BMOC Week VI: Duffy, Grant, Hazell, Hunt, Murdoch, Prediger

Langley Blaze alum Colby Ring (Langley, BC) threw the first no-hitter in the history of the University of Antelope Valley Pioneers baseball program on Tuesday. Photo: University of Antelope Valley Athletics

March 2, 2022

BMOC Week 6

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

A Canadian made history at his school.

There was also an upset of a ranked opponent and plenty of Canadians putting up big numbers.

Without further ado, we present Week 6 of the BMOC.

Ring no-hits Bethesda, named Pitcher of the Week

University of Antelope Valley left-hander Colby Ring (Langley, BC) will go down in the record books after his start against Bethesda University of California. Ring tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in an 8-0 win in the back half of a Tuesday doubleheader. The former Langley Blaze hurler walked two and punched out 11. The no-no was the first in Pioneer program history.

For his performance, Ring was named the California Pacific Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Four home runs helps Murdoch bring home Player of the Week

Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask.) put his power on display during McCook Community College’s three-game series with Northeastern. He swatted four home runs as his team took the series 2-1. The Swift Current 57’s grad finished the three games with five hits and four RBIs.

His strong play he earned him Region IX Player of the Week honours.

Hunt brings home Player of the Week

A .368 average with two home runs, five RBIs, and five runs scored over five games earned Oklahoma Panhandle State University outfielder Ethan Hunt (Elginburg, Ont.) the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week. His first home run, a solo shot, opened the scoring in the Aggies Game 1 win over Kansas Wesleyan. The second, also a solo home run, came in a 13-4 Game 3 loss. The Aggies went 2-3 on the week.

Vauxhall Academy alum Max Grant (Fredericton, NB) had a huge weekend for Canisius, going 9-for-14 with two home runs. Photo: Canisius Athletics

Grant named MAAC Player of the Week

Max Grant (Fredericton, NB) had a huge weekend for Canisius, going 9-for-14 with two home runs, three walks, three RBIs and a hit by pitch. In an 11-4 Game 1 win, Grant went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and a hit by pitch.

He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Duffy the MAAC Rookie of the Week

Grant wasn’t the only Griff to pick up a weekly honour. Aaron Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) took home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week after holding Morehead State to one run over five innings in the second game of the Griffs series against the Eagles. Duffy gave up just one hit, walked one, and struck out six in the 4-3 loss.

Prediger puts up numbers for Marauders, earns Player of the Week

Ben Prediger (Calgary, Alta.) got to work for the University of Mary Marauders. In four games, he collected seven hits, a walk, four RBIs and was hit by a pitch. Against UC Colorado Springs he was 4-for-4 with three RBIs in a 9-4 win.

For his play, he was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week.

Saul stalls Dirtbags

Former UBC Thunder right-hander Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC) held strong over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help the Sacramento State Hornets to a 1-0, 10-inning win over No. 12 Long Beach State. Saul allowed four hits, walked one and struck out nine Dirtbag hitters. LBSU was coming off a series win over No. 3 Mississippi State on opening weekend.

Cazorla continues to come through for the Cavaliers, Gurr goes the distance

Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) had three multi-hit games en route to eight hits in all for the Bossier Parish Cavaliers this past week. The Okotok Dawgs grad also walked once, drove in five and stole three bases. He hit a home run in a 7-3 victory over Panola. During a 11-4 win over Angelina, he posted a 3-for-4 game with a walk, RBI and two stolen bases.

Seth Gurr (Coaldale, Alta.) threw a complete game, seven innings to lead the Bossier Parish Cavaliers to a 7-3 win. Gurr scattered six hits and three runs, while walking one and striking out two. The win moves his record to 4-0.

Okotoks Dawgs alum Noah Geekie (Strathclair, Man.) picked up a win on the mound and belted a grand slam at the dish for Emporia State. Photo: Emporia State Athletics

Geekie makes two appearances, hits grand slam

Yes, you read that right. Emporia State’s Noah Geekie (Strathclair, Man.) made a pair of relief appearances last week and then made an impact with the bat. Geekie picked up the win by allowing two runs on three hits with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a 10-6, Game 2 win over Metropolitan State University of Denver. He made the trot from the bullpen again in Game 3, this time throwing a scoreless 2/3 of an inning, while allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out two in a 4-0 loss to Northeastern State. To change things up, he took to left field in a 12-9 loss to Northeastern State. He went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs. Now that’s production.

