Big Man on Campus Week 2
By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

As the days go by more college teams are opening up their 2017 campaigns. With an increase of teams in action comes more standout Canadian performances. Here is who stood out this past week on the college baseball circuit.

Leader leading the way offensively
The Colby Community College Trojans are going to have high expectations for Andy Leader (Kitchener, Ont.) after a stellar opening weekend. He got it rolling with a 3-for-5 day in Colby’s 11-10 loss to New Mexico Military. He also drew a walk for the Trojans in a loss. After a 13-3 loss, Leader outdid his Game 1 performance in Game 3, a 9-7 win, by going 4-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a stolen base. The finishing touches were put on the weekend with a hit in Game 4 of the series. Colby split the four-game set by winning the final two games.

Sizzlin’ Sattz
In three games Ryan Sattz (Pickering, Ont.) was a standout for King University. In their first against Brevard, a 12-2 victory, he would launch a two-run home run and finish the day with three RBIs in total. He would reach base three times via a double and two walks and drive in a run in his teams Game 2, 12-6 win. The third game was more of the same from the Ontario boy as he would go 2-for-3 with a double and another RBI. 

Szpik spearheads the offence
It was a good weekend for Daniel Szpik (Toronto, Ont.) and his Florida Tech Panther teammates. The Panthers took three of four on the road from Mississippi College and Szpik had a lot to do with it. In Game 1, a 6-4 win, he walked and drove in a run. He reached base three different ways in Game 2 with a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch. He also drove in a pair in the 8-3 win. Szpik collected his first multi-hit game in the third contest of the season going 2-for-5 with a RBI as his team thumped the Choctaws 11-2. He rounded out his weekend with a hit as FIT failed to complete the sweep, dropping the finale 9-4.

Stobbe steady for Marauders
It was a good day at the office for Nicholas Stobbe (Saskatoon, Sask.) in his first start of 2017. He would get the call in the season opener and work four scoreless innings, surrendering seven hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk in the 5-1 win. It was the only game the University of Mary would win on their opening weekend.

Pair of Mules lead Central Missouri to series win
The Central Missouri Mules aren’t messing around in 2017. They entered the season as the No. 3 team in the nation and took two two of three from the North Alabama Lions. They would meet on neutral ground at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. and it was the Lions who struck first with an 8-4 victory in Game 1. Justin Graff-Rowe (Waterloo, Ont.) came off the bench with a pinch hit in the opener. Teammate and fellow Canadian Taylor Burns (St. Albert, Alta.) was solid on the bump in Game 2, tossing two innings, allowing a hit and an unearned run with a walk in the 3-2 win. Graff-Rowe got back in on the action in the Game 3 win by going 2-for-5 with a RBI.

Trio of Canadians lead UTPB to 2-0 start
The University of Texas Permian Basin may have only played two games but that was all the time three Canadians needed to make their mark to begin the season. Doug Clapperton (Calgary, Alta.) went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and a RBI in his teams 9-1 Game 1 victory over Southwest NM. Mitchell Hazlett (Riverview, NB) followed that performance with a two-hit, two- walk showing in the second game, also a victory. It was Jordan Zazulak (Port Coquitlam, BC) who would have the best weekend, however. He reached base four times in the opener, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a pair of RBIs. He collected another two hits, a walk and three RBIs in the final game of the weekend for the Falcons.

Schroter stellar for Angelo State
The Angelo State Rams would hand the ball to Kenton Schroter (Nanaimo, BC) in the rubber match of their series with Regis University and he delivered. Schroter threw 4 1/3 inning, scattering three hits, two runs (one earned) with five punch outs and a single walk. The Rams are set to host Southeastern Oklahoma State in their next series.

Canadians enjoying the Texas sun
Four Canadian pitchers helped the Galveston College Whitecaps to a four game sweep of Seward County Saints in NJCAA action. Jesse Lee (Mississauga, Ont.) worked three scoreless in the 21-1 thumping that was Game 1. He allowed three hits and had two strikeouts. Next, Galveston handed the ball to Kyle Ross (Lanngley, BC) and he pitched his way to his second win of the young campaign. He worked 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits, two runs (none earned) with three strikeouts. Cooper Misic (Surrey, BC) and Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) both appeared in relief in Galveston’s 6-5 Game 3 win. Misic pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, striking out one and walking one. Storrie earned his second save in as many attempts, throwing a clean seventh with two strikeouts.

