November 4, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Welcome to our 23rd annual Canadian Baseball Network college All-Canadian team ... the best of the best of schools playing the majority of their schedule south of the border.

And for the third straight year we are going to build up towards our final announcement.

Batting lead-off ... the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Third Team.

On deck ... the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Second Team.

In the hole ... the 23rd annual Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Year.

Next up ... the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian First Team and players named to our Honourable Mention list.

And finally our stats package.

Most first-place votes on our Third Team: Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Bauce, Que.) Southern Illinois 7, Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) Alabama 7, Garrett Takamatsu (Burlington, Ont.) Central Oklahoma 7, Declan Buckle (Dieppe, NB) Minot State 6, Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) Lassen 6, Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) Oregon State 6.

Third team by province: Ontario 4, Quebec 3, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan.

Third team by graduating organizations: FieldHouse Pirates 2, Okotoks Dawgs 2, Academy Baseball Canada, Alouettes de Charlesbourg, LaFleche Dragons, London Badgers, Moncton Metro Mudcats, Ontario Blue Jays, Swift Current ‘57s, Victoria Eagles.

And as Jackie Gleason used to say “awaaaay, we go,” ...

2022

Left-hander: Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) Alabama.

Jean was ‘Bama’s Saturday starter for the first five weeks of the season before moving to the bullpen. Despite missing more than a month, he finished with a 5-1 record, a 3.48 ERA and one save in 11 appearances, including six starts. He fanned 20 in 33 2/3 innings. His first career save was the result of three innings in relief against Mississippi State, allowing one unearned run on three hits.

Jean, who played for Academy Baseball Canada and coaches Max Hockhoussen and Robbie Fatal, was a Candian Baseball Network Second Team All-Canadian in 2020 and an Honourable Mention in 2021. He gained a spot on the SEC Spring Academic Honour Roll this spring ... for the second spring in a row.

Right-hander: Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) Lassen Hustlin’ Cougs.

Irvine went 7-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 starts. He struck out 104 in 88 1/3 innings. He registered wins over Hartnell (five innings, one run, seven strikeouts), Yuba (6 2/3 scoreless, six whiffs), Redwoods (six scoreless, three hits, 14 Ks), Redwoods (nine innings scoreless, five hits with 14 whiffs), Siskiyous (six innings, three runs, four strikeouts), Shasta (six scoreless, nine strikeouts) and Fresno City (seven innings, one run, five strikeouts).

He was tied for second with Connor O’Halloran in strikeouts and third in innings pitched among Canadians, behind Matt Duffy and O’Halloran. He was named the Golden Valley Conference Player of the Year. He pitched for the Victoria Eagles and coach Charlie Strandlund before heading south. He was a Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Second Team selection in 2020.

Reliever: Nathan Landry (Victoriaville, Que.) Missouri Tigers.

Landry was 4-2 with one save and a 3.67 ERA in 15 games for Missouri -- making four starts. He struck out 54 and walked seven in 41 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .200 batting average. His wins came against Southern when he struck out 10 in 4 1/3 innings to lead Mizzou to a record-tying 20 strikeouts. At Georgia, he pitched six innings and allowed two runs, while fanning seven. He then picked up a victory against South Carolina when he worked a scoreless ninth and then another when he hurled three scoreless innings, striking out four, against Kansas. He also had a save against Nicholls State (three scoreless, one whiff).

Landry, a 15th round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 2022 MLB draft, pitched for the LaFleche Dragons and coach Alexandre Béland, as well as Aigles de Trois-Rivières for coach Rémi Doucet.

Catcher: Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) Oregon State Beavers.

He batted .281 with 12 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 36 RBIs. His best outings included a 5-for-7 day, setting a career-high for hits and RBIs (five), while doubling twice versus UCLA. In the Pac-12 Tournament opener, he doubled home two and hit a solo home run against Washington. He also doubled home two in the eighth and finished 1-for-4 with a walk against Oregon and drove in three after going 2-for-5 with a run against Long Beach State. He then set a career-best with four RBIs and was 2-for-7 with a triple facing Arizona State and doubled and homered in the sixth inning in the second game of the series at Washington State. In the opener at Washington State, he doubled, homered and had four hits and three RBIs and then finished 2-for-4 and knocked in a run against Xavier. He also tripled to finish with two hits and three runs in the opening game of a series against New Mexico.

He had the second-best OPS of 1.379 -- tied with Cloud County’s Tom Poole -- and behind Cumberland’s Nolan Marchibroda. Logan was an All-Pac-12 First Team rep and made the All-Pac-12 Tournament Team. He played with the Okotoks Dawgs for coach Tyler Hollick, Val Heldobler and Jeff Duda.

