March 29, 2023

BMOC Week 9

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

As baseball fans gear up for Opening Day, Canadians in college baseball continue to perform. Check out the top highlights from the past week below.

Groves named MAAC Rookie of the Week

Nick Groves (London, Ont.) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for his performance in Niagara University’s three-game series sweep over conference foe Saint Peter’s. Groves had two hits, walked twice, drove in two and swiped two bases in a 10-4 Game 1 win. During Game 2, he added a hit, walked three times and stole another base in a 17-5 win. To close out the series, and help the Purple Eagles secure the conference opening sweep, he had a hit, walked twice, drove in two and stole two more bases. Oh, and he did it all out of the leadoff spot.

UBC takes 3-of-4 from No. 3 Lewis-Clark State

After being swept by the College of Idaho the previous week, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds bounced back to win three of four against No. 3 ranked Lewis-Clark State.

Sean Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.) spun seven scoreless innings to pick up his third win of the season as the Thunderbirds won Game 1, 4-0. Heppner allowed three hits and struck out 10.

Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) worked eight scoreless innings and the Thunderbirds scored one in the bottom of the 11th for a 2-1 victory in Game 2. Beitel allowed three hits and punched out four.

Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, BC) earned the win in relief in a 3-1 Game 4 victory. Orfaly threw five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three.

Offensively, it was Russell Young (Surrey, BC) who stood out. Young had a pair of two-hit games in Games 3 and 4. He was also hit by a pitch in the Game 4 victory.

Tough loss for Geekie

A tough luck loss perfectly describes the outing for Emporia State’s Noah Geekie (Strathclair, Man.) in Game 3 of the Hornets series with Missouri Southern State. Geekie gave up an unearned run on two hits over eight innings in a 1-0 loss. He walked four and struck out seven.

MacLean strikes out 100th hitter

Tanner MacLean (Charlottetown, PEI) of the Sussex County Skylanders struck out the 100th hitter of his college career in his start against Lehigh Corban last week. MacLean lasted six innings and surrendered two runs (one earned) on seven hits and punched out seven to pick up the win.

Wilkinson fans 10

In what should come as a surprise to no one, Central Arizona left-hander Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk as the Vaqueros defeated Phoenix 1-0. The former Okotoks Dawg product struck out 10 to bring his season total to 83.

Luther, Sirois lead Bellevue to undefeated week

It was another good week for the No. 9 Bellevue University Bruins as they went 6-0.

Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) had six hits, six walks and six RBIs.

Mathieu Sirois (Quebec City, Que.) chipped in eight hits, walked once and drove in nine. Sirois opened the scoring in a 5-3 Game 3 win over Valley City State with a two-run home run. In a 21-0 Game 4 victory, he went 4-for-4 with a two-run home run, a three-run home run and seven RBIs.

Anderson aids Pratt in series sweep

Curtis Anderson (Sherwood Park, Alta.) worked six scoreless innings and surrendered just one hit to help Pratt to a 12-0 Game 2 win over Garden City. The only real blemish on Anderson was six walks, but he struck out seven.

Dawe earns first win

Howard College got five innings from Tanner Dawe (London, Ont.) as they dumped Frank Phillips 16-2 in Game 1. Dawe yielded two hits, two runs (one earned), walked three and struck out eight in his first win of the season.

Rosser now 3-0

Nate Rosser (Tsawwassen, BC) turned in five scoreless innings in Ohlone College’s 32-0 drubbing of Gavilon. Opposing hitters managed one hit, a pair of walks and struck out eight times against the Canuck.

Gomm give Parkland plenty of offence

There was no slowing down Austin Gomm (Georgetown, Ont.) and the Parkland College offence this past week as they scored 76 runs en route to going 6-0. Gomm collected 13 hits, drove in 12 and stole a base to lead the way. The former Terrier and Junior National Team infielder hit two home runs in a 14-3 Game 1 win over Spoon River. He followed it up with a home run in a 15-0 Game 2 victory. During an 8-0 Game 3 win, he left the yard again.

Vanneste has six hits

Tyler Vanneste (Warman, Sask.) had a pair of three-hit games to open Taft College’s series with Merced. Vanneste hit a three-run home run in a 15-7 Game 2 loss. In addition to the hits, he also walked twice and had four RBIs.

