BMOC Week XX: Howard, McDowell, Parsons, Peart, Pelletier, Villeneuve, White

ABC alum Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) doubled, walked twice and drove in two runs in Kentucky’s 10-0 Super Regional Game 1 win over Oregon State on Saturday. Photo: University of Kentucky Athletics

June 10, 2024


By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Well, this is it. 

All that remains now is the Division I College World Series, in which two Canadians are taking part. We’ll recap that separately should one or both play well. 

Enjoy the final BMOC for 2024. 

Howard, Spartans win Division II national championship 

The University of Tampa Spartans defeated Angelo State 8-3 in the NCAA Division II title game to claim their ninth national championship in program history. Right-hander Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) appeared in 14 games for the Spartans in 2024, posting a 3.45 ERA and three saves over 15 2/3 inning. 

Pitre leads Wildcats to Omaha 

Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) doubled, walked twice and drove in two runs in Kentucky’s 10-0 Super Regional Game 1 win over Oregon State. With a 3-2 victory on Sunday night, the Wildcats are off to the College World Series.  

ABC alum Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) has batted .288 with five home runs in 35 games for the Tennessee Volunteers this season. Photo: Tennessee Athletics

Villeneuve, Vols book ticket to CWS 

Joining Pitre and the Wildcats in Omaha will be the No. 1 University of Tennessee Volunteers and Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) The Vols won their Super Regional series 2-1 over the surprising University of Evansville Purple Aces. 

Parsons’ and Pelletier’s seasons comes to an end 

Jaden Parsons (Kelowna, BC), Raphael Pelletier (Mascouche, Que.) and the Kansas State University Wildcats were swept in their Super Regional by Virginia. Parsons walked and drove in two runs in the two games, while Pelletier had a hit in a 7-4 Game 1 loss. On the season, Parsons hit .293 and Pelletier belted nine home runs. 

Evansville’s magical run ends involuntarily  

When all was said and done, the Tennessee Volunteers were too much for the University of Evansville. Despite quite the scare from the underdogs, the Vols pulled out a 2-1 series win in their Super Regional showdown. Brodie Peart (Markham, Ont.) had a pinch hit in an 11-6 Game 1 loss. 

Ontario Blue Jays grad Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) finished his second season with West Virgina with a .305 batting average in 60 games. Photo: West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineers fall short of reaching mountain top 

Former Ontario Blue Jay Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) had a hit and walked twice in Game 2 of West Virginia’s Super Regional against the University of North Carolina, but it wasn’t enough as the Mountaineers dropped the game and the series. White finishes his second season in Morgantown with a .305 average and a .904 OPS in 60 games. 

McDowell, Beavers bounced from Super Regional 

Micah McDowell (Halifax, N.S.) walked in both games of Oregon State’s two Super Regional losses against Kentucky. In five seasons in Corvallis, McDowell hit .307 with an .861 OPS in 147 career games. 

It was another great season full of impressive Canadian performances. 

Thanks for reading and following along. 

We’ll see you in 2025. 

BMOCMatt Betts