April 4, 2023

Big Man On Campus: Week 10

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The Major League Baseball season got underway late last week with 10 Canadians on Opening Day rosters. At the same time, over 1,000 Canadians continued their seasons in college ball. Let’s take a look at the top performances from the latter.

UBC sweeps Eastern Oregon

A full team effort led the University of British Columbia to a four-game sweep of Eastern Oregon over the weekend.

They took Game 1, 19-4, Game 2, 16-4, Game 3, 12-0 and Game 4, 18-3.

Offensively, the Thunderbirds scored 65 runs.

Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) was given Game 1 off but contributed two hits in each of the final three games. He launched a two-run home run in Game 4. When the series was over he had the six hits, a walk and four RBIs.

Brett Corbeth (London, Ont.) had four multi-hit games, closing out the weekend with nine hits, a walk, seven RB1s and a stolen base. He doubled four times.

David Draayers (Abbotsford, BC) had two, two-hit games, drove in three, stole a base and was hit by a pitch. One of his hits was a solo home run in Game 3

Mike Fitzsimmons (Chilliwack, BC) hit a a pair of solo home runs and finished with eight hits in total. The third year infielder also had six RBIs, stole a base and was hit by a pitch.

Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, BC) had 13 hits with a pair of solo home runs, walked twice, drove in 11 and stole a base. He twice had a four-hit game. For his efforts, Marsh was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Week.

Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC) collected four hits, walked three times and drove in four. He swatted a two-run home run in the Game 1 win.

Russell Young (Surrey, BC) hit a solo home run and a two-run home run en route to finishing the series with eight hits and six RBIs. He was hit by a pair of pitches in Game 3.

The pitching was pretty good, too.

Sean Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.) picked up his fourth win by throwing six innings in Game 1. Heppner allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out four.

Not to be outdone, Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) threw seven innings and gave up one run on four hits in Game 2. He walked one and punched out five.

And it got better from there. Ryan Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.) tossed a complete game, seven-inning shutout in Game 3, allowing two hits, walking three and striking out 11 to move to 5-2.

Olchoway outstanding in Ottawa win

Ryan Olchoway (Saskatoon, Sask.) surrendered an unearned run in six innings of work in Ottawa University’s 11-1 Game 2 victory over York. Olchoway allowed three hits and struck out five. For his efforts, he was named KCAC Pitcher of the Week.

Murdoch named Region IX Player of the Week

Fourteen hits, two home runs, five walks and 13 RBIs earned Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask.) Region IX Player of the Week honours. Murdoch went 3-for-5 with a home run and seven RBIs in a 13-5 win over Otero. So far this season, he's hitting .425 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 37 games.

Crowell, Zdunich power Reinhardt to 3-1 week

A pair of Canadians were instrumental in four games for the Reinhardt University Eagles.

Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, NS) collected seven hits, walked four times, drove in four and swiped a base. Crowell hit a solo home run in a 14-4 midweek victory over Freed-Hardeman. Later in the week he went 5-for-5 and opened the scoring with a solo home run in a 6-2 Game 2 win over Montreat.

Coming off being named the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week, Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) put together eight hits, four walks, eight RBIs and two stolen bases. In the win over Freed-Hardeman, Zdunich hit a pair of two-run home runs. He left the yard again, a solo shot, in the Game 2 victory over Montreat.

Simpson supplies seven hits

Connors State improved to 33-3 with four wins last week and Blake Simpson (Toronto, Ont.) had a lot to do with it. Simpson had seven hits, walked once and drove in four. To close out the week he went 4-for-4 with a RBI in a 13-3 win over Oklahoma Christian.

Knoll goes the distance

Haden Knoll (Edmonton, Alta.) delivered a complete game, seven-inning performance to help the University of Mary to a 5-2 win over No. 22 Minnesota State. Knoll surrendered two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three.

Kush comes through again for Govs

The Austin Peay Governors got another strong start from Jacob Kush (Guelph, Ont.). Taking the ball in Game 2 of their series with Bellarmine, Kush spun six innings and yielded two runs on three hits in a 6-4 victory. He walked two and struck out eight to improve to 6-4.