Hewitt hurls five in loss

It took 14 innings to decide Game 2 between Antelope Valley College and West LA. When the game started, it was Ben Hewitt (Burnaby, BC) who was on the mound for the Marauders. Hewitt threw five innings and conceded one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out eight. His team took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 14th but couldn’t hold on as the Wildcats plated two in the bottom half for a 5-4 victory.

Duffy deals, Morin supplies relief

Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) threw eight innings and surrendered one run on four hits as Canisius College beat Mount St. Mary’s 15-1 to open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. Duffy walked two and struck out seven.

Teammate Felix Morin (Quebec City, Que.) worked five innings of relief and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits to pick up the win in a 23-6 Game 2 victory. Morin walked two and punched out five. Canisius went on to sweep the series.

Touma throws shortened complete game

Five innings, all of which were thrown by Lukas Touma (Whitby, Ont.), was all Three Rivers Community College needed to defeat Metropolitan 11-1 in Game 1 of their four-game set. Touma allowed a hit, a run, walked two and struck out five.

Lund leaves Bluefield State looking for answers

Jordyn Lund (London, Ont.) tossed seven scoreless innings in Salem University’s 6-0 Game 1 win over Bluefield State. Lund allowed two hits, walked four and struck out three.

Jones jumps over .500

Seven scoreless innings helped Hunter Jones (Edmonton, Alta.) move to 2-1 on the season. Jones scattered three hits, walked two and fanned eight as Ventura College downed Rio Hondo 4-0.

Leishman goes the distance for Ashland

Marshall Leishman (Huntsville, Ont.) did it himself with a complete game, seven-inning shutout for Ashland in an 11-0 Game 3 win over Cedarville. Leishman held opposing hitters to three hits and a walk. He struck out nine in the outing.

George solid for Statesmen

The William Penn Statesmen pushed across three in the third and three more in the fifth on their way to a 6-2 Game 1 win over Grand View. Nick George (Sarnia, Ont.) got the start and lasted five innings. He allowed a pair of unearned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out four.

Ring seals series win for Pioneers

Lefty Colby Ring (Langley, BC) took the mound in the rubber match between the University of Antelope Valley and Park University-Gilbert and delivered 5 1/3 innings as his Pioneers walked away with a 9-4 win. Ring conceded one run on five hits and two walks. He struck out nine.

Achen at it again

Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) has been the model of consistency for the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders and last week was no different. Achen pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on eight hits in a 6-5 win over Tennessee Southern. He worked around four walks and struck out 10 to move to 5-2 on the year. The right-hander owns a 3.66 ERA and has struck out 76 in 46 2/3 innings of work.

Hanning with scoreless long relief

Summoned from Scottsdale Community College’s bullpen, Joe Hanning (Vancouver, BC) threw five scoreless innings of relief, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out four in a 6-4 loss to Cochise.

Kush goes into the seventh, Govs lose in extras

The Governors of Austin Peay received 6 1/3 innings from starter Kyle Kush (Guelph, Ont.) in Game 3 of their series with Liberty. Kush surrendered two runs on two hits in a 6-5, 10-inning loss. He worked his way around five walks and struck out five.

Luchies helps Lower Columbia to series win

Owen Luchies (Victoria, BC) delivered seven innings and gave up three runs on eight hits as Lower Columbia defeated Linn-Benton 5-3 in Game 3 of their four-game series. Luchies walked one and struck out two. The Red Devils would go on to win the series 3-1.

Murdoch leaves the yard

Coming off being named the Region IX Player of the Week for March 13 to 19, Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask.) put together an offensive showing that included six hits, including two home runs, five walks and five RBIs for McCook Community College last week. He also doubled twice in six games.

Zdunich hits five home runs

Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) swatted five home runs and finished with 11 hits as Reinhardt University won all four of their games. Zdunich had a three home run game in the Eagles’ 14-1 Game 1 win over Bluefield. He opened the scoring with a solo home run and followed it up with another solo shot and a two-run blast. When the week as over he had walked twice, collected 10 RBIs and stole a base. For his efforts, he was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

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Races are heating up and Canadians are right in the thick of the action for their teams. Read all about it right here each week 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 to Sunday.

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