McPherson sweeps Peru State behind solid showing from Feuerstake

Caleb Feuerstake (Waterdown, Ont.) was a key cog in McPherson College’s offence during a four-game sweep of Peru State. Feuerstake chipped in a hit in a 6-2 win in Game 1. Game 2 saw him go 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI in a 17-4 thumping. In Game 3, a 5-4 victory, he again went 2-for-3 but also added two hit by pitches and two stolen bases. To help the Bulldogs secure the sweep, Feuerstake yet again went 2-for-3. He launched a two-run home run and drove in four in a 7-6 win.

Canisius splits with Morehead State

For the second weekend in a row, the Canisius College Golden Griffins split a four-game series.

Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) earned his second win of the season by spinning six scoreless innings for the Griffs in an 11-4 Game 1 victory. He surrendered a pair of hits and struck out seven.

Lefty Chris Pouliot (Boischatal, Que.) picked up his first win as a Griff with five innings of work in a 6-2 victory in Game 4. Pouliot, a University of Pittsburgh transfer, allowed one run on three hits, with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Murchison goes five against Mission

Eric Murchison (Stouffville, Ont.) provided West Valley five innings of work as they went on to beat Mission 5-3. Murchison conceded two runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Corbeth wins Game 1, Three-homer week for Hupe

Looking to get their series off to a good start, the University of British Columbia handed the ball to Brett Corbeth in Game 1 against William Jessup. The righty worked five innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits. He issued six walks and struck out one.

Brandon Hupe (Vancouver, BC) homered three times in five games for the Thunderbirds. Hupe smashed a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give his team a 6-4 win in Game 1 of their series with William Jessup. The other two long balls, a solo and two-run shot, came in a 13-8 Game 4 victory. On the week, Hupe finished with eight hits, four walks and nine RBIs as the Thunderbirds went 3-2.

Calgary Bandits and Sylvan Lake Gulls alum Evan Wilde (Airdrie, Alta.) started and allowed just one run in five innings to lead the Niagara Purple Eagles to their first win of the season. Photo: Niagara Athletics

Wilde nabs Niagara’s first win

Evan Wilde (Airdrie, Alta.) worked into the sixth inning to aid the Niagara Purple Eagles in their 7-4 win over UNC Asheville. Over 5 1/3 innings, Wilde yielded one run on five hits. He walked five but struck out six. The win was Niagara’s first of the campaign.

Hul closes week with three-hit game, Warkentin plays dual role

Ben Hul (Calgary, Alta.) and Logan Warkentin (Domain, Man.) were instrumental in Williston State’s four-game sweep of Adams State.

Hul slapped four hits, walked once, drove in three, and stole a base in three games played. He helped his side to a 10-0 win in Game 4 of the series by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Warkentin pulled together five hits, a walk and drove in five in the first three games of the series. He took the mound in Game 4 and threw four scoreless innings, while allowing one hit and a pair of walks. He struck out eight in the start.

Lussier beats Catamounts

Okotoks Dawgs graduate Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) was back on the bump after taking a scary comebacker on opening weekend. He was his normal self, going five innings and allowing a run on two hits. He walked two and struck out three to earn the victory over Western Carolina.

Caskenette comes through for Cochise

Cochise College got plenty of offensive production out of Connor Caskenette (Duncan, BC) during their 4-1 week. Caskenette pounded out seven hits, drove in three and stole a base. His best effort came in a 5-3, Game 2 win over the College of Southern Nevada when he went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a stolen base.

Guthrie hits, then pitches

Roman Guthrie (North Delta, BC) made an impact both in the box and on the mound for Southwestern Oregon in their four-game series against Grays Harbor. In the first two games of the series, he put up three hits, two walks, a RBI and two stolen bases. After getting Game 3 off, he came on in relief in Game 4 and delivered 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out seven in a 12-2 win. Southwestern Oregon won three of the four contests.