Turner turns in complete game

After losing Games 1 and 2 of their series with St. Charles, Three Rivers College needed a good start from Kole Turner (White Rock, BC) and they got it. Turner threw a complete game, seven innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits in a 5-1 victory. He walked two and struck out six. Three Rivers would win Game 4 for a series split.

Cymbalista walks it off

Colin Cymbalista (Pickering, Ont.) came to the plate with the bases loaded for Hutchinson in Game 3 of their series with Butler and hit a walk-off grand slam to send his team to a 9-5 win. During the four-game series he had 10 hits and 13 RBIs. The grand slam was his second homer of the week as he also went deep in an 11-1 Game 2 win.

Gollert moves to 4-1

Lefty Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) lasted 5 2/3 innings and conceded one run on six hits in Oral Roberts 7-2 Game 2 win over Western Illinois. Gollert walked three and struck out six to earn his fourth win. He also lowered his ERA to 3.41 over 37 innings.

Hammerling finishes sweep

Right-hander Reece Hammerling (Beaumont, Ont.) was tasked with trying to close out Barton’s four-game sweep of Pratt Community College. He worked five innings and allowed one run on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in an 11-3 win. Barton is now 30-3.

Taylor secures sixth win

A seven-inning complete game from Colton Taylor (Amherstburg, Ont.) led Texas A&M Kingsville to a 4-1 win over St. Mary’s. Taylor gave up one run on eight hits and struck out 10 to move his record to 6-3.

Ellert, Roth play well for Colby

They dropped their four-game series with Dodge City 3-1, but Colby received strong performances from two Canadians.

Alex Ellert (White City, Sask.) was in the leadoff spot and had seven hits, four walks and seven RBIs. He went 3-for-4 with two home runs, two walks and had seven RBI in a 19-17 Game 2 loss.

Carter Roth (Stratford, Ont.) chipped in 10 hits, four RBIs and two stolen bases in the four games. He, too, hit a home run in the Game 2 loss.

Sirois strokes four hits

No. 9 Bellevue University received four hits two walks and five RBIs from Mathieu Sirois (Quebec City, Que.) as they went 4-1 on the week. Sirois hit a two-run home run in a series sweeping win over Dickinson State.

Manias hammers pitching for Howard

Aaron Manias (Uxbridge, Ont.) had multiple hits in all four games of Howard College’s series with Amarillo College. Manias went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in a 15-14 Game 1 loss, before going 2-for-5 with two RBIs in a 17-3 victory. During a 6-5 Game 3 win, he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. To round out the series he had two hits, a walk and an RBI in a 12-10 loss.

Cote continues strong campaign

Former Terriers catcher Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) amassed six hits, a walk and four RBIs for Northeastern Junior College. Cote went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI in a 14-6 win over Luna.

Boucher hits three homers

In four games this past week for Southern Illinois, Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Bauce, Que.) had 10 hits, three walks, eight RBIs, three stolen bases and was hit by a pitch. Boucher hit a solo home run in the Salukis’ 6-5 win over the University of Tennessee at Martin. Not done displaying his power, Boucher opened the scoring in Game 3 of their series with Bradley with a two-run home run. He followed it up with a three-run blast later in the game.

Bach back at it

Jordan Bach (Delta, BC) is having a stellar season for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and it continued last week with seven hits, two walks, nine RBIs and two stolen bases. Bach hit three home runs, two in a 17-14 Game 1 loss to Eastern Oklahoma State and another in a 10-7 Game 3 loss.

Brunner good in relief

Southpaw Graham Brunner (Sherwood Park, Alta.) came out of the bullpen for Emporia State and threw six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in a 10-6 Game 1 loss to Rogers State. He walked two and struck out five.

Rumney earns victory

Matt Rumney (Midland, Ont.) threw all six innings for Cayuga Community College as they downed Columbia-Greene 12-2. Romney gave up two runs on five hits, while walking four and striking out five.

