BMOC Week IX: Babcock, Coutney, Hunt, Jessamine, Nicoll, O'Halloran

Okotoks Dawgs alum Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) had 15 hits and 19 RBIs in nine games for the Bismarck State Mystics this week. Photo: Bismarck Athletics

March 23, 2022

BMOC Week 9

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Another week of the college baseball season is now in the rearview mirror.

But it certainly didn’t pass quietly.

Canadian players were making noise for their teams and we have it all recapped. Enjoy.

Grant named NJCAA D2 Player of the Week

Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) had 15 hits, five walks, and 19 RBIs in nine games played for the Bismarck State Mystics. During a 13-2 win over the Edgewood College JV’s, he went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, two home runs, and seven RBIs.

His effort earned him NJCAA Division II National Player of the Week honours.

Crowell creates offensive magic for Mystics

Nash Crowell (Okotoks, Alta.) collected 12 hits, walked once, drove in 14, and stole two bases for in nine games for Bismarck State. He hit a home run in a 9-0 win over the University of Fraser Valley.

The Mystics went 8-1 on the week.

O’Halloran dazzles in win over Dayton, named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week

Left hander Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) was brilliant over eight innings in the University of Michigan’s 2-1 Game 1 win over the Dayton Flyers. The former Ontario Terrier allowed one run on three hits to improve to 2-2 on the season. He struck out 13.

His strong start earned him the Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week

Toronto Mets alum Ethan Hunt (Elginburg, Ont.) had 11 hits in four games for Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Photo: Oklahoma Panhandle State University Athletics

Hunt the OPSU Aggie of the Week

Ethan Hunt (Elginburg, Ont.) was named the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggie of the Week for his four-game performance. Hunt stroked 11 hits, walked three times, drove in eight, stole a base, and was hit by a two pitch as his team went 3-1.

Dow does it twice

The Thunderbirds of Cloud Country turned the ball over to Haden Dow (St. John, NB) not once, but twice last week. The first came in a 4-3 loss to Colby when he lasted five innings and surrendered one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out 10 Trojan hitters. He was back on the bump in a 6-3 Game 3 win over Pratt. The lefty worked six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits to pick up the win. He walked one and struck out another eight.

Dow is this week’s Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week.

Williams leads ASUN in average

If you look atop the ASUN Conference average leader board, it’s draped in red and white. That’s because Malik Williams (Toronto, Ont.) is hitting .390 to lead the circuit. Last week he added eight hits, a walk, three RBIs and was hit by a pitch as Lipscomb split their four games.

Coutney blasts three bombs

The No. 21 Old Dominion Monarchs kept playing well last week, beating East Carolina before taking two of three from Middle Tennessee State. Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) hit a two-run and a solo home run in a 23-7 win in Game 1 against Middle Tennessee State. When the dust settled, he had five hits. He hit another solo shot in a 13-5 loss to Middle Tennessee in Game 3. In total, he had eight hits, two walks and four RBIs.

UBC Thunder grad Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC) tossed seven scoreless innings in his start for Sacramento State. Photo: Sacramento State Athletics

Saul stymies Seattle

Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC) spun seven scoreless innings for Sacramento State in their Game 1 win over Seattle. He gave up three hits, walked two, and struck out six in the 2-0 decision.

Evans pitches into the seventh

A strong 6 1/3 innings of work from Josh Evans (Windsor, Ont.) wasn’t enough as Mohawk Valley fell 4-3 to Onondaga in a seven-inning game. Evans surrendered three runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out nine. The Hawks coughed up two in the bottom of the seventh.

4-1 week for No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan

Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) and the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs are now 29-2 after a 4-1 week. Magill supplied 11 hits, a walk and nine RBIs over the five games. He hit a solo home run and went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in an 11-10 win over Toccoa Falls.

Tangen tangos with Tritons

It was like a trip back in time for Abbotsford Cardinal grad Patrick Tangen (Mission, BC) when he took the mound for Lake Region State against the British Columbia Premier Baseball League’s White Rock Tritons. Tangen threw a complete game, giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts. The Tritons were on their annual spring trip.

UBC splits with College of Idaho

After dropping Games 1 and 2 the University of British Columbia responded by winning Games 3 and 4 to earn split in their four-game series with the College of Idaho.

