BMOC Week XIX: Brazier, Hewitt, Irvine, Keys, Makarus, Wright

Regina Red Sox alum Griffin Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) had seven hits - including two home runs - and walked six times in five games to help the Gwinnett Grizzlies win the NAIA World Series. Photo: Gwinnett Athletics

June 9, 2021

BMOC Week 19

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Two teams featuring Canadians brought home national championships over the last seven days. Others are still vying for the top prize.

Check out all the action from the past week below.

Keller, McKillican and the Grizzlies finish the job

The Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies are champions of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. They put together a perfect 5-0 record at the NAIA World Series, including an 8-4 win in the championship game over Central Methodist. As has been the case all season long, two Canadians were relied upon heavily.

Griffin Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) had one of the more memorable college seasons for a Canadian in recent history. During the World Series, Keller pounded out seven hits, walked six times, drove in four, stole three bases and was hit by a pitch. He hit a two-run home run in Games 1 and 2 of the tournament. The home run in the first helped the Grizzlies to a 9-6 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan, while the long ball in the second game was part of an 11-7 victory over Southeastern. In the championship game, Keller was 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.

Adam McKillican (Comox, BC) got the ball in Game 2 and picked up the win against Southeastern. McKillican worked 6 2/3 innings and scattered nine hits. He allowed two runs (one earned) with three walks and eight strikeouts.

The national championship is the first in program history.

Keller named an All-American

Not only did Griffin Keller win a national championship, he was also named a NAIA First Team All-American for his impressive 2021 season. Keller finished the campaign leading the Grizzlies in average at .469. On top of that he swatted 18 home runs, drove in 89, posted a 1.400 OPS and swiped 17 bases. He also fielded at a .962 clip.

Makarus and Jackson bring home national championship

There’s reason to celebrate in Okotoks, Alberta. Dawgs alums Jackson Fraser (Buena Vista, Sask.) and Ayden Makarus (Okotoks, Alta.) helped No. 2 LSU Eunice become No.1 as they brought home the NJCAA Division II College World Series title.

Jackson made an appearance in an 11-6 Game 3 win over Kellogg Community College.

Makarus hit a solo home run and walked in an 11-2, Game 2 win over Kellogg and drove in a run in the 11-6 victory in Game 3.

The Bengals went 5-1 in the tournament.

Keys an All-American Honourable Mention

Travis Keys (London, Ont.) picked up another accolade to go along with his Hoosier Wolverine Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Award. Keys was tabbed as a NAIA All-American Honourable Mention. He completed the season 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 62 innings pitched.

Victoria Eagles grad and Lassen College right-hander Connor Irvine (Victoria, B.C.) was named to the Golden Valley All-Conference Second Team after posting a 2-2 record with a 5.03 ERA over 34 innings. Photo: Makenzie Davis

Irvine selected to Second Team

Lassen College right hander Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) was named to the Golden Valley All-Conference Second Team after posting a 2-2 record with a 5.03 ERA over 34 innings. He averaged 7.94 strike outs per nine innings.

Wright named MVC Scholar-Athlete

Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team this week. Wright hit .305 in 2021 with 16 home runs, 41 RBIs and a 1.064 OPS. In the classroom, he is pursuing a master’s in business administration and holds a 3.94 GPA.

Hardy recognized by Southwest Minnesota State University

Each year Southwest Minnesota State University acknowledges their student-athletes who best represent the university both on the field and in the classroom. One of those athletes that was identified in 2021 was baseball player James Hardy (Langley, BC). Through his hard work and dedication to Mustang athletics Hardy was named a recipient of the Celebration of Excellence Award. He appeared in five games for the Mustangs and punched out seven on the season.

Toronto Mets alum Cal Brazier (Oshawa, Ont.), of the Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves, performed well at the NJCAA Division III College World Series, collecting eight hits, seven walks and five RBIs. Photo: Niagara Community College Athletics

Canadians shine, but Thunderwolves fall in national championship game

After losing the first game of the NJCAA Division III College World Series, the No. 4 Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves rattled off four wins before falling to Tyler 5-4 in the final.

Cal Brazier (Oshawa, Ont.) had a strong showing and was named to the All-Tournament team. Brazier collected eight hits, including a home run in a 14-4 win over Coastal Bend in Game 3, to go along with five walks and seven RBIs.

Will Jackman (Niagara Falls, Ont.) came on in relief in the Thunderwolves’ opener, a 4-2 loss to No. 5 St. Cloud Tech. Jackman pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts.