Toronto Mets alum Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) belted two home runs for Monroe Community College. Photo: Toronto Mets

Two home run game for Magill

Monroe Community College transfer Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) hit a solo home run and a three-run shot in No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan’s 6-3 midweek win over Cumberlands. Magill then added three hits and a walk in the Bulldogs three-game weekend sweep of Columbia International. With the wins, they improved to 16-1

Goodall good as Eagles struggle

Garrett Goodall (Nanaimo, BC) has been steady this season for the struggling Embry-Riddle Eagles. This past weekend he went six innings and held No. 7 Nova Southeastern to four hits and three runs (two earned) in a 5-4, 10-inning Game 1 loss. He walked one and struck out two. The Eagles were swept in the three-game set and fell to 1-11.

Touma makes college debut

Freshman Lukas Touma (Whitby, Ont.) made his first collegiate appearance when he made the start for USC Upstate in their game against George Mason. Touma worked three innings and gave up one run on one hit with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

Boucher bashes way to six hits

Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Beace, Que.) completed his week with six hits, a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base for the Southern Illinois Salukis. He went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in a 11-6, Game 1 victory over Central Arkansas.

Cloud County sweeps Marshalltown

The Cloud County Thunderbirds seem to love their Canadians, and for good reason. Just take their four-game series with Marshalltown as an example of why.

Williams Camacho-Soto (Burnaby, BC), Tom Poole (Calgary, Alta.), and Ty Wevers (Lethbridge, Alta.) all played a pivotal role in their sweep.

Coquitlam Reds alum Williams Camacho-Soto (Burnaby, BC) had seven hits in four games for the Cloud County T-Birds. Photo: Cloud County Athletics

Camacho-Soto chipped in seven hits, including three two-hit games, six RBIs, a stolen base and a hit by pitch,

Poole meanwhile supplied the T-Birds with five hits, five walks, five RBIs and two stolen bases. Two of his hits left the yard, a two-run shot in a 15-2, Game 2 win, and another two-run blast in a 13-3 victory in Game 4.

Wevers provided four hits, a walk and an RBI.

Cloud County improved to 10-1.

Boucher, Hammond drive D’Youville offence

It was opening weekend for the D’Youville Saints and a pair of Canadians made an immediate impact.

Alec Boucher (Essex, Ont.) collected eight hits, walked once and drove in six. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, and five RBIs in a 20-4, Game 2 win over Penn State-Greater Allegheny.

Ethan Hammond (Oakville, Ont.) had seven hits, three walks and seven RBIs over the course of the three games. He put together three hits in both Games 1 and 2.

The Saints would go on to win the series two games to one.

McWillie holds off Argonauts

Colby Trojans transfer Tyler McWillie (Waltrous, Sask.) threw five scoreless innings in Shorter University’s 4-1, Game 1 win over West Florida. He allowed two hits, a walk and fanned seven.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) surrendered just two runs (one earned) on three hits in 7 1/3 innings in his start for the Austin Peay Governors. Photo: Austin Peay Athletics

Lefty Gollert gets series off on right foot

Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) gave the Austin Peay Governors 7 1/3 innings on Friday night in their 8-2 win over Bowling Green. Gollert surrendered three hits and two runs (one earned). He walked one and struck out six.

Hazell hands Limestone a loss

The Lions of Mars Hill knocked off Limestone 11-2 in Game 1 of their series last weekend. Andrew Hazell (Brantford, Ont.) made the start and lasted 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and issued four free passes. Six of the 16 outs he recorded came by way of the strikeout. The Lions would go on to win the series two games to one.

Jean goes toe-to-toe with No. 1 Texas

Alabama’s Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) held the No. 1 team in the country, the Texas Longhorns, to two runs over five innings in Game 2 of their series. Jean surrendered four hits, walked one, and struck out two in the 2-0 loss.