McAffer handed no-decision
In his second start of the young season Will McAffer (North Vancouver, BC) would be dealt a no-decision for Central Arizona. He worked into the fifth inning by throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs with five strikeouts and two base on balls.

Ejoh on seven times
Cochise College must be happy with Canice Ejoh’s (Brampton, Ont.) play in a four game set against the College of Southern Nevada. He collected three hits and four walks as Cochise took three of four. He is inn his sophomore season with the Apaches.

Farrell evens record
Blaine Farrell (Marysville, Ont.) would get his record back to .500 (1-1) by picking up the win in relief in Mars Hill’s 6-5 win over Limestone. He tossed a scoreless inning, giving up a hit with two strikeouts.

Osborne named All-South region second team
J.D. Osborne (Whitby, Ont.) had himself a nice opening weekend for the No. 2 ranked Tampa Spartans. He collect three hits and three RBIs over three games in a series sweep of Bentley. Osborne and Szpik are set for a Sunshine State Conference showdown March 31st and April 1st when the Spartans head to Melbourne, Fla to take on the Panthers. Osborne was also named to the Preseason All-South region second team. He lead the powerhouse Spartans with 13 home runs a year ago.

Glaude is good for Missouri Western State
Missouri Western State only won once in four tries this past week but it wasn’t because of a lack of performing from a Canadian. David Glaude (Quebec City, Que.) came to play in his teams opening games of the season. In a Game 1, 5-4 loss to the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas, Glaude went 2-for-5. He got on via a walk in a 15-5 loss to Oklahoma Christian, MWSU gave up nine runs in the second inning to seal their fate early. Glaude stroked a double and worked a walk in a 5-2 Game 3 loss to Lubbock Christian. The Griffons finally got in the win column in their final game, earning a 14-4 win over Newman. Glaude fuelled the offence with a 2-for-3 game with three RBIs. Glaude and the squad will hope for better luck when they travel to Russellville, AR to take on the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys this weekend.

Nakamura with another big weekend
Quintin Nakamura (West Vancouver, BC) makes an appearance in the BMOC for the second straight week. He pounded out three hits in a 6-5, 12 inning victory over LA Harbour. The second game between the two clubs would be even tighter, ending in a 1-1 tie. Nakamura walked twice in that game. He chipped in with a hit in his teams final game of the weekend, a 14-1 loss to San Joaquin Delta.

Nistor appears twice, picks up win
Three scoreless innings stretched over two games and a win was the result Chase Nistor (Regina, Sask.) got for his work for Taft College, not bad. In Game 1 versus LA Harbor he picked up the win by throwing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit with a strikeout and two walks. He followed it up in Game 3 with a clean inning of work in the blowout loss to San Joaquin Delta.

Wilson with a four hit game
Extra innings did not bother Dayton Wilson (Ladner, BC) as he stroked four hits and stole a base in Taft College’s 6-5, 12-inning win. He also had a hit in the finale to finish with five hits in three games.

Follett with a pair of hits, three walks
Nick Follett (Etobicoke, Ont.) had a hit and a walk in each of the first two games for the College of the Desert. The hit in the first game was stroked for a double against Irvine Valley. College of the Desert would beat Irvine Valley 7-6, drop a contest to Cypress 5-1 in Game 2 and fall 9-5 to Fullerton in their last game on the weekend. Follett drew a walk in that game against Fullerton. He had his best performance in a midweek game against Barstow where he went 2-for-4 with a walk and a RBI. He is hitting .263 so far in 2017.

Check out the BMOC as the college season progresses and more teams begin play in the 2017 season. Canadians continue to put up big performances week in and week out for their respective teams. As more teams that begin to play, the more chances for Canadians to make an impact.

If you know someone who is deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column, please contact Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com