BMOC Week 4

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

It was a busy week in college baseball as Division I play began. The schedule was full of games and that meant a lot of impressive performances from Canadians. Below is a wrap of the highlights.

Connors State starts strong

The Connors State Cowboys had numerous Canadians help them to a 6-0 record to start the season. Jack Liddell (Mississauga, Ont.) picked up the win in a 7-2 Game 1 win over Otero. He worked five innings, scattered three hits and gave up both runs (one earned). The righty walked two and struck out eight. David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) pounded out eight hits, including two home runs, walked seven times and drove in 13, powering the offence in the six games. In a Game 3 win over Otero, Mendham had two hits, two walks and four RBIs. Andres Gonzalez (Toronto, Ont.) had four hits, two walks and two RBIs on the week.

Hyland walks it off for the Cougars

With the game knotted at three in the bottom of the ninth Kobe Hyland (Spruce Grove, Alta.) smashed a two-run home run to send the Houston Cougars to a 5-3 walk off win over the Demons of Northwestern State.

Rhodes, Burgmann on the bump for Huskies

David Rhodes (White Rock, BC) picked up the first win by a Canadian in the Pac-12 since at least 2000 when he tossed two scoreless innings of relief in the Washington Huskies’ 9-5 season opening win over the No. 25 University of California, Irvine Anteaters. Rhodes allowed a hit, walked three and struck out two. Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) got the start in Game 3 and went five strong. He allowed one run on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. It wasn't quite enough though as UC Irvine took the game 6-4 and the series 2-1.

Vasquez handles Houston

The Northwestern State Demons were on the brink of a sweep and about to start the season 0-3. That’s when in Game 3 Jose Vasquez (Cambridge, Ont.) tossed four scoreless innings of relief to close out the game and help deliver a 2-1 win over the Houston Cougars. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five to salvage a win in the series.

Brash brilliant, Niagara blows lead late

It was a great start to the season opener for the Niagara Purple Eagles against North Carolina A&T State. Matthew Brash (Kingston, Ont.) threw seven innings of one run baseball, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out 11. Unfortunately for the Purple Eagles, it wasn't enough as the Aggies scored three in the bottom of the ninth for the walk off win.

Five hits for Howie

Junior outfielder Nick Howie (Oakville, Ont.) had a hit and a walk in Eastern Kentucky’s season opening loss to Grambling State. In Game 2 of the campaign, an 11-2 win over Florida A&M broadcast of MLB Network, Howie had a hit, two walks and a RBI. The Colonels beat up on Prairie View A&M 11-1 in the final game of the week and Howie went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and a stolen base.

Back-to-back three hit games

Benedictine College hammered out 30 runs in a pair of games against Doane University last week. Austin Watamniuk (Westlock, Alta.) went 3-for-4 in a 14-10 loss. He also walked, drove in a run and stole a base. Benedictine picked up a win in the second meeting by a 20-13 score. Watamaniuk again went 3-for-4, this time with a walk, two RBIs and four runs scored. He finished his week with a walk in a 7-3 win over Morningside College.

Osborne helps Western Nebraska bounce back

It was an ugly start to the season for Western Nebraska Community College when they were swept in a four-game series but they were able to rebound and take 3-of-4 from Miles last week. Mitch Osborne (Lindsay, Ont.) had six hits in the four games. He drove in seven and drew a walk.

Sycamore sweep

Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) had a hit in a 7-1, Game 1 win over Jacksonville to open the season for the Indiana State Sycamores. In Game 2, a 13-7 win, Wright went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a walk and was hit by a pitch. In the finale he went 2-for-4 with a solo blast.

Canadians on fire for Colby

Matt Coutenay (Edmonton, Ont.) has been red hot at the dish for Colby Community College. Coutenay had nine more hits last week, including a home run and two doubles in an 11-0 win over McCook. He had three hits against McCook and then had three more later in the week in a 12-9 win over Midland. He his hitting a sizzling .458 through the first seven games of the season. Tyler McWillie (Okotoks, Alta.) went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBIs in the win over McCook. He also launched a long ball in the win over Midland. In all, he had six hits, four walks and seven RBIs. Nathan Stark (Medicine Hat, Alta.) made three appearances and picked up a win. He went four scoreless, allowing just one hit in the 11-0 win over McCook. He walked two and struck out five to snag the win. He tossed an inning, allowed a hit, a run and a walk in an 11-5 loss to Odessa. His final appearance he gave up a run on one hit over 1 1/3 innings with three walks and a strikeout in another matchup with Odessa.

Fitzsimmons leads off, Sereda evens record

Mike Fitzsimmons went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI, two hit by pitches and four runs scored in a 10-9 win for the University of British Columbia in Game 1 of their series with The Master’s. He finished the week with six hits total out of the leadoff spot. Daniel Sereda (Vancouver, BC) threw four scoreless innings to help the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to an 8-2 win in Game 2. Sereda allowed three hits, three walks and struck out six to improve to 1-1. The Thunderbirds split the series 2-2.

Manick wins in relief

It took 13 innings for McPherson College to take down Kansas Wesleyan in Game 2 of their series and it was Jarod Manick (Aldergrove, BC) who picked up the win. Manick went four scoreless innings, scattering two hits, a walk and striking out eight.