Langley Blaze alum Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) allowed just one run on four hits in his start for UBC. Photo: UBC Athletics

Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) got the start in Game 1 and delivered six innings. He allowed one run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in an eventual 8-7 loss.

Two games later Branden Woods (Red Deer, Alta.) provided 5 1/3 innings of relief in a 5-4 win. Woods gave up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.

In the final game of the series Brett Corbeth (London, Ont.) tossed six scoreless innings in a 1-0 win. He yielded two hits, walked two and struck out three.

Gollert goes into the seventh in tough loss

Southpaw Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) was good for the Austin Peay Governors in their series opener with St. Louis. Gollert held the Billikens to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. The former Ontario Blue Jay scattered four hits and three walks. He struck out six in a 2-1 loss.

Pouliot wins finale

The Canisius Golden Griffins were looking to escape Greensboro, North Carolina with a victory. The Griffs had lost Games 1 and 2 when they handed the ball to Chris Pouliot (Boischatel, Que.) for Game 3 against North Carolina A&T. He came through with seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. The left-hander held the Aggies to one hit and three walks. He punched out eight en route to improving to 3-1 on the season.

Jessemine leads off in 10 games

Kole Jessamine (Abbotsford, BC) was tasked with kickstarting the Lake Region State offence out of the leadoff spot last week. In his team’s 10 games, he amassed 18 hits, three walks, 10 RBIs and a stolen base. He had five multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 performance with a double, triple, and five RBIs in a 15-12 loss to the University of Fraser Valley.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Ryan Dos Santos (Mississauga, Ont.) had back-to-back multi-hit games for the Tusculum Pioneers. Photo: Tusculum Athletics/Twitter

Dos Santos, Tusculum take on ranked opponents

Three games, three ranked opponents. That’s what Ryan Dos Santos (Mississauga, Ont.) and the Tusculum Pioneers were up against last week. Dos Santos started with a 2-for-4 game in a 5-4 loss to No. 20 Young Harris. He was back in the lineup in Game 2 against No. 16 Newberry, where he went 2-for-4 with a walk.

Billesberger belts out seven hits

Brandon Billesberger continued to shine for Limestone. He collected seven hits, drove in two, and was hit by a pitch. The junior outfielder hit a solo home run in an 11-4 Game 2 loss to Catawba.

No stopping Chaput

Emporia State’s Sam Chaput (Boisbriand, Que.) was a man on a mission. He started things off with a hit and a walk in a 4-3 loss to No. 11 Central Missouri. After a walk in a 7-1 loss to Pittsburg State, he had seven hits, a walk, a RBI, and two stolen bases in a three-game set against Northwestern Missouri State.

Shapiro pitches and hits for Princeton

Caden Shapiro (Toronto, Ont.) threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and a walk in Princeton’s 9-6 loss to Towson. He then jumped into the batters box in Game’s 2 and 4, putting together four hits and working a walk.

Two Canadians bash for Bossier Parish

A pair of Canadians played well for Bossier Parish.

Justin Breen (Fort MacMurray, Alta.) had five hits, six walks, three RBIs, and a stolen base for the Cavaliers.

Okotoks Dawgs alum Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) had 11 hits for Bossier Parish this week. Photo: Ian Wilson, Alberta Dugout Stories

Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) put up 11 hits, a walk, three RBIs, and two stolen bases.

Glowacki with four hits

Mason Glowacki (Kelowna, BC) had four hits and stole a base for East Central. They lost all three games to No. 3 Southern Arkansas and dropped to 1-22 on the year.

Nicoll nets 10 knocks

Speaking of No. 3 Southern Arkansas, Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) punished opposing pitchers to the tune of 10 hits. He also drove in 10 and was hit by a pitch. To open the week, he legged out a double, a triple and launched a solo home run in a 7-6 loss to Ouachita Baptist. He left the yard again, for a three-run shot, in a 19-14 loss to Arkansas-Monticello.

Cratty continues to hit

Rhys Cratty (Langley, BC) played in six games for Southwest Baptist and accumulated nine hits, a walk and six RBIs. He was 3-for-5 in a 10-8 loss to Rowan.

