By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

Bats and balls have been put away, the tarps have been placed on the mound, the batter’s box and the infield, across the minor league towns.

Except that is for teams in the playoffs.

And three Canuck right-handers impressed this week with Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) and Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) sharing Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week honors for Week XXIII.

Quantrill pitched six scoreless innings for the Chihuahuas in the first playoff start of his pro career on the way to a 2-0 win in Game 3 of the semi-final the triple-A Pacific Coast League playoff. Allen Craig hit a two-run double in the first inning and that was enough for El Paso.

The former Ontario Terrier allowed two hits and one walk, while fanning three before 9,902 fans at Chukchansi Park. Quantrill had an 88-pitch outing (56 strikes) getting seven outs on ground balls.

Romano pitched 5 2/3 inning as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats completed a three-game sweep of the Trenton Thunder

The Ontario Blue Jays grad allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk. He fanned a pair.

After New Hampshire scored three times in the third -- Gunnar Heidt walked and stole second, Jon Berti walked and Harold Ramirez walked to load the bases. After a wild pitch, Cavan Biggio hit a two-run single to right.

Trenton scored its unearned run on a throwing error by Berti.

Corey Copping took over for Romano with a man on second, two out and the Fisher Cats up 3-1. Romano had an 83-pitch outing (54 strikes) getting eight ground balls and five fly ball outs.

And RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) pitched five innings for the win in a 10-1 Fresno Gizzlies victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas in the fifth and deciding game of the Pacific Coast League semi-final.

He allowed one run on three hits and two walks, while fanning five.

Highlights of the Week _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal, QC - Named by Baseball America 2018 Minor League Player of the Year.

3B Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal, QC - Named by MLB.Pipeline as 2018 Minor League Hitter of the Year.

3B Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal, QC - Named to the Double A Eastern League 2018 Postseason All Star Team.

RHP Jordan Romano, Markham, ON - Named to the Double A Eastern League 2018 Postseason All Star Team.

SS Adam Hall, London, ON - Named Player of the Month for August 2018 in the Single A New York- Penn League.

Top Offensive Performances

None ... regular seasons completed

Best Pitching Performances

All in league playoffs

CAL QUANTRILL RHP - AAA EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 6.0 2 - - 1 7 1-0 - 0.50 0.00

On Sept. 7, El Paso trailed Fresno Grizzlies 2-0 in the best of five Pacific Coast League semi final series, so it was interesting that Chihuahuas’ Manager Rod Barajas give the start to a pitcher who had previously appeared in only six games at the Triple A level. His faith was rewarded when Cal Quantrill had an outstanding game in a 2-0 shutout victory over the Grizzlies. He threw six innings, surrendered only two base hits and no runs while striking out seven Fresno batters, to earn the win and prolong the series to a fourth game.

JORDAN ROMANO RHP - AA NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 5.2 3 1 - 1 3 1-0 - 0.77 0.00

On Sept. 7, Game 3 of the Eastern League’s semi final series between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Trenton Thunder was played, with New Hampshire leading 2-0. Jordan Romano got the start for the Cats and as usual this season, he delivered another solid performance. He pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 3-1 victory, gave up three base hits and an unearned run while striking out three Trenton batters to earn the win, and eliminate the Thunder. New Hampshire moves on to play Cleveland Indians affiliate Akron RubberDucks in the Double A Eastern League Championship series.

BROCK DYKXHOORN RHP - AAA FRESNO GRIZZLIES

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 5.0 3 1 1 2 5 1-0 - 1.0 1.80

For the second time in this Pacific Coast League best of five semi final series between El Paso and Fresno, the start in a critical game was given to a Canadian prospect and again, he did not disappoint. On Sept. 9 in the fifth and deciding game, Brock Dykxhoorn started for the Grizzlies and had an excellent outing in a 10-1 win which eliminated the Chihuahuas 3-2. He pitched five innings, gave up three base hits and one earned run while striking out five El Paso batters to earn the win. Fresno moves on to play St. Louis Cardinals affiliate Memphis Redbirds, who are managed by Stubby Clapp, in the Triple A Pacific Coast League final.

Canadian Baseeball Network

Minor League Players of the Week

Week 1 _ OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Memphis (Cards) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) San Antonio (Padres).

Week II _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) New Hampshire (Blue Jays).

Week III _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Gwinett (Braves).

Week IV _ RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) Corpus Christi (Astros).

Week V _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).

Week VI _ RP Phillippe Aumont (Hull, Que.) Toledo (Tigers)

Week VII _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).

Week VIII _ RHP Curtis Taylor (Coquitlam, BC) Montgomery (Rays)

Week IX _ RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) San Antonio (Padres)

Week X _ 3B Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que,) Buise Creek (Astros) and 2B Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Down East (Rangers).

Week XI _ C Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) Hillsboro (Diamondbacks).

Week XII _ LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) Hartford (Rockies).

Week XIII _ OF Ben Pelletier (Varennes, Que.) Williamsport (Philies)

Week XIV _ OF Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) Vancouver (Blue Jays)

Week XV _ INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) Lakeland (Tigers)

Week XVI _ OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Memphis (Cards)

Week XVII _ OF Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) Greensboro (Marlins)

Week XVIII _ RHP RJ Freure (Burlington, Ont.) Tri Cities (Astros)

Week XIX _ 3B Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que,) Corpus Christi (Astros).

Week XX _ INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) Abderdeen (Orioles).

Week XXI _ INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) Abderdeen (Orioles).

Week XXII _ INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Down East (Rangers).

Week XXIII _ RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) El Paso (Padres) and RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) New Hampshire (Jays).