BMOC Week II: Cazorla, De Grandpre, Irvine, Jones, Murchison, Zappieri

Toronto Mets alum Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) hurled 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Chipola College in his first appearance of the season. Photo: Toronto Mets

February 2, 2022

BMOC Week 2

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

More schools got their seasons underway between January 24-30, which means more Canadians were out on the field making an impact.

Check out all the highlights from the previous week’s action below.

Opening Day nod

Chipola College tabbed sophomore Cedric De Grandpre (St. Simon, Que.) as their opening day starter and he didn’t disappoint. De Grandpre allowed a run over four innings of work in Chipola’s 14-6 win over the College of Central Florida. The Arizona State commit surrendered just one hit and struck out four.

De Grandpre wasn’t the only Canuck to see action on the mound for Chipola. Former Toronto Met Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a 13-inning, 6-6 tie with Eastern Florida State. He allowed a pair of hits and struck out four.

Bossier Parish blasts DFW Postgrad

The Cavaliers of Bossier Parish scored 40 runs and held DFW Postgrad to just three en route to an opening weekend three-game sweep.

Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) went 3-for-4 with a RBI in the opener, a 10-2 win. Cazorla then chipped in a pair of hits, two RBIs and a stolen base as the Cavaliers waltzed to a 19-0 win in Game 2. To round out his week, the former Okotoks Dawg had a pair of hits, including a solo home run, and a walk in the series sweeping win.

Cazorla wasn't the only Canadian to get in on the offensive action. Dre Amaral (Cambridge, Ont.) contributed four hits, one of which was a home run and three RBIs.

On the mound Seth Gurr (Coaldale, Alta.) took the ball in the season opener and delivered five innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out two to pick up the win.

Victoria Eagles alum Connor Irvine (Victoria, B.C.) got the start and gave up just one run in five innings to pick up the win for Lassen College in their season opener against Hartnell. Photo: Lassen Athletics

Irvine starts Lassen’s opener

Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) was another Canadian that got the opening day start for his team. Irvine gave up one run over five innings to pick up the win for Lassen College against Hartnell. He allowed three hits, a walk and struck out seven.

Five hits for Zappieri

Defending NJCAA Division I national champion McLennan College kickstarted their season this past weekend with a three-game set against Navarro College. Matteo Zeppieri (Newmarket, Ont.) had a hit and a RBI in an 11-5, Game 1 loss. During a 13-3, Game 2 victory he went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. In the finale, a 6-6 tie, he legged out a double. Not a bad start for the freshman.

Sweet relief

Hunter Jones (Edmonton, Alta.) was the long man for Ventura College in their 12-2 victory over San Joaquin Delta. Jones spun five scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits with three strikeouts.

Prairie Baseball Academy alum Kyle Poapst (Lethbridge, Alta.) allowed two unearned in five innings in an appearance with the University of Antelope Valley. Photo: Prairie Baseball Academy

Poapst helps Pioneers salvage series

For the second week in a row Kyle Poapst (Lethbridge, Alta.) makes an appearance in the BMOC. With the University of Antelope Valley facing a series sweep, Poapst delivered five innings of work to help his team to a 7-3 win. He conceded two unearned runs on one hit with four walks and five strike outs in a no-decision.

Nine outs, nine K’s

Matt Wilkinson (White Rock, BC) retired nine hitters, all via the strike out as Central Arizona downed Southern Nevada 8-1. He allowed a run on one hit and walked one.

Murchison with four hits

It was a strong start to the season for West Valley College’s Cole Murchison (Stouffville, Ont.) as he pounded out four hits, a walk and drove in three in a pair of games against American River. West Valley dropped Game 1, 9-5 and won Game 2, 11-2.

Okotoks Dawgs alum Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) belted a home run in Reinhardt University’s Game 3 win over Pikeville. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

Back-to-back

Shayne Campbell (Winnipeg, Man.) and Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning of Reinhardt University’s Game 3 win over Pikeville. The 7-0 win secured the three-game sweep for the Eagles.

Gravel, Villeneuve go deep against Blinn

Both Alexis Gravel (Montreal, Que.) and Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) left the yard for the first time this season in Weatherford College’s three-game sweep of Blinn. Gravel did so in a 6-5, Game 2 win, while Villeneuve hit his in a 4-3 Game 1 victory.

Gravel finished the series with four hits, a walk and three RBIs.

Two Griffs and an Eagle named to Preseason All-MAAC Team

Perfect Game USA announced their preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Team and it featured three familiar names.

Outfielder Carlin Dick (Abbotsford, BC) and utility man Max Grant (Fredericton, NB) were two of the three Canisius Golden Griffins named to the team. In 2021, Dick hit .348 with two home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.047 OPS in 23 games. Grant led the Griffs with a .386 average, while posting a .965 OPS in 28 games.

Cole Tucker (Mount Pearl, Nfld.) was the only Niagara Purple Eagle named to the team. Tucker led Niagara with a .391 average in 30 games. He also scored 17 runs and drove in 19.

Ontario Royals alum Brodie Mackay has been ranked No. 3 by D1 Baseball on their list of top newcomers in Conference USA. Photo: Ontario Royals

Mackay a top newcomer

D1 Baseball ranked Western Kentucky University freshman infielder Brodie Mackay (Oakville, Ont.) No. 3 on their list of top newcomers in Conference USA. Mackay is a graduate of the Ontario Royals elite program.

Dessureault picked as Freshman of the Year

D1 Baseball has tabbed Stetson Hatters freshman Yohann Dessureault (Trois-Rivieres, Que.) as the ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year in their preseason preview.

Keep an eye on Nicoll

Infielder Brandon Nicoll (Langley, BC) was named a “newcomer to watch” for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders by NCAA Division II content writer Wayne Cavadi. Nicoll spent 2021 with the Galveston College Whitecaps.

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That’s a wrap for Week 2 of the BMOC. Make sure to come back next week for even more highlights as the college baseball season rolls on.

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 to Sunday.

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