Chris Tani (Oakville, Ont.) went 7-for-21, while Matt Ferris (Vaughan, Ont.) had a pair of knocks.

Hubert handles heavy load out of Kellogg pen

Ben Hubert (Komoka, Ont.) made three appearances in the NJCAA Division II World Series for Kellogg Community College. The first came in an 11-2 loss to eventual champion LSU Eunice when Hubert tossed a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts. He then picked up the win in a 9-5 victory over Madison. In that one, he closed out the game with 4 1/3 innings of work and allowed one run on five hits with a pair of walks. He struck out five in the victory. Lastly, he threw a clean 2/3 of an inning as Kellogg was eliminated by LSU Eunice due to an 11-6 loss.

Black named to All-Regional team, Piotto shows well in Knoxville

The draw was tough for the Wright State Raiders in the Knoxville Regional. They were pinned up against No. 3 Tennessee, Duke and Liberty. A pair of Canadians did their best, but it wasn’t meant to be as the Raiders went two and out. Game 1 saw them lose a heartbreaker. Carrying an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, Tennessee hit a walk off grand slam. The following day, they dropped a 14-6 game to Duke.

Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.) proved yet again why he will be a high pick in the upcoming MLB draft. Black opened the scoring against Tennessee with a two-run home run and then went yard again, a solo shot, in the fourth. He finished the game 4-for-5. Against Duke, he hit a solo home run and drove in two in the defeat. Despite going 0-2, his performance was so good it landed him on the All-Regional team.

Konner Piotto (Abbotsford, BC) was 2-for-4 in the loss to the Volunteers. He was even better against Duke, as he put together a 3-for-5 game.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) went 4-for-10 for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Tucson Regional. Photo: Oklahoma State Athletics

Hewitt has four hits in Tucson Regional

Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) went 4-for-10 for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Tucson Regional. The Cowboys dropped their opener with UC Santa Barbara 14-4 but followed it up with a 5-3 win over Grand Canyon. The Gauchos would get the Cowboys again in Game 3 by a 13-3 score.

Offman, John Hopkins bow out in Division III World Series

Right-hander Jonah Offman (Thornhill, Ont.) made an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series for John Hopkins University. Offman gave up a hit and a walk over a 1/3 of an inning in a 12-9 loss to Adrian. The loss eliminated the Blue Jays from the national championship.

Crowder drops national championship game

No. 1 Crowder posted a 3-2 record in the NJCAA Division I College World Series. One of those loses was a 15-5 defeat in the national championship game against McLennan. Adamo Stornello (Montreal, Que.) and Nick Tremblay (Saint-Hilaire, Que.) are both on the Roughriders roster.

Adrian goes 1-2 in D3 World Series

The season has come to an end for the Adrian College Bulldogs and their two Canadians after going 1-2 in the NCAA Division III College World Series. Battery-mates Andrew Giorno (Toronto, Ont.), a right-handed pitcher and catcher Dylan Johnson (Etobicoke, Ont.) are both members of the Bulldogs baseball team.

Langley Blaze grad Zach Diewert (Chemainus, BC) suited up for the Southeastern University Fire this season. Photo: Southeastern Athletics

Southeastern goes 1-2 in NAIA World Series

The Southeastern Fire beat No. 9 LSU Shreveport before dropping games to eventual champion No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett and No. 4 Lewis Clark State in the NAIA World Series. Zach Diewert (Chemainus, BC) suited up for the Fire this season.

Myers, SUNY Cortland in CWS

Josh Myers (Miscouche, PEI) and the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons made it all the way to the NCAA Division III College World Series. They were 2-2 in their four games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

O’Toole an All-American

Evan O’Toole (Bridgewater, NS) has been named a NJCAA Second Team All-American selection. O’Toole, a righty for the Iowa Western Reivers, went 9-0 with a minuscule 1.31 ERA over 55 innings.

Palmegiani completes campaign with All-American nod

Feared slugger Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) was named a First Team All-American this week. Palmegiani put together a season that included a .389 batting average, 26 home runs, 81 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He did all of it over 63 games for the College of Southern Nevada.

Hicks an NJCAA All-American Honourable Mention

Connor Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) hit .415 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs over 42 games for Mineral Area this season. His performance landed him a NJCAA All-American Honourable Mention.

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What an exciting week for Canadians in college baseball. Will this week feature more of the same? Make sure to follow along right here. The Canadian Baseball Network has you covered, wrapping the top highlights every week in the BMOC.

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