Billikens beaten by Redhawks

Jackson Wark (St. Albert, Alta.) took the loss as his Billikens of St. Louis University were dropped 3-2 by the Miami University Redhawks. Wark went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out six in the loss.

Beaudry allows one

Guillaume Beaudry (Cookshire, Que.) last 5 1/3 innings and gave up just a single run in a 7-6 Trinidad State loss to New Mexico Military. The opposition managed three hits and worked a walk. Beaudry punched out four but took the loss. Trinidad State has stumbled out of the gate to a 3-9 record.

Harold hits

It was a good week for Colton Harold (Abbotsford, BC) as he had six hits in four games for Northwestern College. Four of his six hit were doubles as his team split their series with Columbia.

Jansen goes off in opener

Owen Jansen (Oakville, Ont.) went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a walk and a RBI despite the Purdue Boilermakers dropping their season opener 7-6 in 10 innings at No. 21 Southern Mississippi.

Ando sharp for Spartans

Senior Royce Ando (Mississauga, Ont.) hit a solo home run in Michigan State’s 8-4 season opening win over New Orleans. He finished the game with two hits and followed it up with two more hits and a RBI in a 4-1 loss in Game 2. The Spartans dropped Game 3 by a 6-4 margin but Ando managed a hit and drew a walk.

MacLaren has a hit in all four

Cole MacLaren (Morell, PEI) stroked a double, walked twice and drove in two for Pittsburgh in a 7-2 win over Villanova. In a 10-1 loss to Iowa he hit a double and worked a pair of walks. Next up was Marshall and MacLaren hit a double in the 7-2 loss. In the final game of the opening week, a 9-8 loss to Milwaukee, MacLaren had another double and two hits in all, earned a walk and drove in a run.

Morro helps carry Canisius offence

The Golden Griffins of Canisius College dropped their series 2-1 to North Carolina Central despite five hits, two walks and a stolen base from Connor Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.). Morro went 3-for-5 and legged out a triple in a 5-2 Game 1 loss.

Follett falls short of cycle

Nick Follett (Toronto, Ont.) was a triple away from the cycle in Rogers State 14-7, Game 3 win over Northeastern State. Follett also had three hits and two RBIs in a Game 1 win. They swept Northeastern State in their three-game series, as they also won Game 2, 12-4. He had seven hits and reached base 10 times in four games. The Hillcats beat the College of the Ozarks to open the week.

Cowboys win series

Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) hit in the leadoff spot in Game 1 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys season and delivered three hits, two walks, two RBIs and a stolen base in a 10-3 win over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Hewitt went 2-for-4 in a Game 2 loss. The Cowboys took the rubber match and Hewitt worked a walk.

Robertson off to good start

The University of Central Florida Knights swept Siena in a three-game series and Chandler Robertson (Ancaster, Ont.) assisted them in doing it. Robertson had four hits and a walk in the three games. He had two hits in a 5-1 win in Game 2.

Berg starts strong

Danny Berg (Saskatoon, Sask.) went 3-for-4 but Polk State was thumped 13-0 by Santa Fe College to open the week. Berg had two hits and walked once in the final two games of the week, a 12-5 win over Palm Beach State College and a 6-5 loss to Eastern Florida State College.

Oulton wins, Strilchuk closes week with a bang

Taran Oulton (St. Albert, Alta.) worked four innings and gave up two runs (one earned) in a 21-7 victory over Central Christian College. Oulton allowed five hits, walked one and struck out three. It was a four hit week for Russell Strilchuk (Calgary, Alta.). In the fourth game of the week, a 7-3 Owls win over Central Christian College, Strilchuk launched a two-run home run.

No. 15 Bryan goes 3-1

Tyler Scott (Calgary, Alta.) had two multi-hit games and six hits on the week as National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 15 Bryan College took 3-of-4. Scott smashed a home run in a 7-6 win over Cumberland University to start his week.

Chaput with five hits

After working a pair of walks in a 18-16 Crowder College win over Seminole State College (Okla.), Samuel Chaput went 3-for-3 with a walk and a RBI in a 12-2 win over Indian Hills. He went 2-for-2 in the third game of the week, a 17-6 win over Indian Hills. Both of Chaput’s hits in that game left the yard and he finished with five RBIs.

Snow allows one earned

Justin Snow (Mount Hope, Ont.) allowed three runs (one earned) over 4 2/3 innings to help Southeastern Community College to a 12-8 win over East Central Community College. He walked one and struck out six.

Wepf beats Vernon

Pratt Community College took Game 3 of their series with Vernon by a 12-7 score behind five innings from Lucas Wepf (Georgetown, Ont). Wepf gave up three hits, an unearned run, walked one and struck out six. The win gave the Beavers a 2-1 series win.

Seginowich with seven hits

Nick Seginowich (Victoria, BC) went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for Angelo State in their 8-7 win over St. Mary’s to open the week. He then had a hit in each game of a three-game series with Lubbock Christian. Seginowich also walked three times. The junior stole a pair of bases in Game 1. His team ended up dropping 2-of-3.

Good start for Gagnon

Two hits and an unearned run was all Oklahoma Christian could muster over six innings against Zach Gagnon (Sainte-Julie, Que.) and Clarendon College. Gagnon struck out five to pick up the win, his first of the season.

With Division I play underway even more Canadians are making a splash. It’s been a good start to the year both on the mound and in the box. Check back next week for more action.

If you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com