Big Man On Campus: Week 16

By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s the time of the year where hardware is being handed out. In this week’s edition of the BMOC we have some champions and some personal accolades that should make Canadians proud. Let’s get to it, here are the top performances from the past week.

Indian Hills boys pick up honours, win conference title
One was in the box, the other on the bump. Ryan Humeniuk (Stonewall, Man.) was named Iowa Community Colleges Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the week of May 1-7. He hit .484 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Last week pitcher Jared Spearing (Winnipeg, Man.) earned ICCAC Pitcher of the Week for his brilliance on the mound. Spearing worked seven scoreless, giving up four hits and five walks. He also struck out five in picking up the win. He has been so good this season that he was named to the ICCAC All-Region First Team. If that isn’t enough, Spearing and Humeniuk lead Indian Hills to the Region XI championship. They are now set to take on Wabash Valley College in the Northern District championship taking place in Mount Carmel, IL.
 
Rempel helps CMU run the table
Colorado Mesa won all four games they played in during the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to take home the title, the fourth straight for the Mavs. After taking Game 1, 8-3 over Regis, Tanner Rempel (Abbotsford, BC) powered CMU to a 19-0 Game 2 win over CSU-Pueblo as Rempel went 2-for-5 with five RBIs. Game 3 was much closer against Colorado Mines, a 4-3 CMU win. Rempel went 1-for-4 in that one. In the clinching game he went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead his team to a 15-7 win and conference title. For his performance he was named to the Rocky Mountain Conference All-Tournament Team. Colorado Mesa now readies for St. Edwards in Game 1 of their Regional.
 
Jafine just fine for Charleston
After a 10-6 loss to open the Mountain East Conference championship, Adam Jafine (Toronto, Ont.) delivered what the University of Charleston needed in Game 2. He tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Golden Eagles to a 7-0 win over Concord. He scattered just five hits, walked two and struck out nine. Charleston went on to reel off three more wins before falling to Shepherd in the title game. Jafine was also named 2nd Team All-MEC for his work this season.
 
Egert, Fire take Sun crown
Josh Egert (Burlington, Ont.) and the Southeastern Fire won the Sun Conference title last week. Egert is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 2017. The Fire will take on Lyon or LSU Alexandria in their first game the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.

Horvath has it, Wayne State doesn’t in loss
Wayne State University got all they could ask for out of Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) in their opening game of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. He went 8 2/3 innings and gave up just four hits, allowing two runs -- one earned -- with six strikeouts. It wasn’t enough, however, as two runs was all Grand Valley State needed. Their tournament came to an end the next game with an 11-8 loss to Hillsdale. The 31-19 Warriors now look ahead to the NCAA Midwest Regional and a date with Quincy in Game 1.
 
Sloan helps Griffs punch ticket to postseason
It was a Cyrus Senior’s (Montreal, Que.) two-out ninth-inning walk that lead Canisius College to a 3-2 walk-off win over Manhattan to clinch a spot in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. The reason the Griffs were in that position is in large part because of Zachary Sloan (Brampton, Ont.). The Canisius starter threw six innings of one run baseball to keep his team in it. He allowed three hits, two walks and struck out two while being dealt the no-decision.
 
Cleland doesn’t allow an earned run
Brent Cleland (Toronto, Ont.) clearly wants to finish his time at the University of Buffalo on a good note before the program folds following 2017. The junior tossed 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs (zero earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out one.
 
Gauthier almost goes the distance
David Gauthier (Mt. Sainte Hilaire, Que.) got within an out of a complete game in his start last week for Trinidad State Junior College. He went 8 2/3, giving up five hits and two walks. He gave up a single run and struck out seven.

Bonus points for Marriott makin’ things happen
It was a good week for Erie Community College’s Eric Marriott (Niagara Falls, Ont.). He went 8-for-13 at the dish with three walks as the Kats play in the Sub Regional.
 
