BMOC Wk 5: Abram, Davis, Or, Quirion, Rhodes, Whitbread
Former Ontario Terrier and Junior National team alum Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) picked up a win in his collegiate debut for Oklahoma. In the his first start, he allowed just one earned run and struck out in five innings.
BMOC Week 5
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s was one of the best weeks yet. Canadians continued to lead their teams into action at the different levels of college baseball. Check out the best from the past week.
Moore masterful for Matadors
The California State University Northridge Matadors rode the left arm of Wesley Moore (Surrey, BC) to victory in Game 2 of their series with Gonzaga. Moore went the distance, tossing nine shutout innings to give the Matadors a 3-0 win. Moore allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out six to pick up his first win of the season. For his performance, Moore was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Coquitlam Reds alum Austen Butler (Port Coquitlan, B.C.) had five hits for the UBC Thunderbirds in the first two games of their weekend series. Photo: UBC Thunderbirds
UBC takes two from Concordia
Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) set the tone in Game 1 of the University of British Columbia’s series with Concordia. Hawkins threw five scoreless innings, surrendering two hits, while walking one and striking out three to pick up the win. Daniel Sereda (Vancouver, BC) worked four scoreless innings of relief to lock down the 3-0 win and earn his first save. Sereda walked three and struck out two. It was Barry Caine (Surrey, BC) who got the nod in Game 2. Caine delivered 4 2/3 innings, giving up just an unearned run. He scattered three hits and punched out three to improve to 2-0. Adam McKillican (Courtenay, BC) went four innings and gave up three runs (one earned) to help UBC to a 10-8 win in Game 3. McKillican scattered two hits and three walks, while striking out five. Noah Or (Vancouver, BC) went 4-for-5 in both Game’s 2 and 3. Or finished a home run away from the cycle in Game 2 and drove in three in the finale. Austen Butler (Port Coquitlam, BC) went 2-for-2 with two walks in the opener, 3-for-5 with a stolen base in Game 2 and walked in the final game of the series to round out a nice week at the dish.
Canadians the big dogs for Huskies
A pair of Canadians have been lights out on the mound for the University of Washington Huskies. Freshman David Rhodes (White Rock, BC) picked up his second win of the season in the Huskies series opening 25-8 win with Northern Colorado. Rhodes gave up four hits and one run over five innings. He walked one and struck out six. Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) threw a complete game in Game 3, an 11-1 drubbing, to secure the series sweep. Over his seven innings Burgmann gave up eights and struck out 11. Rhodes (2-0) has a 1.29 ERA on the season, while Burgmann (1-0) sports a 1.50 ERA.
Rogers State on a roll
The Hillcats of Rogers State have won eight straight and are 11-2 to open 2019 and two Canadians have played a big role. Griffin Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) went 2-for-4 with a RBI in a 10-0 win over East Central University to begin the week. In Game 1 of their series with Colorado Christian he again went 2-for-4 with another RBI. He pounded out two more hits, walked twice and drove in two more in Game 2. Luckily for the opposition Game 3 was cancelled. Nick Follett (Toronto, Ont.) was right on Keller’s heels, stroking two hits in all three games. In the game with East Central he also had five RBIs. In Game 1 with Colorado Christian he legged out a pair of doubles and walked before closing the week with a two run home run and three RBIs.
Ontario Blue Jays alum Jacob Kush (Guelph, Ont.) gave up four hits over four scoreless innings for Northwest Florida State in their 5-0 win over Enterprise State Community College.
Two Canadians earn wins for Raiders
Jacob Kush (Guelph, Ont.) gave up four hits over four scoreless innings for Northwest Florida State in their 5-0 win over Enterprise State Community College. Kush walked two and struck out seven to push his record to 2-1. Conor Angel (Lachine, Que.) would be tasked with the start later in the week against East Mississippi Community College and he too improved his record to 2-1. Angel gave up one run over five innings, allowing just one hit, while walking two and striking out nine.
Abram impresses in college debut
Former Ontario Terrier and Oklahoma Sooner freshman Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) didn’t disappoint in his first start in college baseball. Abram picked up the win in a 4-2 midweek win over Dallas Baptist. In the contest he went five innings and gave up two runs (one earned). He scattered five hits and struck out four.
Yoannou opens season strong
Although DePauw went 0-4 to open the campaign, CJ Yoannou (Toronto, Ont.) got off to a hot start. Yoannou went 2-for-2 in a 5-3 loss to Thomas More. He then had a hit and a walk in an 8-1 loss to Birmingham Southern. Next up was a rematch with Thomas More and Yoannou went 3-for-4 with a double. He went 3-for-5 with a RBI in an 11-6 loss to North Park to finish the week.
