Big Men On Campus Week 15
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network

There are plenty of highlights in Week 15 of the BMOC. Canadians are making an impact as their teams both push for the postseason and play in it. Below is a list of who did big things in the world of college baseball.

UBC loses in final, collects individual honours
The University of British Columbia’s season came to an end on home soil last week with a 2-1 loss to the College of Idaho in the NAIA West Grouping Championship final.
In their opening game of the championships it was also the College of Idaho who were a thorn in the side of the T-Birds. Connor Noble (Vancouver, BC) did his best to steal his team a win by tossing eight innings in the 3-0 loss. He surrendered all three runs (one earned) on eight hits with seven strikeouts. The loss dropped Noble’s record to 7-2.
The next game was also about the T-Birds pitching as Tyler Gillies (London, Ont.) helped save the season for the time being. He threw a complete game shutout against Oregon Tech on the way to a 5-0 win. He scattered six hits and a walk while striking out four.
UBC then had a chance at redemption, needing to beat the College of Idaho twice to take the NAIA West Grouping crown. Niall Windeler (Toronto, Ont.) gave up two runs in a complete game, nine inning performance. He allowed just two hits, three walks and struck out nine but it wasn’t enough as the Yotes escaped with a 2-1 win.
On the offensive side, Vinny Martin (Pender Island, BC) went 3-for-4 with a double in the opening games loss. He pounded out two hits with a walk in the only game the T-Birds won. He finished his season with a hit in the championship game loss. 
Many Thunderbirds were recognized in various ways when the season concluded. Noble was named NAIA West Pitcher of the Year for going 7-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts. He was also named to the All-NAIA West First team.

Mitch Robinson (Surrey, BC), who hit .369 in 2017, was also named to the All-NAIA West First team.
Martin finished the year with a .329 average and a sparkling .998 fielding percentage, those numbers earned him All-NAIA First team and NAIA West Gold Glove honours.
Tyler Yorko (Burnaby, BC) was named to the All-NAIA West First team after hitting .271
Freshman Austen Butler (Port Coquitlam, BC) enjoyed his first year of college baseball, hitting .333 and being named to the All-NAIA First team.
Kyle McComb (Surrey, BC) received the NAIA West Gold Glove. He had 127 assists and started 17 double plays in 2017.
Head Coach Chris Pritchett (Merced Calif.) was named NAIA West co-coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a .666 winning percentage.

Gapp helps U of Cumberlands to Mid-South Conference title
The University of the Cumberlands captured the Mid-South Conference championship last week with a 16-7 win over Campbellsville. In their first game of the tournament against Georgetown College, Noah Gapp (St. Albert, Alta.) tossed eight innings, allowing only a single unearned run to help the Patriots to a 7-1 win. He allowed six hits and two walks while striking out an impressive 12.

Rock named to Second Team
Kody Rock (Canora, Sask.) was named a Second Team All-North Star Athletic Conference selection after collecting eight wins in 2017.

Acosta-Tapia named to 1st Team
Big surprise here, Christopher Acosta-Tapia (Deaaville Laval, Que.) was named to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference 1st Team All-Conference. In three games last week during the conference tournament he had six hits with two home runs, seven RBIs and a stolen base. Oklahoma Wesleyan University went 3-0 in those games.

Spearing picks up two wins in one week
Two is better than one, Jared Spearing (Winnipeg, Man.) knows all about that. He picked up his first win of the week and fourth of the season in a 8-1 victory by Indian Hills Community College over Marshalltown. He went a complete game seven innings, allowing a run on four hits with thirteen strikeouts and two walks to improve to 4-4. He didn’t wait long to move his record to 5-4 as he worked six scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over Southwestern later in the week. He scattered three hits and struck out six.

Diewert, Warken, Polk State wrap up season
It was a disappointing finish for the 41-13 Polk State Eagles. They dropped 2-of-3 in the Florida College System Activities Association Tournament, ending their 2017 season. In Game 1, a 5-4 loss to Palm Beach State College, Zach Diewert (Chemainus, BC) went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. The Eagles took the next contest over Eastern Florida State by a 8-4 margin. Diewert had a double, a home run and drove in two. In what was the season finale, Polk State dropped a 5-2 decision to the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Diewert had a hit and a stolen base in that contest. He now heads of the University of Missouri this fall after hitting .291 with a .440 OBP and a .500 SLG for the Eagles in 2017. He also hit seven home runs and drove in 34. 
Cole Warken (Regina, Sask.) went 5-for-12 in the tournament and finished the season hitting an even .300 with a .379 OBP, a .429 SLG, three home runs and 45 RBIs.

