April 16, 2024

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network 

A perfect game, broken records and runs batted in highlight this week’s BMOC. 

Let’s take a deeper look at who stood out from April 8 to 14. 

Cookson goes 9 1/3 innings 

Takao Cookson (Regina, Sask.) made me look twice as he threw 9 1/3 innings for Valley City State in Game 4 of their series with Dakota State. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out nine. Somehow it wasn’t enough as the Vikings dropped the game 2-0. 

Canadians make things happen for Marauders 

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, this column very rarely doesn’t feature a University of Mary Marauder. This week has three as the Marauders went 3-2. 

Noah Hull (Scarborough, Ont.) had five hits, walked twice and drove in seven. He bookended his week with a three-run home run followed by a two-run home run. 

Kalem Haney (Lethbridge, Alta.) had two, three-hit games and finished the five games with seven hits, five RBIs and a hit by pitch. He swatted a solo shot in a 12-6 Game 2 win over St. Cloud State. 

Josh Walker (Victoria, BC) amassed seven hits, walked twice, drove in eight and was hit by two pitches. He hit a grand slam in Game 2 against St. Cloud State and a two-run home run in a Game 3 loss. 

Simpson shows off smooth swing 

Blake Simpson (Toronto, Ont.) put up a nine-hit, two-walk, eight-RBI week for Connors State. Simpson twice had three hits and launched a home run in a 16-4 Game 2 win over in-state rival Eastern Oklahoma State. 

Cymbalist strikes again 

Recent University of Nebraska commit and current Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon Colin Cymbalista (Pickering, Ont.) had nine knocks, drove in eight and stole three bases. He went 5-for-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base in a 14-2 Game 2 win over Dodge City. To close the four-game series, he hit two home runs as his team took a 13-8 win. 

Cruickshanks throws complete game 

Cole Cruickshanks (Brantford, Ont.) spun a complete game, seven-inning gem as Western Technical College defeated Rochester Community and Technical College 4-1. Cruickshanks allowed an unearned run on seven hits, walked two and punched out four. It was the only win of the four-game series for Western Tech. 

UBC sweeps College of Idaho  

For the second time this season, the University of British Columbia swept a four-game series from the College of Idaho, running their win streak to 10 games. 

It was the offence that led the charge over the weekend, with six players in particular playing well. 

Jackson Boomer (Vancouver, BC) played in three games and had six hits, a walk and four RBIs. He hit an inside-the-park home run in an 11-3 Game 3 win. 

David Draayers (Abbotsford, BC) put up nine knocks, walked once, drove in seven and was hit by a pitch. 

Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) was all over the box score with 10 hits, a walk, six RBIs and a stolen base. He went 4-for-6 with a double, a triple and two RBI in Game 3. 

Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, BC) had a monster series with 13 hits, a walk, 12 RBIs, a stolen base and a hit by pitch. During the Thunderbirds’ 19-12 Game 2 win, he went 5-for-6 with a grand slam and 11 RBIs. The 11 RBIs tied a Cascade Collegiate Conference single-game record. 

Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC), meanwhile, chipped in 11 hits, six RBIs, three stolen bases and a hit by pitch. He had four hits in games 3 and 4. 

Finally, Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, BC) had four multi-hit games and nine hits in all. He also contributed two walks, six RBIs, a stolen base and a hit by pitch. 

The T-Birds now prepare to host No. 9 Lewis-Clark State in their final regular season series before the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship. 

Simpson shows offensive versatility  

Cleary Simpson (Elnora, Alta.) was a spark plug atop the Northern Kentucky lineup as he had nine hits, a walk, six RBIs and a stolen base in four games. His best game at the plate came in Game 2 of the Norse’s series with Wright State when he went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a three-run home run and four RBIs. 

Favretto stays hot at the plate 

Some guys just know how to get it done. Kansas Wesleyan’s Tyler Favretto (Montreal, Que.) is one of them. Last week, Favretto pounded out 11 hits, walked twice, drove in 11 and was hit by four pitches in six games. The junior backstop homered twice in games 2 and 3 of the Coyotes’ series with Tabor. He hit a solo homer and three-run shot in an 8-5 win in Game 2 before hitting a two-run home run and solo blast en route to a 10-2 victory in Game 4. 

Wrubleski rips opposing pitchers 

Jacob Wrubleski (Okotoks, Alta.) was in the lineup for four of Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s five games and put together 10 hits, three walks, seven RBIs and a stolen base. He had three hits in three separate games and swatted a home run in a 17-6 win over Mesa. 

Wrench wins his third 

Southpaw Brody Wrench (Battleford, Sask.) worked six innings and surrendered four runs (zero earned) on five hits to help Williston State beat Lake Region State 13-4. Wrench walked two and struck out one to improve to 3-1. 

Holyk hammers two homers 

Tim Holyk (Nanaimo, BC) came up with four hits, five RBIs and a hit by pitch for Cumberland University in their three-game series with Bethel University. Holyk hit a pair of solo home runs in an 11-3 victory in Game 3. 