De Grandpre now 5-0, Leroux backs offence

Cedric De Grandpre (St. Simon, Que.) improved his record to 5-0 with five innings of work in Chipola’s 7-1 victory over Grand Rapids. The Arizona State Sun Devil commit gave up an unearned run on two hits and fanned nine.

Brando Leroux (Markham, Ont.) had four hits and two RBIs in three games played. In De Grandpre’s start, he backed him up with a 2-for-3 effort and two RBIs.

Babe Ruth Calgary River Cats alum Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) allowed just two hits in six scoreless innings in his start for the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders. Photo: Lindsey Wilson Athletics

Achen at it again

It was a long day in the box for Pikeville hitters in Game 1 of their series against Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) and the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders. Achen held Bears hitters to two hits over six scoreless innings. He granted two walks and struck out seven. With the win, Achen is now 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA with 34 punch outs in 24 innings.

Peters pitches Kansas City Kansas past Butler

Arlen Peters (Schanzenfeld, Man.) proved to be a difference maker in Kansas City Kansas’ 6-2 Game 1 win over Butler. The Manitoba native didn’t give up a hit but did allow two runs (one earned) over six innings of work. He walked four and struck out five en route to his first win of the season.

Columbus continues torrid season

Five more games meant five more opportunities to produce offensively for Ben Columbus (North Vancouver, BC). And that’s exactly what he did. Columbus collected nine hits, worked five walks, drove in six and swiped three bases as Wharton County won all five contests. Columbus is hitting .377 for the 15-5 Pioneers.

Brown with five knocks

Jaden Brown (Mississauga, Ont.) accumulated five hits and drove in one over three games for the University of Texas Arlington. Out of the leadoff spot in a 12-2 win over Stephen F. Austin he went 3-for-6.

Two games, four hits for Clapperton

A light week couldn’t slow down University of Texas Permian Basin infielder Michael Clapperton (Calgary, Alta.). The former Okotoks Dawg was 3-for-4 with a RBI in a 13-2 loss to No. 3 West Texas A&M. The next game, a 6-0 loss, he stroked his fourth hit of the doubleheader.

UFV Cascades alum Jonah Weisner (Mission, BC) had three multi-hit games and stole 10 bases for Ottawa University. Photo: UFV Cascades

Weisner flashes speed

Jonah Weisner (Mission, BC) can hit, and Jonah Weisner can run. The spark plug of the Ottawa University lineup had three-multi hit games, good for six hits in all over five games. He walked five times, drove in four and stole 10 bases. Four of his stolen bases came in a 10-0, Game 2 win over Hastings. Ottawa won all five of their games.

Nixon with four knocks

The Bronchos of Central Oklahoma split their two games with Missouri Western State last week, winning Game 1 by a 2-0 score, and dropping Game 2, 7-4. Shane Nixon (Markham, Ont.) had a hit and a stolen base in the first game, before going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in the second.

Turner thrives for Three Rivers

Kole Turner (White Rock, BC) turned in five hits, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base in four games for Three Rivers. He went 3-for-5 with the stolen base in his team’s only win of the week, an 8-7 decision over Rend Lake.

Capuano keeps Bonnies at bay

Looking for a 4-0 weekend, Ryan Capuano (Toronto, Ont.) took the mound for Marshall in their game against St. Bonaventure. Capuano hurled six scoreless innings in a convincing 11-0 win. The lefty allowed one hit and struck out nine for his first win of the season.

Derbyshire with long relief, Tremblay with three-hit game

Two Canadian Mineral Area Cardinals had good weeks despite a pair of losses.

Russell Derbyshire (Leamington, Ont.) came out of the bullpen in a 10-6 loss to No. 14 Dyersburg State. He gave up four runs (one earned) on nine hits. The former Windsor Select struck out six.

Antoine Tremblay (Trois-Rivieres, Que.) struck for three hits and a RBI in the loss to Dyersburg State. To close his week he had a hit in a 7-3 loss to Kirkwood.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Thomas Grilli (Toronto, Ont.) had a four-game hitting streak to begin his season with St. Bonaventure. Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics

Grilli starts season with four-game hit streak

In four games to open the season St. Bonaventure’s Thomas Grilli (Toronto, Ont.) had four hits. But the Bonnies went winless.