Okawa more than okay for Douglas
Grant Okawa (Toronto, Ont.) put on a clinic in the box for Douglas College Royals last week. He went 8-for-16 with three RBIs. He posted a 1.092 OPS on the week.
 
Marcus, Webb earn conference honours
A pair of Canadians picked up All-Conference honours for the Vulcans of California University of Pennsylvania. Redshirt senior David Marcus (Whitby, Ont.) was named All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West first team. The 6’0 210 pound infielder leads the team in average at a .403 mark. He has crushed five home runs, 49 RBIs, walked 33 times and is 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Marcus has started all 44 games he has played in.

Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ont.) was named to the All-PSAC Second Team. The sophomore catcher is fourth on the team in average, hitting .326. He has belted three home runs and 25 RBIs, while playing in 43 games, 42 starts.

Duncan, MacDonald lead Crowder to title
Tyler Duncan (Sooke, BC) went 8-for-17 with a pair of home runs, two walks and eight RBIs as Crowder College took home the Region 16 title.

Kyle MacDonald (Mississauga, Ont.) helped lead Crowder College to a Region XVI championship by going 8-for-17, good for a .471 average. He belted a home run, walked three times and drove in eight as Crowder is now off to the District Tournament.
 
Lahn and Lock Haven go 1-2
It was a disappointing end to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament for Matt Lahn (Georgetown, Ont.) and Lock Haven University as they took their opener but dropped the next two to bow out. They got things off on the right foot by taking down Indiana University Pennsylvania 8-5 behind a 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the seventh inning game from Lahn. He also walked in the win. They weren’t as fortunate in their next game with Seton Hill, as they dropped Game 2, 7-4. Lahn again went 3-for-4 but this time knocked in three with the help of another two-run blast. Lock Haven’s tournament came to an abrupt end in Game 3 as they were drubbed 11-0 by No. 14 West Chester. Lahn walked and was hit by a pitch in what was his tournament finale.
 
Warkentin with another big week
Matt Warkentin (Leamington, Ont.) meant business when he stepped into the box last week. He pounded out nine hits, which accounted for a .600 average for Johnson County Community College. He drove in three and scored three times in his team’s contests.
 
 
Hewitt has nine knocks, Hrynkiw with seven
Another big surprise, Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) had another nine hits, going 9-for-19 for the Connors State Cowboys. In case you were wondering, yes I was being sarcastic, as it should come as no surprise as this former Ontario Blue Jay is tearing the cover off the baseball this season.

Tony Hrynkiw (Brampton, Ont.) is doing a pretty good job keeping up with teammate Hewitt. He went 7-for-14 for the Cowboys of Connors State last week. To go along with his .500 average he drove in three runs and posted a 1.150 OPS.
 
Gladu’s a Bulldog for Louisiana Tech
In-state rival Louisiana Lafayette got the better of Louisiana Tech in their first game of the week, dropping the Bulldogs 3-1. Raphael Gladu (Trois Rivieres, Que.) and Louisiana Tech bounced back to sweep Marshall in a three-game set on the weekend. Gladu went a cool 8-for-16 with three walks. He also drove in eight to help the Bulldogs to a 3-1 week.
 
Kirwer key to Purple Eagles offence
The Niagara Purple Eagles won an absolute slugfest to open their week, a 22-15 final against the University of Buffalo. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) went 4-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs in the win. He showed off his wheels by stealing three bases against the Bulls. The offensive explosion must have been too much as they two teams were postponed the next night. It was Siena who provided the opposition on the weekend for the final home series of the year for the Purple Eagles. It got off to a good start as NU pulled out a 7-4 win in Game 1. Kirwer chipped in with a hit and another stolen bag. Unfortunately for Niagara, Siena took Games 2, 3 and the series on Senior Day. Kirwer went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in the 12-3, Game 2 loss. Niagara carried a 3-2 lead into the 9th in Game 3 but Siena countered with three runs in the top of the inning to take it 5-3. Kirwer walked in the finale. Niagara will meet Buffalo in another midweek contest before heading to Canisius to wrap up their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play and regular season. They currently sit with a 23-21 record (11-10 MAAC).
 
