BMOC Week III: Achen, Boies, Cerkownyk, Di Clemente, Lenihan, Reading, Villenueve

North Shore Twins alum Dion Wintjes (Vancouver, B.C.) had three multiple hit games for Marian University. Photo: Marian University

February 15, 2023

BMOC Week 3

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

It’s only Week 3 of the college baseball season and we’re already seeing repeat appearances in the BMOC as Canadians continue to power their teams with strong performances. Let’s take a trip around college baseball to see who stood out.

Wintjes named Crossroads League Player of the Week

The offence supplied by Dion Wintjes (Vancouver, BC) propelled Marian University to a three-game sweep of Tougaloo. Wintjes swatted a two-run home run and closed Game 1 going 2-for-4 in a 5-1 win. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs in a 17-4 Game 2 win. In the finale of the series, a 7-2 victory, he collected two hits, worked a walk and drove in three. For his work, he was named the Crossroads League Player of the Week.

UBC sweeps the week

After dropping two-of-three on opening weekend, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds took all four of their contests this past week to improve to 6-2 early in the season.

It was the British Columbia born players sparking the stellar play for the Thunderbirds.

Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) threw five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in an 8-6 win over Arizona Christian. Beitel issued three walks and struck out five.

Offensively, it was Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC), Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, BC) and Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, BC) doing damage.

White Rock Tritons alum Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) had eight hits and five RBIs in four games for the UBC Thunderbirds. Photo: UBC Athletics

Lenihan pounded out eight hits, walked once, drove in five, stole two bases and was hit by a pair of pitches. In a 16-12 win over Park University Gilbert to close out the week, he went 5-for-6 with a two-run home run to open the scoring, four RBIs and a stolen base.

Marsh totaled six hits, three walks, seven RBIs and was hit by a pair of pitches. He also swatted a solo home run in the victory over Arizona Christian.

Middlemiss was 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs in a 12-5 win over Park University Gilbert and 3-for-6 with three RBIs in the 16-12 win over the Buccaneers. Like his Canadian teammates, he also left the yard with a three-run shot in the finale.

Boies bashed six hits

Emile Boies (Levis, Que.) continues to impress for Fort Hays State. In their four-game series with New Mexico Highlands, which the Tigers won 3-1, Boies put together six hits, worked two walks, drove in five and was hit by a pitch. His big blast was a solo shot in a 16-2 Game 2 win. He finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs.

Almond, Cerkownyk starts season well

Both Tanner Almond (Thornbury, Ont.) and Brady Cerkownyk (Toronto, Ont.) began the season with four-game hitting streaks as the Connors State Cowboys began the campaign 4-0.

Almond amassed six hits, a walk and five RBIs.

Cerkownyk, meanwhile, had seven hits, a walk, nine RBIs and a stolen base. He swatted a home run in a 3-2 win over Murray State.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Reece Reading (Listowel, Ont.) homered in three different games for the University of Arkansas at Monticello this past week. Photo: UAM Athletics

Reading rips opposing pitchers

If you like offence, the University of Arkansas at Monticello versus St. Cloud State series was for you. The two teams combined to put up 117 runs in four games. Canadian Reece Reading (Listowel, Ont.) was right in the thick of it. During a 24-23 slugfest Game 1 win, Reading went 4-or-5 with a two-run home run, a walk and five RBIs. St. Cloud State won Game 2 by a 25-15 score but Reading was 2-for-6 with another two-run home run and four RBIs. In Game 3, a 5-4 win, he hit, you guessed it, a two-run shot and was hit by a pitch. The Boll Weevils dropped Game 4, 19-2 and settled for a split.

Taylor earns win over No. 17 West Texas A&M

It was Colton Taylor (Amherstburg, Ont.) and Texas A&M Kingsville who came out on top in Game 2 of the battle of Texas with West Texas A&M. Taylor spun five innings and surrendered three runs (one earned) on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in a 9-3 victory.

Trondson takes care of business

Matthias Trondson (Toronto, Ont.) turned in five innings and gave up two runs as Northeastern Oklahoma A&M downed Metropolitan 5-4. Trondson allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six to pick up the win.

Bachiu with four-hit game

Jonah Bachiu (Regina, Sask.) was all over the boxscore in Cabrillo College’s 9-7 win over Solano. Bachiu finished 4-for-5 with a RBI and two stolen bases.

Fieldhouse Pirates alum Kenny Di Clemente (Oakville, Ont.) homered twice for Keiser this past week. Photo: Twitter

No. 25 Keiser kickstarted by Di Clemente

Kenny Di Clemente (Oakville, Ont.) hit a pair of home runs and finished with five hits in all as NAIA No. 25 Keiser took three of four from Columbia International. Di Clemente also walked four times, drove in six and stole a base. His two-run home run in Game 2 put the Seahawks ahead for good en route to a 9-3 win.

