BMOC Week XII: Cerkownyk, Cymbalista, Grant, Marriott, Vincent, Walters

Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) continued his dominant season with Central Arizona, picking up his ninth win. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

April 19, 2023

BMOC Week 12

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

As the weather begins to heat up north of the border, so does the play of Canadians in college baseball. Take a look at the top performances from last week.

Wilkinson wins his ninth

Left-hander Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) struck out 10 over 5 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his ninth win in a 9-0 Central Arizona victory over in-state foe Arizona Western. Wilkinson allowed one hit and walked one in the outing. He’s now 9-0 with a 1.04 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 69 innings.

Cymbalista homers five times

Colin Cymbalista (Pickering, Ont.) was swinging a hot bat for Hutchinson Community College in a doubleheader against Cowley. He collected six hits, including five home runs and drove in 10. In a 7-6 Game 1 loss, he hit two home runs and followed it up with three more in a 18-12 win.

Chester deals

Righty Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) tossed eight innings and gave up an unearned run as Cal State Fullerton downed UC Riverside 13-1. Chester surrendered five hits and struck out eight.

Cowell hits grand slam

The solo home run Reinhardt University’s Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.) hit in a Game 1 loss against Tennessee Wesleyan was only the beginning as he swatted a grand slam during a Game 2 defeat. On the week he collected six hits and six RBIs.

Terriers alum Zach Marriott (Oakville, Ont.) had seven hits in four games this past week for Hendrix College. Photo: Hendrix Athletics

Marriott with three multi-hit games

Zach Marriott (Oakville, Ont.) amassed seven hits, two walks, and three RBIs in four games. He had multiple hits in all three games of Hendrix College’s series with Berry. The former Terrier hit a two-run home run in a 5-4 Game 2 win.

Favretto finds his way on

Tyler Favretto (Montreal, Que.) made the most of the two times he was in the lineup for Crowder against Jefferson. The sophomore had a hit and walked twice in a 13-7 win in Game 2. Back in the lineup in Game 4, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, a walk, five RBIs and a stolen base. Crowder took 3-of-4.

No-decision for Lewis

When Braeden Lewis (Oshawa, Ont.) exited the game after six innings, Medaille College had a 6-3 lead over Russell Sage. Six runs in the top of the seventh erased the lead and the visitors handed the home side a 9-6 loss. Lewis scattered seven hits in his start, with two of the three runs being earned. He walked one and struck out one.

Win moves Libke to 2-1

Bryce Libke (Saskatoon, Sask.) spun six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits as Bismarck State took care of Williston State 9-5. Libke issued two walks and struck out seven.

Brampton Royals alum Brady Cerkownyk (Toronto, Ont.) had 12 hits - including three homers - and 17 RBIs for the Connors State Cowboys this past week. Photo: Twitter

Cowboys receive offence from Canadian duo

A pair of Canadians came up big for the Connors State Cowboys.

Brady Cerkownyk (Toronto, Ont.) had 12 hits, walked three times and drove in 17. He hit three home runs, with two coming in a 21-5 Game 3 win over Rose State. In Game 1 of the series he went 5-for-7 with a home run, two doubles and eight RBI.

Blake Simpson (Toronto, Ont.) chipped in eight hits, walked twice and drove in four. He launched a home run and finished with three hits in an 11-8 Game 2 win.

The Cowboys won all five of their games and are currently 40-5.

Duffy helps Griffs defeat Rider, Pouliot strong in loss

Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) gave up two runs over six innings as the Canisius Golden Griffins beat Rider 10-2 in Game 1 of their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series. Duffy worked around three hits and five walks. He struck out three Broncs hitters.

Chris Pouliot (Boischatel, Que.) backed up Duffy with a stellar start of his own. He lasted six innings and allowed one run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Fitzsimmons stays hot, Hupe hits grand slam

After being named the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week, Mike Fitzsimmons continued to produce for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in their two-game series with Division I Seattle University. He went 3-for-5 with a RBI in a 7-3, 10-inning win in the opener before collecting a hit and driving in two in an 8-2 Game 2 loss.

In the Game 1 win, it was Brandon Hupe (Vancouver, BC) with the big blow. In the top of the 10th and the bases loaded, Hupe hit a grand slam to put the Thunderbirds on top for good.

Colby Canadians swing it

The box score may not have read favourably for the Colby Community College Trojans as they were swept in a four-game series with Seward County, but three of their Canadians stood out offensively.

Alex Ellert (White City, Sask.) had seven hits, a walk and three RBIs. He hit a pair of home runs in a 15-5 Game 1 loss.

Lucas Vincent (Stouffville, Ont.) left the yard three times and closed the series with six hits, a walk and seven RBIs.