Grippo hits .412
It’s a pretty good week for a hitter when they hit in the .400’s. Ryan Grippo (Toronto, Ont.) did just that for DePauw University Tigers. He went 7-for-17 with a home run and four RBIs.

Bumstead leads Matadors
Nolan Bumstead (Calgary, Alta.) sparked the Cal State Northridge Matador offence with a 9-for-15 showing. It was good enough for a .600 average and a 1.446 OPS.
 
Carr crushes it as Goshen wraps up season
The Goshen College Maple Leafs saw their Crossroads League Tournament come to an end last week after going 2-2. They opened the tournament with a 10-9, 10-inning win against Taylor University. Their next game they dumped Marian 14-4, Preston Carr (St. Thomas, Ont.) combined for nine hits in the two games. In Game 3, a 21-1 loss to Huntington, Carr had a hit and a walk. A game later Marian got the ultimate revenge by ending Goshen’s season with a 5-2 win. Carr went 3-for-5 with a RBI in the season ending loss. He was named both Springer Design Maple Leaf and Crossroads Player of the Week, to add to his honourable mention All-Crossroads League pick. Carr hit .340 on the year with six home runs, 42 RBIs, a .418 OBP and a .519 SLG. He started all 56 games he played for the Leafs who finished with a 26-31-1 record.

 
Pompey propels Kentucky to four wins
It started with a mid-week win over Indiana and ended with a three-game sweep of Tennessee for Tristan Pompey (Brampton, Ont.) and the University of Kentucky Wildcats. In the 5-2 win over the Hoosiers, Pompey went 3-for-4. To open the final home Southeastern Conference regular season series against Tennessee, Pompey walked in a 15-5 UK win. Game 2, an 8-3 Wildcat win, saw him go 1-for-4 with a walk. Kentucky completed the sweep with a 7-2 win in Game 3 where Pompey went 3-for-4 with his eighth home run of the season and a walk. Kentucky takes on in-state foe Northern Kentucky before finishing the regular season with a big three-game set in Gainesville, Fla. against the University of Florida Gators.
 
Minot State goes 1-2 in conference tournament
It started and ended with a loss for Minot State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament. In Game 1, a 5-2 loss to Wayne State, Wyatt Schlosser (Saskatoon, Sask.) went 2-for-4. In Game 2, the only game the Beavers won, he went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Looking to build off their 3-2 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston, the Beavers were set to face Augustana University next. It wouldn’t go their way as the opposition handed them an 8-3 defeat. Schlosser had a hit, a walk and a RBI in the loss.
 
Clarke carries Monroe
Damian Clarke (Carlisle, Ont.) put Monroe Community College on his back this past week. He tossed eight scoreless innings, surrendering only five hits and striking out eight.

Godbout puts up big numbers
Benjamin Godbout (Montreal, Que.) used the most of his playing time for Jefferson Community College. He smashed a pair of home runs and drove in nine for a 3.066 OPS.

Gapp picks up school, conference honours
It was just a matter of time. The season Noah Gapp (St. Albert, Alta.) had was nothing short of spectacular. He went 10-4 with a 1.98 ERA for the University of the Cumberlands Patriots. He struck out 113 in 104 1/3 innings. The senior was the horse of the staff all year long and for that he was named University of the Cumberlands Male Athlete of the Year. He was also named Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Year. The University of the Cumberlands are off the the NAIA National Opening Round where they will play in the Montgomery Bracket and take on Truett McConnell College in Game 1.

 
The intensity continues to build as teams look to stay alive. Canadians are being depended on to either help their teams into the postseason or help them go deep this time of the year. Don’t be left out, keep in the know by checking out the weekly BMOC.

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