Nicoll provides offence for Southern Arkansas

Opposing pitchers had their hands full with Southern Arkansas’ Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) last week. Over the course of four games, Nicoll had six hits, five RBIs, two stolen bases and was hit by a pitch. He hit a solo shot in the Muleriders 4-2 loss to Rogers State.

Atamanchuk goes five in no-decision

Shaun Atamanchuk (Beaumont, Alta.) worked five innings and allowed two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out two for Park University Gilbert in their 12-6, 10-inning loss to Arizona Christian. The Firestorm plated six in the top of the 10th for the win.

Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) threw a complete game for Lindsey Wilson to lead them to an 8-3 win over Olivet Nazarene. Photo: Lindsey Wilson Athletics

Achen fires complete game

The three runs Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) gave up in Lindsey Wilson’s 8-3 win over Olivet Nazarene were all unearned as he tossed a complete game to pick up the victory. Achen scattered three hits, a walk and struck out eight.

Zimmer earns a W

Bethel University put up eight runs in their Game 2 win over Cleary and it was more than Zach Zimmer (Chilliwack, BC) needed as he surrendered a first inning run before throwing four scoreless. He yielded two hits, walked two and struck out two.

Yusypchuk works into the seventh

Andrew Yusypchuk (St. Albert, Alta.) threw 6 2/3 innings and conceded four runs (one earned) on six hits as Chandler-Gilbert downed Phoenix 5-4. The Alberta product walked one and struck out nine.

Saldias solid in loss

An unearned run cost Nico Saldias (Ajax, Ont.) as Saint Xavier dropped a 2-0 decision to Georgetown College. Saldias lasted five innings and allowed four hits, a walk and struck out eight.

Wilkinson wins his second

Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) picked up his second win in as many starts by holding Pima to one run over six innings. The Arizona State commit worked around four hits and a walk in the outing. He struck out nine to bring his season total to 26 over 18 innings.

ABC alum Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.) had six hits - including a home run - and five RBIs in four games for the Oklahoma City University Stars. Photo: Oklahoma City University Athletics

Chenier-Rondeau, Stars square off with pair of ranked opponents

The Oklahoma City University Stars walked away with a 2-2 week after taking on No. 21 Concordia (Neb) and No. 5 Bellevue twice each. The stiff competition didn't faze Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.) as he collected six hits, three walks, five RBIs, two stolen bases and was hit by a pitch. His best performance came in the final game of the week, a 22-12 win over Concordia (Neb), when he went 3-for-6 with a three-run home run and five RBIs.

Villeneuve aids Weatherford to five victories

Robin Villeneueve (Gatineau, Que.) makes his way back into the BMOC thanks to seven hits and seven RBIs. Three of the seven knocks left the yard as he powered Weatherford College to a 5-0 week.

Mahmood mashes in pair of games

He got into two of Northeastern Junior College’s four games last week, but did Amar Mahmood (Edmonton, Alta.) ever make his presence felt. Mahmood went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a stolen base as the Plainsmen downed Dawson 10-9 in Game 2 of their series. In the final game, a 7-3 win, Mahmood had a hit. His team would sweep the four-game set.

Boudreau helps keep Midland in win column

Tyler Boudreau (Middle Sackville, N.S.) got the ball in Game 3 of Midland’s four-game series with Trinidad State and lasted 5 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on two hits, walked two and struck out four to pick up the win. With the four-game sweep of Trinidad State, Midland is now 9-0.

Anderson evens record

Looking for his first win of the season, Curtis Anderson (Sherwood Park, Alta.) turned in six innings of two-run baseball in Pratt Community College’s 5-2 Game 2 win over Fort Scott. Anderson surrendered three hits, walked three and punched out five. With the win he evened his record at 1-1.

Hamilton with two, two-hit games

Brendon Hamilton (Lloydminster, Alta.) had a pair of two-hit games last week as Taft went 1-1. He was 2-for-3 with a stolen base in an 11-4 loss to Cerro Coso before being moved to the leadoff spot against Antelope Valley and going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI.

McCarthy’s sizzling start continues

There may not be a Canadian college player hotter than Ryan McCarthy (Delta, BC) of Butte College. During his team’s four games last week, he had 10 hits, including going 6-for-6 in the first two games. Four of his 10 knocks were home runs, including a two homer game in a 11-4 win over West Valley. The first was a three-run shot, which he followed with a solo shot. Not only did he hit, he walked three times and drove in 12. Butte was 4-0 in their games and moved their record to 8-2 on the season.

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The Division I season starts on Friday, meaning even more Canadians will be taking the field. Make sure to get caught up on all the highlights each week right here in the BMOC.

Do you know of a player deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Email Matt Betts at mattbetts@canadianbaseballnetwork.com. Please note that our week runs Monday-Sunday.

Be sure to follow Matt Betts at @Bettsy41 for extensive Canadian baseball coverage all season long.