Former Okotok Dawg and Tri-County Ranger Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.)

First base: Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.) Bismarck State Mystics.

Crowell swung the heavy lumber for Bismark hitting .458 with 13 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 74 RBIs and an OPS of 1.247. Crowell had games to remember against Dakota State (two hits), Carthage JVs (double, triple), Rainy River (two hits, three RBIs), Fraser Valley (double, homer, four RBIs), Rainy River (two hits, including a triple, RBI), Anoka-Ramsey (3-for-3, triple, RBI) and Minnesota Post Grad (two doubles, three RBIs). He also starred against Miles (two doubles, RBI), Miles (two hits, RBI), Dawson (two hits, including a double, four RBIs), Dawson (two hits), North Dakota State-Science (two doubles, three RBIs), North Dakota State-Science (three hits, with a double, three RBIs), Dakota Bottineau (two hits, two RBIs) and Williston State (two hits, RBI). He also had strong performances against Williston (three hits, including a double, four RBIs), Dakota County Technical (two hits, including a double, two RBIs), Miles (two hits, double, RBI), Dakota Bottineau (three hits, double, homer, four RBIs), Miles (two hits, homer, three RBIs), and Williston (three homers, six RBIs).

Crowell, who was named to Mon-Dak First-Team All-Conference and gained All-American Honourable Mention status, played for the Tri-County Rangers and coach Greg Trueman, before heading west to play for the Okotoks Dawgs coaches Bretton Gouthro and Kurtis Taylor.

Second base: Garrett Takamatsu (Burlington, Ont.) Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

Takamatsu batted .328 with 12 doubles, a triple, 18 homers, 64 RBIs and a 1.126 OPS. Takamatsu played a few different positions around the Broncho infield this season. He spent the most time at second base but also played several games at first and third. He was second on the team with a .328 batting average producing 63 hits in 50 games played – all starts – and led with 64 RBIs. His team-high 18 home runs ranks sixth on Central’s all-time single-season list.

He was third in homers among Canadians, trailing Old Dominion’s Matt Coutney and Cloud County’s Tom Poole. Takamatsu was a Second Team selection by the D2CCA, helping the Bronchos to the MIAA Championship first round. After playing for the coach Mike Steed and the Ontario Blue Jays, Takamatsu earned Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian Third Team honours in 2019 and an Honourable Mention in 2021.

Former London Badger Daniel Lichty (Denfield, Ont.)

Third base: Daniel Lichty (Denfield, Ont.) Huntington Foresters.

Lichty hit .337 in 50 games with 18 doubles, four triples, seven homers and 46 RBIs. He also had a .991 OPS, while stealing 20 bases. He had a team-leading 67 hits. At the Crossroad conference tourney, he singled in a run and stole a base in a win over Bethel. He was then hitless and drove in a run to help his team beat Saint Francis 15-8. He followed that up with a single, a home run and three RBIs in an 11-8 loss to Taylor. He then homered and knocked in a pair, beating Mount Nazerene 6-4. In the final, he was 1-for-4, knocking in a run in a 12-9 loss to Taylor. In the conference tourney, he batted .250 (5-for-20) with eight RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Defensively, Lichty was named to the Gold Glove Team for the second consecutive year. He committed 10 errors at the hot corner for a fielding percentage of .927, with 86 assists.

In his five seasons at Huntington, he batted .354 with 46 doubles, 11 triples, 19 homers, 147 RBIs, while going 70-for-82 stealing bases, with a .991 OPS. Lichty, named the All-Conference third baseman this season, played for the London Badgers and coach Mike Lumley. He earned a Canadian Baseball Network Honourable Mention in 2020.

Shortstop: Declan Buckle (Dieppe, N.B.) Minot State Beavers.

Buckle batted .365 with 11 doubles, a triple, eight homers and 40 RBIs in 45 games with a 1.003 OPS. He had strong games against MSU Denver (two hits), Denver (double, homer, four RBIs), Regis (two hits, including a double, RBI), Regis (three hits, double, RBI), Lindenwood (two hits), Winona State (two hits) and Wayne State (two doubles, homers, two RBIs). He also excelled against Upper Iowa (three hits, two homers, three RBIs), Augustana (three hits, double, homer, three RBIs), Augustana (two hits, RBI), Concordia-St. Paul (homer, three RBIs) and Concordia-St. Paul (two hits, three RBIs). He was also outstanding against Wolves (three hits), Mary (two hits), Mary (double, homer, four RBIs), Minnesota-Duluth (two hits, RBI), Bemidji State (two hits, double, two RBIs), St. Cloud (two hits), Winona State (two hits, double, two RBIs) and Mary (two hits).

