By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It is this time of the year when we think of Navin R. Johnson.

Navin, who played the starring role in the movie The Jerk once excitedly yelled: “The new phone books are here! The new phone book are here! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity I need. My name in print. That really makes me somebody. Things are going to start happening to me now.”

As he says this, bullets whiz into the oil cans at the gas station.

To paraphrase Navin, played by Steve Martin, “The new college previews are out! The new college previews are out!” Perfect Game Scouting Service, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball have examined the rosters, spoken to coaches in each conference, scouts and have made their predictions for 2021.

A total of 30 Canadians are mentioned in the three areas fans can go to read about college ball, along with 12 prospects, six pre-conference all-stars and one player of the year.

Toronto Mets’ grad Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.) of the Wright State Raiders, was the Perfect Game’s choice to be Player of the Year in the Horizon League. Black hit .348 with seven homers and 39 RBIs as a freshmen in 2019.

Those named among the best of the prospects: RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) of Mississippi State, OF Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) Alabama Crimson Tide, RHP Conor Angel (Lachine, Que.) Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, RHP Jordan Marks (Burlington, Ont.) USC Upstate Spartans, CF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) Cal State Northridge Matadors, CF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) Southern Illinois Salukis, Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) Canisius Golden Griffins, OF-INF Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) Southern Nevada Coyotes, RHP Jack Seward (Port Moody BC) San Jacinto Gators, C Ayden Makarus (Okotoks Alta.) LSU-Eunice Bengals, LHP Graham Brunner (Sherwood Park Alta.) Barton Cougars and C Kayden Beauregard (Abbotsford BC) Cloud County Thunderbirds.

Those earning pre-season all-conference honours were Anthony Quirion (Dixville, Que.) of the Lamar Cardinals in the Southland, 1B Ari Sechopoulos (Windsor, Ont.) of the College of Charleston Cougars in the Colonial, Angel in the Sun Belt, Marks in the Big South, Clarke in the Big West and Black in the Horizon.

Cerantola, Marks, Diodati and Duffy are products of the Great Lake Canadians, while Peters, Makarus and Brunner were with the Okotoks Dawgs. Clarke and Black played for the Toronto Mets, while Angel and Quirion started out with the Academy Baseball Canada.

Sechopolus was with the Windsor Selects, Palmegiani attended the Vauxhall Academy Jets, Seward was with the Coquitlam Reds and Beauregard the Abbotsford Cardinals.

SEC

Perfect Game

Top Prospects

2021

1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

10. Eric Cerantola RHP, Mississippi State

2022

1. Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama

18. Owen Diodati, OF, Alabama

Alabama

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2021 if you are the Crimson Tide as the assortment of talent on the roster leads to some substantial upside. In the rotation is Canadian left-hander Antoine Jean, while Jean (Montreal, Que.), was very impressive in the shortened 2020 season. The trio of TJ Reeves, Sam Praytor, and Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) will provide the runs for the Tide as all three show massive power. Diodati is entering his second year and is a physical lefthanded hitter.

Mississippi State

When the dust settles on the 2021 season, we could be looking back at the Mississippi State rotation as the best in the conference. Lefthander Christian MacLeod is the favorite to go on Friday nights and though he redshirted as a true freshman, he absolutely dazzled during his time in the rotation last year. The next two members are Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) and Will Bednar, two guys with much firmer stuff but also question marks. Cerantola might have the best stuff in the class but will have to prove he can throw enough strikes to start.

_ VINCENT CERVINO

Perfect Game

Sun Belt

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

SP Conor Angel Louisiana 21.2 IP, 26:10 K:BB; upper-90s heat, big stuff

Top Prospects

2021

1. Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama

4. Conor Angel, RHP, Louisiana

Arkansas State

The Red Wolves haven’t won 30 games in a season since 2014, but the roster they return looks to be one of their better rosters in recent memory. Their offense is laden with returning experience and it starts with Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) and Tyler Duncan (Sookie, BC). Hicks is an excellent pure hitter who should set the table in the leadoff spot with surprising power, while Duncan has a lot of power and has double-digit home run potential.

Louisiana

The Ragin’ Cajuns lose two of their top players in Hayden Cantrelle and Brandon Young, but coach Matt Deggs has a lot to like on this roster, specifically the pitching staff. Conor Angel (Lachine, Que.) and Connor Cooke both have Pitcher of the Year upside as Angel works his fastball into the upper-90s and Cooke has full command of his arsenal highlighted by a swing-and-miss power curveball.

Louisiana-Monroe

The Warhawks were off to a terrific start in 2020 as they finished with a 12-5 record which could have portended their most successful season in a decade. Unfortunately the cancellation came, but Louisiana-Monroe returns a good bit of what was an explosive offense early on. Seniors Ryan Humeniuk (Stonewall, Man.) and Danny Desimone are back as Humeniuk was one of the leading hitters in the conference at .406.