Humeniuk hopes for more of the same
It’s hard to complain about the week Indian Hills Community College’s Ryan Humeniuk (Stonewall, Man.) had. The freshman had 15 hits last week with three home runs and a pair of triples as the Braves went 7-1. His best game was arguably in an 11-7 win over Des Moines Area. He went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBIs in all. 

Gladu’s glamorous in series win
Louisiana Tech took their series with Florida International behind a strong showing from Raphael Gladu (Trois Rivieres, Que.). He got things going in Game 1 with a 2-for-3 game with three walks and two RBIs. He legged out a double and a triple in the 14-6 win. In Game 2, a 10-6 win, he went an eye popping 5-for-6 with a double and a RBI. Louisiana Tech dropped their only game of the series in Game 3, a 6-3 decision. Gladu hit a game tying three-run home run but it wasn’t meant to be as the Panthers took the final game on their home turf.

Senior, Rattai lead Midland
It was a good week for a pair of Canadians at Midland College. Eric Senior (Toronto, Ont.) and Nolan Rattai (Medicine Hat, Alta.) powered the Chaparrals offence. After not getting a hit in their 14-3 win over Franklin Phillips, Senior more than made up for it. He went 3-for-6 with three RBIs, a double and a triple in a 16-14 win over Franklin Phillips. Midland then was swept in a four-game set with Odessa but not before Senior had four multi-hit games. In Game 1 he went 2-for-2 with another triple and a RBI. Game 2 saw him go 2-for-3 with a walk and stolen base. He again went 2-for-3 with a walk in Game 3 while also driving in a run. In the final game of the disappointing series for Midland, Senior went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
Now for Rattai. He actually got his week going in Midland’s first game against Franklin Phillips by getting a knock, two walks and a RBI. He had four hits, including a double and two RBIs in the next meeting with Franklin Phillips. After going hitless in the series opener with Odessa, he had a hit and RBI in Game 2. In he went 2-for-4 in both Games 3 and 4, including two RBIs in Game 3 and a double and RBI in Game 4.

Carr crushin’ it into conference tournament
Preston Carr (St. Thomas, Ont.) had 14 hits, including nine in the first two games of Goshen College’s Crossroads League tournament. He went 4-for-5 with a walk and a home run in a 10-9, 10 inning win against Taylor University to open the tournament. In Game 2 of the postseason he went 5-for-5 with three, yes three, home runs. He finished the game with six RBIs in a 14-4 win over Marian. Goshen is now 2-0 and the tournament continues this week. 

Hewitt helps Connors State to 46-10 record
Checking Connors State’s box scores are fun when Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) is playing. He had another eight hits last week and Connors State finished their regular season on a 10-game win streak and with a 46-10 record. His best game came in the regular season finale when he went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs. He finished the regular season hitting .433 with 65 RBIs and 70 runs scores.

Schulz, Minot State ready for Wayne State College
Wayne State College awaits Jordan Schulz (Strasbourg, Sask.) and the Minot State Beavers. Schulz made sure to get his work in during the final week of the regular season. The Beavers took 3-of-4 from Upper Iowa University. In Game 1, a 4-3 loss, Schulz hit a solo home run in the first inning. The Beavers beat up on their opponent in Game 2, 10-0. Schulz went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. Game 3 wasn’t much prettier for the opposition as the Beavers took care of business 10-1. Schulz had another two this and three RBIs in the win. Game 4 was a lot closer, going 12 innings before going the way of Minot State. Schulz reached five times, tow via a hit and three by the way of free passes. He finishes the regular season leading the team in average hitting at a .375 clip. His team is now set for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

Jafine helps Charleston punch ticket
Adam Jafine (Toronto, Ont.) three a complete game, three-hit shutout, to lead the University of Charleston to a 5-0 win over West Virginia State. He struck out six and walked one over the seven innings and improved to 7-4. Charleston is off to the Mountain East Conference Baseball Tournament and has set a school record for wins in a season with 30. They meet Shepherd in the first game of the tournament.