Buckle was First Team All-NSIC and was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Central All-Region Second Team. Born in Corner Brook, Nfld., he played for the Moncton Metro Mudcats and coach Patrick Tardif. He was all tournament at 2016 Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre.

Outfield: Caleb Feuerstake (Waterdown, Ont.) McPherson Bulldogs, Chris Tani (Oakville, Ont.) Niagara County Thunderbirds and Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-de-Bauce, Que.) Southern Illinois Salukis.

Feuerstake hit .398 with 10 doubles, six triples, seven homers, and 47 RBIs. He had a 1.084 OPS and swiped 24 bases. His two-hit games included: Benedictine (double), Benedictine, Doane (three hits), Doane (three hits, including a triple), Doane (RBI), Peru State (double, RBI), Peru State, Peru State (triple, homer, four RBIs), Tabor, Kansas Wesleyan, Kansas Wesleyan (homer, four RBIs) and Saint Mary (triple, two RBIs). He also had multi-hit games against Ottawa (three hits), Oklahoma Wesleyan (four hits, homer, four RBIs), Tabor (double, three RBIs), York (RBI), Sterling (two homers, four RBIs), Southwestern, Southwestern (three hits, two RBIs), Southwestern (three hits, RBI), Friends (homer, two RBIs), Friends (double), Tabor (three hits, triple), Middle Georgia State (four hits, two doubles, two RBIs) and St. Thomas (triple, RBI).

He was tied for second with Max Grant of Canisius and Ottawa’s Jonah Weisner in triples by Canucks. Feuerstake played for the Fieldhouse Pirates under coaches Travis Kayler and Perry Scott. He earned a 2019 Canadian Baseball Network Honourable Mention.

Former Fieldhouse Pirates OF Chris Tani (Oakville, Ont.)

Tani batted .372 with nine doubles, three triples, three homers and 51 RBIs. He stole 43 bases to lead all Canucks and had a 1.029 OPS in 55 games. His two-hit games came against: Glen Oaks (double, RBI, stolen base), Minnesota North-Itasca (double, two RBIs), Westchester (homer, four RBIs), Herkimer (four RBIs), Westmoreland (double, three RBIs), Monroe (stolen base), Erie (three RBIs) and Tompkins Cortland (three stolen bases). He also had multi-hit games versus SUNY Broome (double, homer, two stolen bases), Monroe (double, RBI), Onondaga (three hits, two steals), Onondaga (double, homer, stolen base), Jamestown (two RBIs, stolen bases), Jamestown (three steals), Herkimer (two steals), Dallas-Eastfield (three hits) and St. Cloud Tech (two steals).

He led all Canucks in stolen bases. Tani who played for the Fieldhouse Pirates under coaches Travis Kayler and Perry Scott, earned Canadian Baseball Network Honourable Mention honours in 2021.

Boucher batted .325 with 11 doubles, eight homers and 33 RBIs. In 52 games, he had a .959 OPS and was 10-for-11 stealing bases. Starting 46 games, mostly in left field, he had the team’s third-best batting average. Boucher hit .435 in the season’s final six games and .478 in the first six games of the season. Boucher had a season-high four hits against Central Arkansas and he had season-high four RBIs twice (facing Louisiana-Monroe and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville). He also had a season-high four runs scored against Central Arkansas. During the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) tournament, he was 10-for-23 (.435) with six RBIs and two home runs. Both tourney home runs came versus Missouri State.

Boucher gained a spot on the Missouri Valley All-Tournament Team. He was a Canadian Baseball Network Honourable Mention in 2021. He played for the Alouettes de Charlesbourg and coach Josué Peley.

Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Sask). McCook Indians.

Murdoch hit .315 with eight doubles, 16 homers, 44 RBIs and a 1.129 OPS. His two-hit games or better came against Dodge City (two doubles), Northeastern CC (two solo homers), Northeastern (RBI), Trinidad State (homer, three RBIs), Trinidad State (RBI), Southeast (homer, two RBIs), Lamar (homer, two RBIs), Lamar, Garden City (double), Otero (three hits, two homers, four RBIs) and Western Nebraska (homer, two RBIs).

He played for the Swift Current ‘57s under his coach and father Derek Murdoch, as well Team Sask and coach Greg Brons.