February 20, 2024

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

What a week it was on the college baseball circuit.

The Division I season got underway and Canadians were making an immediate impact.

Plus, players at other levels put together standout performances.

Let’s take a look at some of the best from Feb. 12 to 18.

Caskenette a Player to Watch

Catcher Connor Caskenette (Duncan, BC) was named a Big 10 Conference Player to Watch for Purdue University. He hit .279 with six home runs and a .993 fielding percentage in 44 games in 2023 for the Boilermakers.

Chee-Aloy right at home

Freshman Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) fit right into the University of Illinois lineup over the weekend in his first taste of college baseball. The former Terrier hit a two-run home run to give the Illini the lead for good in a 3-1 victory over Akron to begin the season. He hit another two-run shot in a 5-4, 11-inning loss to Akron in the rematch. Against No. 1 Wake Forest, he had a hit. In the final game of the opening week he hit his third home run, a solo shot, in a 9-1 win over Fordham. When the four games were over, he had collected four hits, walked twice, drove in six and was hit by a pitch.

Cameron locks down three saves

After finishing 2023 with nine saves for Niagara University, Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) was back at it locking down three saves as the Purple Eagles swept a four-game series against Richmond. Cameron worked two innings, allowed two hits and struck out two in a 6-0 Game 1 win in which Niagara pushed across four in the top of the ninth. In Game 2, he tossed a scoreless inning, issuing a walk, in a 6-3 victory. Summoned from the bullpen again in Game 3, he threw a scoreless inning in a 6-4 win.

Irvine delivers win over East Central

Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) earned his first win of the season as the threw six scoreless innings in Arkansas-Monticello’s 11-1 Game 1 win over East Central University. Irvine allowed five hits and punched out eight.

Butt backs Teton to victory

Recent Bellevue University commit Kody Butt (St. John’s, Nfld.) continued to show why the Bruins recruited him. Butt tossed five innings and gave up one run on four hits in Williston State’s 11-1 win over Adams State. He walked one and fanned five.

Pare picks up third win

Matteo Pare (Windsor, Ont.) worked five innings and surrendered an unearned run on five hits and a walk to collect his third win of the season as Pensacola State Community College downed Bryant & Stratton 11-1. Pare struck out four along the way.

UBC improves to 8-3

It was a good week for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds as they took four of five in California.

Ryan Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.), who played for the Delta Blue Jays of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League, pitched them to victory against Hope International. Heppner spun six innings, allowing two runs on three hits in an 8-2 win. He walked two and struck out 10.

Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC) pitched well in the only loss, a 5-4, 11-inning defeat to The Master’s University. The right-hander lasted five innings, gave up four hits, one run, a pair of walks and fanned 11.

Offensively, Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, BC) was a force. Middlemiss pounded out 12 hits, walked twice, drove in 13 and was hit by a pitch in the five games. He went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBIs in a 15-14 win over The Master’s. To close out the week he had had four hits, including a two-run home run, and was hit by a pitch in a 13-3 thumping of Providence Christian College. For his efforts, he was named Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Week.

Last week’s Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week, Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) was no slouch with the bat either. Lenihan stroked 10 hits, walked twice, drove in five, stole a base and was hit by a pitch. In the opener against Hope International, he hit a solo home run. Then, during a 10-8 victory over Providence Christian, he had four hits, which included a two-run home run and a solo shot, a walk and four RBIs.

Nicoll continues to hit

Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) had seven hits, walked once, drove in five and was hit by a pitch as Southern Arkansas went 4-0 on the week, including a three-game sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State to open Great American Conference play. Game 2 of that series saw Nicoll go 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, two doubles and four RBIs in an 11-9 win.

Robertson pitches well again

Mac Robertson (Oshawa, Ont.) threw six scoreless innings for Arizona Western College in a game they would end up losing 9-4 in 12 innings to South Mountain. Robertson scattered three hits, a pair of walks and struck out five. South Mountain scored seven in the 12th.

Gurr goes five for Falcons

Bossier Parish Community College transfer Seth Gurr (Coaldale, Alta.) went five scoreless innings as the University of Montevallo drubbed West Alabama 12-0. Gurr allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two.

Simpson keeps hitting

Connors State’s Blake Simpson (Toronto, Ont.) had another good week, collecting six hits, four walks, five RBIs and a stolen base in four games. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in a 17-0 victory over North Central Texas. The Cowboys are now 10-0.

Napieralski homers

Owen Napieralski (Delta, BC) had five hits and a pair of RBIs for Bryan College as they won their series with Bluefield 2-1. Napieralski went 3-for-6 with a solo home run in a 19-16 Game 2 victory.

McDowell opens senior season strong

Outfielder Micah McDowell (Halifax, N.S.) of Oregon State started his season with a solo home run and finished opening weekend with five hits, two walks, an RBI and a hit by pitch. The home run came in the first inning of a 15-6 win over New Mexico

Wrubleski goes 3-for-5

Jake Wrubleski (Okotoks, Alta.) went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, a home run and five RBIs for Chandler-Gilbert Community College in their 12-10 win over Thompson Rivers. He also had an RBI and two walks in three other games played.

Gurney swats grand slam

Austin Gurney (Campbell River, BC) put together six hits, three walks, nine RBIs and three stolen bases for the University of Pikeville in four games. Gurney had three hits, including a grand slam, two walks, five RBIs and a stolen base in a 17-6 Game 2 victory over Columbia International.

Graham goes into the sixth

Another week meant another stellar start for Faulkner’s Nicholas Graham (Abbotsford, BC). The righty threw 5 2/3 innings and yielded two runs (one earned) on six hits. He struck out eight.

Canuel lasts six

Jacob Canuel (Langley, BC) tossed six innings, conceding two runs on five hits as Taft College beat Gavilan 9-6 in 10 innings. Canuel issued three walks and struck out four.

Hanning helps hand Scottsdale a loss

All three runs Paradise Valley Community College hurler Joseph Hanning (Vancouver, BC) allowed in his start against Scottsdale Community College were unearned as the Pumas picked up an 8-5 win. Hanning gave up two hits, a walk and struck out eight Fighting Artichoke hitters.

Adams named Big East Pitcher of the Week

St. John’s University southpaw Ben Adams (Ottawa, Ont.) didn’t back down from No. 2 Florida. He threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, a walk and striking out two. For his appearance, he was named the Big East Pitcher of the Week.

Six Canucks help Cloud County to victory

Wil Yamka pitched four innings for the win as the Cloud County Thunderbirds edged Marshalltown Tigers. Jack Macintosh (Penticton, BC) picked up the save, allowing two unearned runs. Yamka (Oakville, Ont.) was one of six Canadians in the Cloud County lineup. He allowed three runs in the first, but then put up three zeros, walking one, allowing four hits and striking out seven.

RF Noah Konings (Brampton, Ont.) had three hits with a double, knocking in one run. DH Demitri Shakotko (Fredericton, N.B.) doubled in two runs. C Cam MacLeod (Vancouver, BC) went 2-for-3, including a double and drove in a run. SS Gavin Roy (Sudbury, Ont.) singled, walked twice and drove in a run. Austin Coyle (Kamloops, BC) was hitless playing centre field.

Haney a handful at the top of the lineup

Kalem Haney (Lethbridge, Alta.) has the leadoff hitter duties handled for the University of Mary. Haney had 10 hits, walked twice, drove in seven and stole a base in three games for the Maurauders. He had two four-hit games and four of his 10 hits were triples.

Another week of college baseball is in the books but there’s plenty more highlights on the horizon.

Remember to come back next week to see who stepped up.

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 to Sunday.

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