Ontario Blue Jays alum Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) had six hits in three games for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Davis leads off for Commodores
The No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores were lead at the top of their lineup by former Ontario Blue Jay Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.). Davis went 2-for-5 in a 5-4 win over Evansville. After Game 1 of their series with Pepperdine was cancelled, he went 2-for-5 with a stolen base in a 6-3 Game 2 win. He closed his week with two hits, one of those hits was a triple, a walk and two RBIs in a 6-2 win.
Smith with the save
Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) threw the final four innings in the University of Hawaii’s 7-1 win over the Hawkeyes of Iowa. He allowed four hits, an unearned run and three walks. The righty struck out five in the win.
Robertson rakes
Chandler Robertson (Ancaster, Ont.) had five hits in three games for the University of Central Florida Knights. Robertson also stole a base and walked as the Knights beat Stetson and then lost 2-of-3 to Auburn. Next up is a matchup with in-state foe the University of Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla.
Langley Blaze alum Gus Wilson (Duncan, BC) was on base seven times in three games for Galveston.
Gus is good, while Potter leads Galveston in Game 3
Galveston’s Gus Wilson (Duncan, BC) had a hit, a walk, a RBI and a stolen base in a 13-5, 10 inning Game 1 win over Laredo. In Game 2, Wilson stroked a double, drove in a run and stole a base in a 10-0 victory. Wilson went on to two hits and worked two walks in a 7-4 Game 3 win. The sweep for Galveston was in the hands of Jacob Potter (Victoria, BC) in Game 3. Potter went six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) to beat Laredo. Potter gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three.
Quirion with a long ball for Lamar
Anthony Quirion (Dixville, Que.) had three hits, including a solo home run for Lamar University in their 10-6 loss to Central Michigan. Quirion finished a triple shy of the cycle. On the week he had seven hits, a walk, was hit by a pitch and drove in four. Quirion hit .398 over two years with Clarendon College before transferring to Lamar.
Marks hurt by unearned runs
Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) gave up four runs over four innings but all of them were unearned. He struck out five but USC Upstate dropped a 6-3 decision to Pittsburgh.
Warkentin mashes for Xavier
Xavier may have lost Game 1 of their series with Samford but Matt Warkentin was a standout. Warketin crushed a pair of home runs, a solo and three-run shot, in the loss. in Game 2, a 7-1 win he had two hits, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored four of the seven runs. He then had two hits and launched a three-run home run in a 10-9 Game 3 loss. The senior has three home runs in six games.
Ontario Blue Jays alum Nathan Arruda (Toronto, Ont.) went the distance, tossing all seven innings for the Tabor Blue Jays in their 3-2 win over Bethany College.
Arruda pitches Blue Jays to win over Bethany
Nathan Arruda (Toronto, Ont.) went the distance, tossing all seven innings for the Tabor Blue Jays in their 3-2 win over Bethany College. Arruda allowed a hit, two runs (one earned) and struck out six.
Brash beaten by Lobos
The Niagara Purple Eagles dropped Game 2 of their series with the University of New Mexico Lobos 5-3 in Albuquerque, N.M. It was Matthew Brash (Kingston, Ont.) on the hill in the game and he lasted four innings and allowed three runs (one earned). The Lobos managed just two hits, walked twice and struck out seven times.
Cox with relief and a start
Tyler Cox (Mississauga, Ont.) tossed a scoreless inning of relief and allowed a hit for Harris-Stowe State in their 13-0 loss to Southeast Missouri State. He then took the ball in Game 3 of their series with Trinity Christian College and threw a complete game in an 11-2 win. Cox gave up seven hits, two runs (one earned), with a pair of walks and strikeouts.
Howie hammers Maryland Eastern Shore
In Eastern Kentucky’s four-game series with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Nick Howie (Oakville, Ont.) had eight hits, four walks, three RBIs and a stolen base. The Colonels swept the series.
Ontario Blue Jays alum Colton Tyler (Erin, Ont.) worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked three and struck out seven.
Tyler picks up win
Colton Tyler (Erin, Ont.) allowed two hits and a run in an inning of work for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in their 6-2 loss to Iowa Western. Tyler then got the start and picked up the win in a 7-0 defeat of North Central Missouri College. He worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked three and struck out seven.
Pilots pounding opposition
Hunter Cunningham and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 25 LSU Shreveport Pilots are off to a 17-2 start. Hunter Cunningham helped that by tossing four innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned) in a 12-6 win over Blue Mountain College. Cunningham walked two and struck out five to pick up the win.
Machibroda a run producing machine
It was another big week for Nolan Machibroda (Saskatoon, Sask.) of Central Florida College. Machibroda had six hits, including two home runs, walked four times, drove in 11 and stole a base in five wins. He finished a triple from the cycle in a 25-1 win over CBCC Catonsville. Machibroda has driven in 27 runs in 18 games and is tied for second in RBIs in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I.