Wait didn’t slow down Graversen

After the first two games of their week were cancelled, Soren Graversen (Calgary, Alta.) and the William Penn Statesmen hit the field for a game each against Columbia and Saint Mary. Graversen went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in a 6-3 victory over Columbia and then had a 2-for-3 game with a RBI in a 10-3 win over Saint Mary.

Teoli tosses all five

Dominic Teoli (Montreal, Que.) worked five scoreless innings in a 10-0 Trinidad State win over Otero to pick up a complete game victory. Teoli yielded five hits, a walk, and struck out three.

Olson offers up four hits

The best game of the week for Kansas Wesleyan’s Zach Olson (Red Deer, Alta.) came in a 13-4 win in Game 3 over Oklahoma Panhandle State when he hit a two-run home run and finished with three hits and three RBIs. When the dust settled, he had four hits, three walks and the three RBIs in three games played.

Rosser shuts down West LA

Nate Rosser pitched five scoreless innings as Ohlone took down West LA by a 9-1 score. Rosser worked around four hits and a walk. He struck out six.

London Badgers alum Jaryd Lund (London, Ont.) has been the starting pitcher in both of Salem University’s wins this season. Photo: Salem University Athletics

Tigers find success behind Lund

In both of Salem University’s wins this season, Jaryd Lund (London, Ont.) has made the start. Last week he took the mound against Mansfield and threw seven innings. The lefty allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in the 9-7 victory. He walked two and struck out nine to pick up the win.

Potter pitches well

Senior right-hander Jacob Potter (Victoria, BC) earned his first victory of 2022 as Southeastern Oklahoma State doubled up Harding 6-3 on Sunday. Potter surrendered three runs on four hits over seven innings. He issued four walks and punched out 10.

Irvine K’s 14

Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) fanned 14 over six scoreless innings in a 10-0 Lassen win over Redlands. He gave up three hits and walked four.

Savage with pair of multi-hit games

Ventura College got some nice production from Andrew Savage (London, Ont.) in two games last week. Savage had two hits and recorded an RBI in a 15-4, Game 2 loss to Cuesta. The next game, an 11-1 loss, he put up two more hits and another RBI.

White Rock Tritons alum Jackson Hogg (Surrey, BC) had five hits in two Marian University wins. Photo: Marian University

Five hits for Hogg

Jackson Hogg (Surrey, BC) had a three-hit game and then a two-hit game in a pair of Marian wins. He drove in three in an 11-9 victory over Georgetown.

Johnson starts senior season strong

The season is underway for the Adrian College Bulldogs and senior catcher Dylan Johnson (Etobicoke, Ont.) is looking to make the most of his final campaign. He got it off to a good start with a 3-for-4 game in a 10-4 victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a 2-for-4 performance during a 7-5 win over Centre College.

Lefebvre back in the BMOC again

Look who’s back. Lucas Lefebvre (Coquitlam, BC) appears in this column again after another impressive week for Barstow. Lefebvre contributed four hits and a RBI despite the Vikings dropping both their games. He put up a 3-for-5 game with a RBI in a 9-8 loss to Victor Valley.

Cumiskey puts up numbers in Cuesta sweep

Holden Cumiskey (Langley, BC) walloped three hits in both the first and third games of Cuesta’s series with Ventura. When the series ended, he had six hits, two walks, four RBIs and a stolen base.

Edmands ends week with five hits

Dylan Edmands (Regina, Sask.) amassed five hits, two walks and six RBIs for Arizona Western. He launched a home run in a 14-0 drubbing of Scottsdale Post Grad to open the week.

Yusypchuk named Pitcher of the Week after six innings of work

Andrew Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) took the ball and ran with it for Chandler-Gilbert in their win over Scottsdale. The right-hander threw six innings and allowed one run on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts in the 9-5 victory.

He was later named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

***

No two weeks ever seem to be the same in this game. And that held true this time around. Make sure to check back seven days from now for all the Canadian news and highlights from around college baseball in week seven of 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 college baseball coverage all season long.