_ TYLER RUSSO

Big South

Perfect Game

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

SP Jordan Marks USC Upstate 3-1, 1.75 ERA, 29 Ks/3 BBs in 25.2 IP, + command

Prospects 2021

1. Cam Cowan, RHP, Campbell

4. Jordan Marks, RHP, USC Upstate

USC Upstate

The biggest surprise of the suspended 2020 season was the success of this USC Upstate squad, finishing with a 13-5 record and leading the conference in multiple offensive categories, as well as having a 3.61 team ERA. Pitching depth will be a huge strength for the Spartans this season, and it all starts with their ace Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), who finished 2020 with a 3-1 record and 1.75 ERA in 25 2/3 innings pitched.

_ CADE SCHARES

Perfect Game

Conference USA

Marshall

The Thundering Herd bring back an experienced roster that has seen their fair share of success in conference play. Peter Hutzal (Calgary, Alta.) and Geordan Blanton should play key roles on the dirt, as well as the top of the lineup. Hutzal hit .328-1-6 in the shortened season but does have a double-digit home run campaign during his time at Marshall.

_ JERED GOODWIN

Southland

Perfect Game

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

C Anthony Quirion Lamar .324-3-18; versatile defender with consistent bat

Lamar

The Cards will look for their experience defensively to pick up where it left off last year, as they led the conference in fielding percentage. Senior Anthony Quirion (Dixville, Que.) will be a key piece if the Cards are going to continue to pick it at a high level as he is set to take over more of the full-time catching duties after spending most of his time at third base a year ago. It will also be interesting to see if this transition effects Quirion’s offense as he led the team in RBIs and slugging. Transfer Deric LaMontagne (Saint-Amable, Que.) from Clarendon College is set to take over the full-time duties at third base.

_ COLTON OLINGER

Baseball America

5. Northwestern State (12-4, 2-1)

The Demons played well during the shortened 2020 season, winning a series with Wichita State to begin the campaign and capping things off with a Southland series win over Abilene Christian. With a 2.05 team ERA, pitching was the bread and butter for Northwestern State last season, and while that might be hard to replicate after the departure of ace Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) to the draft and closer Kyle Swanson to medical school, this season’s team will look to be led on the mound as well.

10. Lamar (7-10, 0-3)

Lamar will go into the 2021 season looking to reverse a trend that has had the program finish 11th or lower in the conference standings in back-to-back seasons. Fourth-year junior right fielder Avery George (.338/.390/.352), fifth-year senior catcher Anthony Quirion (Dixville, Que.) (.324/.342/.500), fourth-year sophomore shortstop Kelby Weyler (.302/.328/.381) and third-year sophomore left fielder Reese Durand (.273/.339/.436) make for a nice core in the lineup.

_ JOE HEALY

Perfect Game

Big West

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

OF Denzel Clarke Cal State Northridge .400/.529/.775 slash in 2020

Top Prospects

2021

1. Rodney Boone, LHP, UCSB

3. Denzel Clarke, OF, Cal State Northridge

Cal State Northridge

After a solid 10-5 start to the 2020 campaign, Northridge returns important pieces at every level this spring ... centre fielder Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) paced the team with a .400 average after cementing his spot in the lineup early in 2020. Clarke is a fantastic athlete and a name to watch for the draft this year.

_ BLAKE DOWSON

Colonial

Perfect Game

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

1B Ari Sechopoulos College of Charleston .360-2-20; run producer w/ + barrel skills/power

College of Charleston

Coach Holbook’s squad was off to a good start in 2020 (12-2) before the global pandemic shutdown. This year’s team will bring back a host of proven performers in first baseman/cleanup hitter Ari Sechopolus (Windsor, Ont.) and left fielder Harrison Hawkins,

_ JOHN MCADAMS

Baseball America

2. College of Charleston (12-2)

Charleston returns its entire team from the club that won 12 of 14 games, including an 11-2 win over Clemson. Back to lead the lineup is fifth-year senior first baseman Ari Sechopoulos (Windsor, Ont.) (.360/.475/.680), who has plus power and contributed 10 extra-base hits in 14 games.

_ CHRIS HILBURN-TRENKLE

Perfect Game

Atlantic 10

Saint Louis

With one of their deepest rosters in school history, the staff at Saint Louis is very optimistic about the upside of this team and what they could accomplish after a hot start a year ago. Seniors Kyle Fitzgerald and Jake Garella, are joined by guys like transfer Matt Turino (Toronto, Ont.) from Tennessee, sophomore standout Cam Redding and outfielder George Sutherland, among others, which gives the lineup a good bit of depth.

