ont.) struck out seven in six solid innings in his start for Seminole State College against Chipola. Photo: Seminole State Athletics

Krawchuk K’s seven

With a win and a loss already on the weekend, Seminole State College (Fla.) turned to Carter Krawchuk (St. Catharines, Ont.) in their third game against Chipola. Krawchuk spun six solid innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. He fanned seven in a game his team would walk off.

Gagnon has three knocks

Nathan Gagnon (Otterburn Park, Que.) started the season with a hit, two walks and an RBI in St. Johns River State College’s 9-1 win over Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. In an 11-4 Game 2 victory, Gagnon went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Kucy hits solo shot

Northeastern Junior College’s Ryan Kucy (Edmonton, Alta.) went 2-for-5 with a double and a solo home run in a 7-1 season opening win over Garden City Community College.

Robertson strikes out nine

Mason Robertson (Orillia, Ont.) punched out nine over five innings of work in Allan Hancock College’s 7-6 Game 2 loss to the College of the Sequoias. The southpaw gave up two runs, two hits and walked two.

Canuel makes opening day start

Jacob Canuel (Langley, BC) got the opening day nod for Taft College against Feather River and he delivered 4 1/3 innings of work. He surrendered two runs, walked six and struck out two. After leaving with a 3-2 lead, his team would go on to lose 7-4.

Langley Blaze alum Pierce Radke (Maple Ridge, BC) had five hits in four games for Yavapai College in their series against Phoenix. Photo: Yavapai College Athletics

Radke with pair of two-hit games

Pierce Radke (Maple Ridge, BC) had five hits in four games for Yavapai College in their series against Phoenix. He stroked two hits and walked in a 7-3 Game 2 win. During a 16-14 Game 4 loss, he went 2-for-5 with a walk, a home run and three RBIs. The series ended in a split.

Grinberg gets going early

It was a big first series for Keiser University’s Simon Grinberg (Kitchener, Ont.) against Brewton-Parker College. During an 8-7 Game 1 win, he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give his team the lead for good and finished with three hits. After a hit, a walk and an RBI in a Game 2 win, he went 2-for-2 with a solo home run to open the scoring, walked three times and was hit by pitch in an 8-7 Game 3 victory. To close out opening weekend he had two hits, three walks and two RBIs in a series sweeping win. Of his eight hits, five were doubles.

More Canadians will find their way onto the diamond this week and we have you covered with all the highlights right here in the BMOC.

Do you know of a player deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Email Matt Betts at mattbetts@canadianbaseballnetwork.com. Please note that our week runs Monday-Sunday.

Be sure to follow Matt Betts at @Bettsy41 for extensive Canadian baseball coverage all season long.