Great Lake Canadians alum Brian Zapp (Waterloo, Ont.) had five hits in three games for the Miami of Ohio Redhawks. Photo: Miami of Ohio Athletics

Zapp strong for Redhawks

The Miami of Ohio Redhawks were swept by Central Michigan in a three-game Mid-American Conference series, but Brian Zapp (Waterloo, Ont.) was a pain in CMU’s side. Zapp went 2-for-3 and stole a base in Game 1, had a hit and RBI in Game 2, and closed things out by going 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk.

Lots to like about DiLuca’s production

Four games were on the slate for Eastern Illinois and Lucas DiLuca (LaSalle, Ont.) had a hit in all of them. When the week was over, he added eight hits, four walks, two RBIs and a stolen base to his season totals. He was 3-for-6 with two RBIs in a 7-6 Game 3 win over McNeese State.

Cardoso with three-hit game

Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, BC) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the Minot State Beavers’ 14-7 Game 2 loss to Minnesota State. They lost Game 1 as well, but took Game 3 by a 3-2 score behind a hit, a walk and an RBI from Cardoso.

Three hits to start, three hits to finish

The bookends of Frank Phillips College’s games last week saw Bailey Coish (Fort MacMurray, Alta.) put together 3-for-4 performances. In a 9-8 loss to Trinidad State to open the schedule, he drove in two and stole a base. During the finale, a 6-5 loss to El Paso, Coish a stole base.

Ottawa U keeps up winning ways

NAIA No. 14 Ottawa University were 5-1 last week and a familiar face was a key to the success. Jonah Weisner (Mission, BC) chipped in eight hits, seven walks, five RBIs and a stolen base. He had a two-home run game in a 10-5 Game 1 win over York. The first was a solo home run to open the scoring in the top of the first and the second was a two-run home run. Those weren’t his only home runs of the week. He hit a solo shot in a 12-1 Game 3 win.

ABC alum Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.) had six hits and four RBIs in four games for Oklahoma City University. Photo: OCU Sports

Chenier-Rondeau powers No. 3 Oklahoma City

Another Canadian playing on a ranked NAIA team is Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.). Over the course of four games last week, he provided six hits, four walks, four RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. He swatted a three-run home run in a 14-2 Game 2 drubbing of Science and Arts.

Tide go 1-3, Diodati with seven hits

Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) got his week off to a fine start with a 2-for-4 game in a 3-2 Alabama loss to Southern Mississippi. Next up was their Southeastern Conference opening series against No. 9 Florida. Diodati had a hit and RBI in a Game 1 loss and was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in a Game 2 defeat. The Tide took Game 3 in walk-off fashion, 8-7. The former Great Lake Canadian was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs in that one.

Babcock jumpstarts Judson

Judson’s Jordan Babcock (Markham, Ont.) provided the Eagles with seven hits, four walks and eight RBIs in their three-game series with Lincoln College. Babcock went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and five RBIs in a 29-9 Game 1 win. He closed out the series with a 4-for-6 game with three RBIs as the Eagles completed the sweep with a 27-5 win.

Feuerstake and McPherson are on fire

Caleb Feuerstake (Waterdown, Ont.) was instrumental in McPherson’s five wins last week. He put up six hits, two walks, three RBIs, four stolen bases, and was hit by a pitch. The Bulldogs have won 10 in a row.

Great Lake Canadians alum Nicholas Thibodeau (Burlington, Ont.) had two multi-hit games for Howard College. Photo: YouTube

Thibodeau back in the BMOC

For the second week in a row Nicholas Thibodeau (Burlington, Ont.) makes an appearance in this column. The Howard College catcher had a two-hit game in Games 1 and 4 of their series with Midland.

MacNeil masterful against Alderson Broaddus

Owen MacNeil (Georgetown, Ont.) threw five innings and allowed one run on three hits as Charleston beat up on Alderson Broaddus 10-1. He walked one and struck out six.

Hendrix hammers opposition

Hendrix College won five games last week to push their record to 20-2 on the season. Zach Marriott (Oakville, Ont.) punched 10 hits, walked three times, drove in eight and swiped two bases. He hit a solo home run and a three-run shot in a 12-0 Game 2 win over Sewannee. The very next game he went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base as Hendrix completed the sweep.