Aaron Vulcano (Cloverdale, BC) chipped in seven hits, a walk and four RBI. He also homered in the Game 1 defeat.

ABC and Junior National Team alum Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) had seven hits - including three home runs - in five games for Weatherford College this past week. Photo: Baseball Quebec

Villenueve goes deep three times

Robin Villenueve (Gatineau, Que.) swatted three home runs and finished with seven hits in five games for Weatherford College. The Week 1 CBN College Player of the Week walked seven times while driving in 10. He hit two home runs in a 13-2 Game 4 win over Temple.

Walters shines on Sunday

Sophomore Dawson Walters (Toronto, Ont.) showed off his swing for McPherson College this past week. Over four games, he had four, two-hit games, including three home runs. He hit a solo home run, a three-run home run and a two-run shot in a Sunday doubleheader sweep of Avila. When the week was over, he had the eight hits, a walk and eight RBIs.

Howard shuts down Gulf Coast State

Toronto Mets grad Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) threw seven scoreless innings as Chipola College beat Gulf Coast State 3-1. Howard scattered five hits, walked one and struck out six.

Whittle hits for Bay College

Xavier Whittle (Etobicoke, Ont.) produced eight hits, two walks and drove in five in Bay College’s five-game series with Delta College. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in a 9-8 Game 4 loss.

Montreal Titans alum Felix Larose (Montreal, Que.) had five hits and six RBIs for Herkimer College this past week. Photo: Herkimer College Athletics

Larose aids Herkimer in 6-0 week

Defending NJCAA Division III national champion Herkimer College ran the table last week with the help of five hits, including a home run, from Felix Larose (Montreal, Que.). The freshman catcher walked once and drove in six for the 22-3 Generals.

Busy three games for Fujie

Yosuke Fujie (Mission, BC) was doing damage out of the leadoff spot for Otero College. In three games played, he had four hits, four walks, three RBIs and a stolen base. He hit a home run in a 7-6 loss to Lamar.

Hammerling holds off Butler

Reece Hammerling (Beaumont, Alta.) gave up one run over five innings as No. 5 Barton Community College beat Butler 9-6 in Game 4 to take their series three games to one. Hammerling yielded a hit, walked three and fanned four. The Cougars are now 38-5

Ring K’s eight

Southpaw Colby Ring (Langley, BC) punched out eight over six innings but the University of Antelope Valley fell 8-5 to Benedictine University at Mesa. Ring conceded two runs on three hits and walked five.

Fieldhouse Pirates alum Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) set a Niagara University program record with the 12th save of his collegiate career. Photo: Niagara Athletics

Cameron new saves leader at Niagara

With his save in Niagara University’s 9-8 Game 3 win over Manhattan on Sunday, Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) earned his sixth save of the season and the 12th of his college career. The latter is a new program record. The eight strikeouts he had were also a career high.

Maza-Leon picks up first win

Jorge Maza-Leon (Toronto, Ont.) worked five innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits in Williston State’s 15-5 win over North Dakota State College of Sciences. He walked three and struck out seven en route to his first victory of the season.

Loranger extends hit streak

With two hits on Sunday in Stephen F. Austin’s 12-6 loss to New Mexico State, Clayton Loranger (Sherwood Park, Alta.) extended his hitting streak to 16 games.

Grant hits four home runs

No. 5 Bellevue won all five games they played with Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) playing a key role. Grant collected nine hits, walked four times and drove in 11. He swatted a pair of two-run home runs and a solo shot in a 21-3 Game 2 win over Presentation College. In a 27-5 Game 3 win, he hit another two-run home run.

Edmonton Collegiate Hawks alum Halen Knoll (Edmonton, Alta.) struck out seven batters in six innings in his start for University of Mary. Photo: University of Mary Athletics.

Knoll strikes out seven

Halen Knoll (Edmonton, Alta.) threw six innings and struck out seven, but the University of Mary fell to Southwest Minnesota State 5-3 in Game 1 of their series.

Cummins collects four hits

Dallas Cummins (Vauxhall, Alta.) produced four hits, walked once, drove in four and stole a base in two games for Treasure Valley Community College. He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and his stolen base in a 9-8 win over Blue Mountain.

Karosas doubles five times

AJ Karosas (Mississauga, Ont.) had eight hits, including five doubles, walked five times and drove in four to power the University of Charleston to a four-game sweep of Davis & Elkins.

Shakotko an extra base machine

Eight of the 10 hits on the week for Cloud County’s Demitri Shakotko (Fredricton, N.B.) went for extra bases. He hit three home runs, with two coming in a 10-5 Game 3 win over Garden City Community College. When the week was over he also walked four times, drove in 11, stole a base and was hit by a pair of pitches.

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That’s it, that’s all for the past week of Canadian college baseball highlights. Come back next week for all the action from April 17 to 23.

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.