Duffy deals again as Griffs cruise

The 18 runs the Canisius Golden Griffins scored combined with seven innings from Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) was more than enough in their 18-2 Game 1 win over Iona. Duffy scattered four hits, allowed an unearned run, walked done and punched out 13.

Lund refuses to lose

Jaryd Lund (London, Ont.) surrendered four runs (one earned) in five innings of work as Salem held on for a 9-8 Game 1 win over West Chester. Lund scattered seven hits, walked, three and struck out five.

Rosser helps pitch shutout

If they don’t score, they can’t win. Nate Rosser (Tsawwassen, BC) pitched into the sixth inning, lasting 5 2/3 innings to be exact, and didn’t allow a run on three hits as Ohlone beat De Anza 3-0. He maneuvered around seven walks and struck out seven.

O’Halloran, Wolverines defeat Illinois

Back on the hill for Game 1 of Michigan’s series with Illinois, Connor O’Halloran threw six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in a 12-9 win. He struck out eight and is now 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings.

Di Clemente starts strong

Kenny Di Clemente (Oakville, Ont.) went 4-for-4 with a solo home run but Keiser dropped their series opener against Florida Memorial, 11-1. Di Clemente had a hit and walked three times as the Seahawks returned the favour with an 11-1 win in Game 2. The rubber match saw him go 2-for-3 with two walks as his team won the series with a 13-3 victory.

Cardoso powers Pioneers

Two home runs and eight hits was what the University of Antelope Valley received from Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, BC) as they swept a four-game set from Simpson University. Cardoso had three hits in both Game’s 1 and 2. All in all he walked three times, drove in six and swiped a pair of bases to go along with his hits.

Dykstra does it all at the plate

Connor Dykstra (Chilliwack, BC) hit for average, hit for power and used his legs for George Mason. Dykstra had a hit, walked twice and stole a base as the Patriots beat Longwood 13-6 to open the week. In Game 1 against Rhode Island, a 7-6 win, he went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and two RBIs. His Game 2 performance featured two hits and a stolen base in an 8-4 loss. He added a hit a hit in a 5-0 Game 3 win.

Wilkinson wows

Surprise, surprise, Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) is back in the BMOC. This time Wilkinson threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5-0 win over Mesa. He allowed one hit, and struck out 13.

Pringle pitches to seventh win

Gavin Pringle (Duncan, BC) won his seventh game of the year with five innings of work for West Texas A&M in their 23-5 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith. Pringle scattered seven hits and two runs (one earned), while issuing three walks and striking out seven.

McGarry-Doyle drives in four

Toronto Mets alum Noel McGarry-Doyle (Vaughan, Ont.) chipped in four hits, two walks and four RBIs as Mid-America Christian swept Oklahoma Panhandle State. He hit a three-run home run in a 12-0 Game 2 win.

Napieralski goes deep twice

Last week’s games were another example of why No. 19 Bryan are a ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics team as they swept Kentucky Christian and outscoring the opposition 49-8 in three games. Owen Napieralski (Delta, BC) had two hits, one of which was a two-run home run in an 11-1 Game 1 victory. He swatted a solo shot in a 24-1 win in Game 2 before closing out the series with a hit and a walk in a 14-6 thumping.

Feuerstake runs hitting streak to 17

With hits in all three conference games for McPherson College, Caleb Feuerstake (Waterdown, Ont.) is now on a 17-game hitting streak in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Bush collects nine hits

Homer Bush Jr. (Toronto, Ont.) has been the sparkplug to the Grand Canyon University offence all season. Out of the leadoff spot last week he had nine hits, walked four times, drove in six and stole a pair of bases. On the season, he’s hitting .449 with a 1.167 OPS in 27 games.

Bourdreau throws no-no

Tyler Boudreau (Halifax, N.S.) put the Midland College Chaparrals on his back in Game 1 of their series with Clarendon. Boudreau threw a seven-inning no-hitter, issuing just one walk and striking out four in a 2-0 victory.

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Well, it was quite the week on both the mound and in the batters box. There will surely be more highlights next week, so don’t forget to read all about it 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.