Three-hit game, four in all for Taylor

Jack Taylor (Abbotsford, BC) got into three games for Rend Lake. He concluded the week with four hits, two walks, a RBI and a stolen base. In a 5-4 Game 2 loss to Southwestern Illinois, he was 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, and a stolen base.

Colby gets contributions on the mound from Arnold, Cust

Both Jared Arnold (Red Deer, Alta.) and Brayden Cust (Edmonton, Alta.) had strong starts to lead the Colby Trojans to two wins.

Arnold gave up one run on five hits over five innings in a 4-1 Game 4 win over Fort Scott. He walked two and punched out four.

Cust got the ball against Cloud County and delivered five innings, surrendering two runs on two hits. He walked four and struck out eight in a 4-3 win.

Tanner shows well for South Suburban

Dawson Tanner (Russell, Man.) enjoyed a four-hit week for South Suburban. Aside from the hits he also walked and drove in three as the Bulldogs went 2-1.

Orillia Royals alum Yojairo Juan (Oro Medante, Ont.) had five hits in four games for Jefferson College. Photo: Tyler Evans/OrilliaMatters

Strong offensive showing for Juan

It was opening week for Jefferson College and Yojairo Juan (Oro Medante, Ont.) started well. Juan had a hit in each of the four games, finishing with five hits, a RBI and two stolen bases.

Herron produces for Parkland in busy week

It was full steam ahead for the Parkland Cobras as they played six games. Tyler Herron (St. Albert, Alta.) didn't seem to mind one bit. He had eight hits, two walks and seven RBIs. When the Cobras took on Black Hawk-Moline in the front end of a doubleheader, he went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

Villeneuve makes relief appearance, then hits

The first appearance Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) made in Weatherford’s four-game series with Ranger came on the mound. He tossed two scoreless innings and struck out three in a 5-0 Game 2 loss. He then went 4-for-4 with two RBIs in a 14-0 Game 3 win, and stroked a hit and walked in an 8-6 Game 4 loss.

Lichty likes to hit

Daniel Lichty (Denfield, Ont.) began his week with a 5-for-6 game with seven RBIs in a 20-10 Huntington win over Taylor. He hit a solo home run and a three-run home run to aid in the Forrester’s win. Throughout the remaining three games on the week he had two hits, three walks, an RBI, and two stolen bases.

Okotoks Dawgs alum Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) had nine hits and 11 RBIs in seven games for Colby Community College. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs/Twitter

Zdunich zaps Reinhardt offence to life

In a week that featured seven games for the Reinhardt Eagles, they received consistent play from Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.). The Colby Community College transfer came through with nine knocks, five walks, 11 RBIs and a stolen base. His top performance came in an 18-2 win over Toccoa Falls when he went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and a grand slam.

MacDonald homers for Kankakee

Braedan MacDonald (Coruna, Ont.) hit a home run on the way to a 3-for-3 game with two walks and four RBIs in Kankakee’s 22-10 win over Harper. The rest of the week saw him collect three hits, four walks, four more RBIs, and a stolen base.

Pettipiece proves valuable in relief

Eric Pettipiece (Dorchester, Ont.) of Goshen College held Marian University hitters to two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings of relief in a 13-11, 12-inning loss. He issued two walks and struck out four.

Porcellato pumps out nine hits

Twice Marian’s Matteo Porcellato (Pitt Meadows, BC) pounded out three-hit games, and finished the week with nine hits in all. To go along with the hits, he also walked twice, drove in five, and stole a base. During the above mentioned 13-11, 12-inning win over Goshen, he was 3-for-6 with a three-run home run and a stolen base.

Marsh making pitchers work

Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, BC) mashed eight hits to go with two walks and five RBIs as Cochise College ran the table for a 5-0 week. One of his hits was a home run in a 23-1 beating of the University of Frasier Valley.

Edmonton Prospects alum Clayton Loranger (Edmonton, Alta.) had four hits for Stephen F. Austin this week. Photo: SFA Athletics

Loranger lashes four hits

Their series with Abilene Christian didn’t end well for Stephen F. Austin as they were swept, but Clayton Loranger (Edmonton, Alta.) was stellar. He had four hits, including a three-hit Game 3, walked twice, drove in a run and stole a base.