St James A’s alum Ryan Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.) threw a complete game seven innings and gave up just one for Lubbock Christian as they downed Metropolitan State University Denver 4-1
Johnson’s gem leads Chaparrals
Lefty Ryan Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.) threw a complete game seven innings and gave up just one for Lubbock Christian as they downed Metropolitan State University Denver 4-1. Johnson gave up four hits, a walk and struck out seven to improve to 3-0.
Scoreless Skirrow
Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) tossed eight scoreless innings as his Liberty Flames thumped Delaware 11-0 in Game 3 of their series. Skirrow gave up six hits and punched out 11 as the Flames earned the sweep.
Canadians win Games 1 and 2 for Colby
Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) got things started for Colby College in their series with New Mexico Military Institute by going all seven innings, allowing an unearned run in a 9-1 Game 1 win. The opposition managed just three hits and walked twice. Hofmann struck out 14 of the 21 outs he recorded. Nathan Stark (Medicine Hat, Alta.) followed that up with four scoreless to help the Trojans to a 9-0 Game 2 win. Two hits and three walks were all they could muster off Stark. He also sat down seven on strikes.
Forgrave with two multi-hit games, six total
In a 9-6 Point Park win over Judson, Jake Forgave (Toronto, Ont.) finished a triple short of the cycle. Forgave had three hits, one of which was a home run and drove in six. At the end of the week he had six hits, three walks and eight RBIs.
Regina Red Sox alum Luke Lubinicki (Regina, Sask.) had seven hits, walked six times, was hit by a pitch, drove in seven and stole two bases for the University of Pikeville.
Lubinicki leads Pikeville offence
Luke Lubinicki (Regina, Sask.) was all over the boxscore for the University of Pikeville last week. Lubinicki had seven hits, walked six times, was hit by a pitch, drove in seven and stole two bases. He kickstarted his week with two hits, one of which was a two-run home run in a 12-11 loss to Midway University.
Wepf appears again
Over the first five weeks of the BMOC Pratt Community College hurler Lucas Wepf (Georgetown, Ont.) has become a regular. He was back at it last week picking up his second win by working four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and walking two. He struck out four in the 12-2 win over Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa.
Four hits for Three Rivers
Reece Reading (Listowel, Ont.) went 4-for-10 in a 2-1 week for Three Rivers. Reading also walked twice, drove in two and stole a base.
Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, Ont.) pitched eight scoreless innings for the Indiana State Sycamores to lead them to a 10-0 win over Iona.
Whitbread with a win for Sycamores
Eight scoreless innings from Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, Ont.) was more than enough as the Indiana State Sycamores downed Iona 10-0. Whitbread allowed a hit, a walk and struck out one. The Sycamores went 3-0 on the week and ran their overall record to 6-0.
Diewert solid but Florida Southern Mocs stumble
Zach Diewert (Chemainus, BC) had a pair of hits and a RBI in No. 13 Florida Southern’s 6-4 win over Merrimack. Next up was a three-game set with Barry. In Game 1 Diewert had a hit and two RBIs but the Mocs dropped the opener 8-5. Diewert went 2-for-3 with a walk but it came in an 8-0 Game 2 loss. Despite a two-run home run from Diewert in Game 3, Florida Southern lost Game 3, 11-2 and were swept.
Reilly kickstarts Keiser
Hitting a home run is a pretty good way to start the week. That’s exactly what Drew Reilly (Cambridge, Ont.) did for NAIA No. 24 Keiser, but his team fell 9-7 in 11 innings to Warner University. A three-game set with No. 6 St. Thomas was next. In Game 1, a 9-8 loss, Reilly went 3-for-4 and finished a home run short of the cycle. He also drove in three in the game. Game 2 went the way of St. Thomas by a 5-0 score. Reilly had a hit and a walk in that game. Keiser salvaged a game by taking Game 3, 15-6. It was a two-hit game from Reilly that helped power the offence. Reilly hit a two-run home run and walked in the win.
Skuija goes six against San Francisco
Ethan Skuija (Victoria, BC) worked six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) against San Francisco for California State Bakersfield. Skuija surrendered three hits, three walks and struck out eight in a 3-2 loss.
Desjardins helps deliver for Bellevue
Bellevue University got 4 1/3 innings from Brandon Desjardins (Calgary, Alta.) and took down Northwestern by an 8-3 score. Desjardins scattered four hits and allowed three unearned runs. He walked five and struck out three.
The list of players that are making appearances in the weekly BMOC continues to grow. That means Canadians are continuing their strong play in the college baseball ranks. Check back to see what next week will bring.
If you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com