Cappe with a week to remember
What a week for Brady Cappe (Brantford, Ont.). In a 4-2 win over Southwestern Illinois he picked up the win by going 5 2/3 innings, scattering three hits and two unearned runs. He worked around six walks and struck out four. He then picked up the win against Frontier by tossing a complete game, seven innings. He allowed just one hit and another unearned with eight strikeouts and a walk. With the two wins his record improved to 6-5. In 12 starts in 2017 he owns a 3.52 ERA over 71 2/3 innings pitched.

Wark throws multiple innings, multiple times
When the St. Louis University Billikens turned to Jackson Wark (St. Albert, Alta.) they got exactly what they were looking for. In a 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri, Wark worked two innings, allowing two hits and a run. He walked one in the win. He next saw action in Game 1 of their series with Davidson. Wark tossed three hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts in the 6-3 loss. He took the mound again in Game 3, an 8-7 loss, and went 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He scattered three hits with three punch outs.

Shaw shows versatility
Jake Shaw (Grand Bay-Westfield, NB) came on in relief for the University of Indianapolis in their 5-0 loss to Southern Indiana. He tossed five innings of one-hit baseball with three strikeouts and a walk in the loss. The only run he allowed was unearned. He was turned to again, this time to start in Game 2 of the Greyhounds series with Illinois Springfield. He didn’t disappoint as he went another five innings, this time without allowing a run. He gave up four hits and two walks while striking out three. In picking up the win he improved to 5-4.

Campeau comes up again
Dominic Campeau (Orange, Calif.) makes an appearance in the column for a second straight week. He had seven hits for Cal State San Bernadino in a four-game set with the University of California San Diego. He drove in the only run with a solo shot in a 20-1, Game 3 loss. In Game 4, the only game Cal State San Bernardino won, he launched a two-run home run.

Lantigua lashes out
John Lantigua (Quebec City, Que.) used eight hits to power Western Oklahoma State to a 6-0 week. In those eight hits were two home run while he drove in 12 on the week. He used his legs to swipe a pair of bases, as well, to show off his overall game.

Komonosky with eight knocks
North Iowa Area Community College had big week going 5-1. Ben Komonosky (Saskatoon, Sask.) went 2-for-3 with a RBI to open the week in the only game his team lost, 9-2 to Wartburg College JVs. North Iowa Area got their revenge, knocking them off in a rematch by a 8-0 score. Next up was a four-game set with Ellsworth and a series sweep. Komonosky went 2-for-3 in Game 1, 3-for-6 with a RBI in Game 2and a hit and a walk in Games 3 and 4. He also drove in a run in the finale to finish the week with three RBIs

2.08 ERA for Vasquez
Jose Vasquez (Cambridge, Ont.) appeared in three games for Grayson Community College last week and didn’t allow a run. The first was in Game 1 against Hill, a 7-6 win, where he worked an inning and allowed a hit. In Game 2, a 2-1 win, he went 2 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and a walk. After getting Game 3 off he was back at it in the final game of the series. He again worked 2 2/3 innings, this time allowing three hits, while striking out one. In the 2017 regular season he totalled 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA.

W for Bourassa
Two hits was all the Mount Hood could muster in 6 1/3 scoreless innings of work by Lane Community College’s Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.). He struck out nine and walked just one on the way to picking up the victory in the 4-0 final.

Yates leads Islanders to 2-2 week
It was an ugly start for the University of Texas A&M Corpus Christi as they dropped a 13-3 decision to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to kick off their week. As bad as it was, it was good for Dawson Yates (Kelowna, BC) on a personal level. He went 3-for-4 and displayed his speed with a triple and a stolen base. The Islanders dropped Game 1 of their series with McNeese State 6-4 but bounced back to win Game 2, 10-4. In the win Yates again had three hits, this time going 3-for-5 with a three-run shot. Yates’ team took the rubber match 5-4, with help from a 2-for-5 game with a RBI and a stolen base from Yates.

GG brings the storm
Gui Gingras (Levis, Que.) had seven hits and walked twice in four games for St. John’s University Red Storm. In a 16-4 win over Iona to start the week he had a hit and two RBIs. A three-game series with Georgetown was next and Gingras got it going with 2-for-2 performance with two walks in a 7-1 win. After recording a hit in a Game 2, 13-5 loss, he went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI in a 9-8, 11 inning win to secure the series victory.

It was another fun and successful week for a lot of Canadians in college baseball. Next week should prove to be more of the same. Don’t miss it, check back and read up on Week 16 of the BMOC.

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