Tweet has a hit in all four games

Dawson Tweet (Russell, Man.) was in on the action during all four of Mesabi Range’s games last week. He rounded up seven hits, two walks and an RBI. All four contests also featured an extra base hit from the Canadian.

Savoie leads way for West Texas A&M

Eddy Savoie (Saint Eustache, Que.) quite literally lead No. 4 West Texas A&M into their games. Out of the lead off spot he collected nine hits, walked four times and drove in four as the Buffs won four of five.

Mancur makes good use of four games

For the first time this season, Jack Macur (Burlington, Ont.) of Rensselaer enters the column. That’s thanks to eight hits, three walks, five RBIs and a stolen base in four games. His side won three and lost one.

Bushey beats up on pitching

Liam Bushey (Mission, BC) helped Mineral Area to a 4-2 record. He did so by collecting nine hits, walking twice and driving in three. Twice he went 3-for-5, once each in a 12-7 Game 2 win over Jefferson, and again in a 13-12 Game 3 win.

Fieldhouse Pirates alum Carter Whitehead (Hamilton, Ont.) had nine hits and six RBIs in six games for Erie Community College. Photo: Fieldhouse Pirates

Three doubleheaders, nine hits for Whitehead

Six games over three days was on the schedule for Erie Community College. Carter Whitehead (Hamilton, Ont.) was up to the task as he provided the Kats with nine hits, three walks and six RBIs. He homered in a 11-8 win to kick things off against CCBC Catonsville. Combine that with three multi-hit games and that’s not a bad showing. The Kats finished .500.

The other O’Halloran can hit

Connor wasn’t the only O’Halloran to have a strong week. Brother Ryan O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) did his damage with the bat, putting up six hits, a walk and three RBIs. He also was hit by pitch as the Butler Bulldogs went 2-3.

Warkentin works his way on

Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ont.) had four multi-hit games and a game with one hit to complete his week with 10 knocks in all for Eastern Michigan. Warkentin walked once and drove in five. In a 7-0 Game 3 win over Butler, he opened the scoring with a two-run home run.

Machibroda supplies offence as Cumberland goes 4-0

Seven hits for Nolan Machibroda (Saskatoon, Sask) made for a good week for Cumberland. Machibroda added in seven walks, eight RBIs and two stolen bases as the Phoenix went 4-0. Two of his hits left the ballpark. The first was a three-run home run in an 11-10 Game 2 win over Campbellsville. He hit another, this time a two-run shot, in Game 3.

BullettProof Prospects alum Cole Cote (Welland, Ont.) had 10 hits and eight RBIs in seven games for Bluefield State. Photo: Perfect Game

Busy slate for Cote, Bluefield State

A week with seven games can be a good way to get in a rhythm. Bluefield State’s Cole Cote (Welland, Ont.) certainly enjoyed it. He came through with 10 hits, three walks and eight RBIs. He was also hit by two pitches. Three of his eight hits were home runs, starting with a solo and two-run shot in a 9-8 win over Salem to open the week. The third was a solo blast in an 8-6 loss to Emory & Henry.

Willow’s homer leads to win

Jason Willow (Victoria, BC) swatted a two-run home run to give UC Santa Barbara a 3-0 lead in Game 1 of their series with Cal State Fullerton. It was a game they would go on to win 3-1. He went 2-for-4 with a RBI in a 7-2 Game 2 win. The finale ended in a 7-6 loss, but the former Junior National Team member managed to go 2-for-4.

Dutton does his thing for Indian Hills

Forest Hill Collegiate graduate James Dutton (Toronto, Ont.) found his way on via a hit seven times and a walk once. He drove in six and swiped a pair of bases. His loudest hit was a solo home run in a 4-3 Game 3 loss to St. Cloud Tech.

To view a complete list of statistical leaders among Canadians in college this season, click here.

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All seems to be right in the baseball world. Spring Training games are underway, MLB Opening Day is around the corner, and the college baseball season is getting more interesting by the week. Don’t miss out on any of the top Canadian college performances. Check back here seven days from now for all the highlights.

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.