_ TYLER RUSSO

Perfect Game

Missouri Valley

Top Prospects

2021

1. Dominic Hamel, RHP, Dallas Baptist

5. Tristan Peters, OF, Southern Illinois

Indiana State

The Sycamores will return most of their key pieces from last season after catching fire and winning six of their last seven games. Max Wright (Toronto, Ont.) and Brian Fuentes will return to the lineup as well, providing proven and experienced bats that head coach Mitch Hannahs can count on.

Southern Illinois

The Salukis were tied for the most wins in the conference in 2020 and seemed to have turned a corner after a run of below .500 records prior to the hiring of new head coach Lance Rhodes. Ben Chapman will be an interesting follow, as he is transitioning from being a two-way player at his previous school to becoming a Friday night starter. Gage O’Brien and Braden Babcock (Oshawa, Ont.) are bringing impressive resumes to the starting rotation after accumulating 14.9 and 10.5 K/9 rates, respectively, over the past two years. Centre fielder Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) has garnered draft interest and is projected to make a big impact as well after winning a Gold Glove and hitting .368 during his JUCO career.

_ CADE SCHARES

Metro Atlantic

Perfect Game

Top Prospects

2023

1. Matt Duffy, RHP, Canisius

Canisius

Canisius will look to get out to a hotter start than last year as they have plenty of promise to do so. They will be returning a few big pieces to the puzzle, as well as some new faces. They will lean on right-hander Andrew Fron, who struck out 20 in just 19 1/3 IP just a season ago. The pitching staff will also be adding freshman Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.), who has created quite some buzz in his prep career.

Niagara

The Purple Eagles enter the ’21 season with high hopes as they will be returning some key pieces this spring. They will have a solid one-two punch in the pitching staff with a couple of seasoned starters. Jake Bruning will lead the way as the left-hander tallied up 28 punch outs in 23 IP last season. The second half of the one-two punch will be senior Ben Erwin (Spruce Grove, Alta.), who did not pitch last season but has made big strides on getting back to game shape.

_ DREW WESOLOWSKI

Baseball America

Is Canisius due for a step back?

Cansius has long been the most consistent program in the MAAC, and while things can always change and winds shift over time when it comes to a conference’s pecking order, it doesn’t seem like the Golden Griffins are ready to slow down yet.

They will be joined by regulars from last season in fourth-year sophomore first baseman Mike Steffan (.278/.341/.444), fifth-year junior third baseman Gibson Krzeminski (Windsor, Ont.) (.275/.413/.431), fifth-year senior center fielder Jake Burlingame (.259/.322/.444) and third-year sophomore right fielder Dylan Vincent (.256/.370/.256).

_ JOE HEALY

Big 12

Baseball America

6. Kansas State (10-7)

It hasn’t earned the plaudits of the pitching staff, but the lineup is full of proven contributors. Third-year sophomore second baseman Daniel Carinci (Ajax, Ont.) (.373/.409/.492) and fifth-year senior third baseman Cameron Thompson (.338/.436/.523) were off to hot starts in 2020.

_ JOE HEALY

Big East

Baseball America

3. Liberty (10-7)

Right fielder Jake Wilson (New Lowell, Ont.) (.288/.339/.365), a graduate transfer from Bowling Green State, is similar to Locklear in that he’ll provide value in both facets.

Horizon League

Perfect Game

Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name School Stats/Notes

3B Tyler Black Wright State .348-7-39 in ‘19, big arm, top draft prospect in conf.

Player of the Year: Tyler Black, Wright State.

Wright State

Wright State has been a top-tier program in the Midwest and mainstay at the top of the conference standings for the better part of the last 15 years, and we expect them to continue that trend this year. High-end draft prospect and our pick for Player of the Year, Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.), will lead the Raiders offensively alongside standout shortstop and career .316 hitter Damon Dues. Hitting behind Black will be Gehrig Anglin, a physical right-handed bat that collected seven extra-base hits in 2020.

_ CADE SCHARES

Perfect Game

JUCO

(Top 300 prospects)

27. Damiano Palmegiani OF/IF Southern Nevada Surrey BC Arizona

89. Jack Seward RHP San Jacinto Port Moody BC

144. Ayden Makarus C LSU-Eunice Okotoks Alta.

192. Graham Brunner LHP Barton Sherwood Park Alta.

244. Kayden Beauregard C Cloud County Abbotsford BC

Collegiate Baseball

NAIA

Players to watch

Right-handers

RHP Adam McKillican, Comox, BC, Georgia Gwinnett College (GA)

RHP Garrett Hawkins, Biggar, Sask., University of British Columbia (BC)

First base

INF Ty Penner, Lethbridge, Alta., University of British Columbia (BC)

Shortstops

INF Grant Okawa, Mississauga, Ont., University of Jamestown (ND)

INF Cameron Sanderson, London, Ont., University of British Columbia (BC)