June 7, 2022

BMOC Week 20

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Four Canadians can now call themselves national champions. Another is an All-American selection. Plus, a few others had big performances for their teams.

Central Arizona reigns supreme

The National Junior College Athletic Association Division I championship banner is headed to Coolidge, Az. after the Central Arizona College Vaqueros beat Cowley 4-2 in the championship game on Saturday. The Vaqueros lost their first game of the tournament before rallying for five straight wins.

OF Tyrese Johnson (Calgary, Alta.) had four hits, walked twice, drove three and stole a base in six games. He swatted a solo home run in a 7-4 win over Walters State that send his team to the championship game.

LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) threw two innings and allowed one run on three hits, with a pair of walks and a strikeout in a 5-4 Game 1 loss to Crowder. Back on the bump in a 5-4 win over Wabash Valley, he worked six scoreless innings and surrendered six hits. He walked five and struck out seven.

Both players are products of the Okotoks Dawgs Academy.

Fire catch fire in Lewiston

The Southeastern University Fire are the champions of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. They went 5-1 in Lewiston, Idaho, including an 11-5 win over Lewis-Clark State in the championship game to take home the crown. Outfielders Clayton Keyes (Edmonton, Alta.) and Zach Diewert (Chemainus, BC) both play for the Fire. Diewert hit .323 in 29 games with three doubles, a homer and nine RBIs, as well as a .979 OPS. Keyes batted .175 in 34 games with two doubles, a homer, seven RBIs, a .683 OPS and going 10-for-13 stealing bases.

Coutney a Second Team All-American

The accolades continue to roll in for Old Dominion infielder Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) as he was named a Second Team All-American by College Baseball Newspaper. Coutney hit .376 with 27 home runs, 70 RBIs and a 1.281 OPS in 2022.

Duffy a record holder

RHP Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) fanned eight over six innings of work in Canisius’ 11-6 Game 1 loss of the Chapel Hill Regional to host No. 6 Miami. The Great Lake Canadians alum yielded four runs on seven hits and a walk. His sixth strikeout of the game gave him the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference single-season record. And who did he pass? Fellow Canadian, former Niagara Purple Eagle and current Mariners No. 4 prospect RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.). He finishes the season with 124 strikeouts.

Three Canadian Beavers off to Super Regionals

Oregon State held off Vanderbilt 7-6 in the Corvallis Regional final to book their ticket to the Super Regionals. Catcher Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) started all four games behind the plate for the Beavers and recorded a hit and three walks. Utility man Justin Thorsteinson (Langley, BC) and OF Micah McDowell (Halifax, NS) also play for the Beavers.

Sooners headed to Super Regionals

RHP Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) and the Oklahoma Sooners beat the University of Florida 5-4 in a winner-take-all game in the final of the Gainesville Regional. The Sooners will now head to Virginia Tech to take on the Hokies in the Super Regionals.

Three Canadians lead Rams to win

A day after knocking off Georgia, the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams rolled out three straight Canadians on the mound in a 4-3 win over Chapel Hill Regional host No. 10 North Carolina.

Campbell Ellis (Georgetown, Ont.) got the start and threw four scoreless innings. He gave up four hits, walked three and struck out a pair.

In relief of Ellis, the Rams went to Evan Chenier (Georgetown, Ont.). The one-time Ontario Blue Jay tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He conceded one hit, walked two and punched out three.

Next out of the bullpen was Jaden Griffin (Lower Sackville, N.S.) who spun an inning and allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout. Coming on in relief of Chenier with two on and two out, Griffin got the next batter to pop up in foul territory to erase the threat.

Abbott strong in relief

Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.) was summoned from the bullpen by Canisius head coach Matt Mazurek in Game 2 of the Coral Gables Regional against Arizona. Abbott delivered 4 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out five in the 7-5 loss.

O’Halloran starts Game 1 of Louisville Regional

Southpaw Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.) was tabbed as the starter for Michigan in their regional opener against Oregon. O’Halloran hurled 5 2/3 innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Magill shows well in World Series

Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) supplied Tennessee Wesleyan with six hits and a walk in their four games at the NAIA World Series. Magill went 3-for-4 with two doubles in a 3-2 Game 2 win over Bellevue.

Machibroda lands All-American honour

Nolan Machibroda (Saskatoon, Sask.) was selected as a NAIA Second Team All-American. He hit a whopping .460, swatted 17 home runs and drove in 83 in 47 games.

Zdunich an All-American

Reinhardt University OF Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) has been named a NAIA Second Team All-American. Zdunich hit .379 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs for the Eagles. He’s a former winner of the Canadian Baseball Network Okotoks Dawgs scholarship.

Weisner named All-American

INF Jonah Weisner (Mission, BC) had a standout season for Ottawa University. Weisner led his team with a .429 average, hit 16 home runs and drove in 56. He was also 32-for-34 in stolen base attempts. Those numbers earned him a spot as a NAIA Second Team All-American.

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Week 20 of the BMOC is the last of the season.

Stay locked into @CDNbaseballnet and @Bettsy41 for coverage of the NCAA Division I Super Regionals and College World Series. Thanks for reading and we’ll be back for another season in 2023.