Dykstra does damage for Patriots 

Catcher Connor Dykstra (Chilliwack, BC) of the George Mason Patriots hit a solo home run in a 6-5, 11-inning Game 1 loss to Dayton. Game 2 saw him go 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a hit by pitch but the Patriots dropped the game 17-14. He hit a two-run home run and walked as his team salvaged a win in Game 3. 

Barr tosses complete game 

Kurt Barr (Saint Joachim, Ont.) ensured the bullpen wasn’t needed as he threw a complete game, nine innings as Michigan downed Minnesota 8-1. Barr allowed one run on five hits, walked one and struck out four. 

Alberto with three, three-hit games 

Three Rivers College infielder Manny Alberto (Aurora, Ont.) played in six games, collecting nine hits, five walks, four RBIs and two stolen bases. All of his hits came in three games. 

Waters has four-hit game 

Wylie Waters (Vancouver, BC) went 4-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs for South Mountain as they downed Phoenix 19-7. On the week, he had six hits, a walk and seven RBIs. 

Gurney closes week with solo homers 

Robert Gurney (Campbell River, BC) began his week with a double in Waldorf’s 8-4 loss to Mount Mercy and rounded things out with a 4-for-5 game with two solo home runs in a 16-6 Game 4 win over Dickinson State. He also went 3-for-4 in a Game 1 victory. 

Mercado evens record with long relief 

Nelson Mercado (Brampton, Ont.) came on in relief for Arkansas-Monticello and threw five scoreless innings as the Weevils outlasted Northwestern Oklahoma State 15-13. He allowed two hits, walked two and punched out 11. He’s now 3-3 on the season. 

Robertson aids Allan Hancock on the mound 

Allan Hancock College needed a good start and they received one from Mason Robertson (Orillia, Ont.) in a 3-2 win over Mt. San Jacinto. Robertson worked five innings and yielded two runs on three hits with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts. 

Knight too much for Northern Colorado 

Making his first appearance in the BMOC this season, Logan Knight (London, Ont.) spun seven innings and conceded one run on six hits as North Dakota State beat Northern Colorado 3-2 in Game 2 of their three-game series. Knight walked one and punched out 10. 

Walters hits two homers 

Dawson Walters (Toronto, Ont.) hit two solo home runs and drove in three as McPherson defeated No. 21 Oklahoma Wesleyan 16-6. 

Benton and Schaffer pitch, McWhirter hits as Owls run the table 

The William Woods University Owls were 4-0 last week thanks in part to a trio of Canadians. 

Max Benton (Clyde River, PEI) picked up his sixth win on the season with five innings of work against Harris-Stowe State. Benton allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits as the Owls won Game 1, 14-4. He walked three and struck out three in the start. 

Ty Schaffer (Cardston, Alta.) got the ball in Game 4 and threw six scoreless innings. He yielded three hits, walked one and struck out one in the 17-7 win. 

McWhirter had six hits in the three-game series, including a solo home run in Game 3. To go along with the knocks, he drove in seven and was hit by a pitch. 

Crowell, Zdunich steer Reinhardt offence 

To the surprise of no one, Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, NS) and Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) were stirring the offensive drink for Reinhardt. 

Crowell hit four home runs as part of a five-hit, six-walk, seven-RBI week. He hit three solo shots in a 13-7 Game 2 victory over Bryan. He tacked on a stolen base in the finale. 

Zdunich went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBIs in Game 3. He also walked four times on the week. 

Dominguez leads Coffeyville offensively with base on balls 

Adrian Dominguez (Vaughan, Ont.) collected five hits, 13 walks, nine RBIs and two stolen bases in six games. He hit two home runs, walked four times, drove in six and stole two bases as Coffeyville downed Highland 29-5 in Game 2 of their four-game set. 

Daoust delivers six hits 

Six hits, three walks and four RBIs is what Luka Daoust (Repentigny, Que.) supplied Weatherford College in a four-game series with Grayson. Daoust hit a home run in an 8-3 Game 2 victory. 

Vernon puts power on display 

Brysen Vernon (LaSalle, Ont.) hit five home runs en route to putting together 11 hits, four walks nine RBI and a stolen base for the Southwestern Spartans. He homered twice against Ellsworth and versus Iowa Lakes. 

Cote breaks school records 

It seemed like only a matter of time before Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) etched his name into the Northeastern Junior College record books. With a home run in an 8-7 win over McCook, Cote became the single-season leader with 16 and now holds the Plainsmen record for career homers with 30. He’s also the all-time leader in RBIs. 

Krawchuk pitches perfect game 

Carter Krawchuk (St. Catharines, Ont.) threw a perfect game for Seminole State Community College (Fla.) against Hillsborough. He struck out 13 as the Raiders won the game 8-0. 

Bruins belt their way to 5-0 week 

There was no slowing down No. 13 Bellevue University’s offence this past week as they scored 72 runs on their way to a 5-0 record. 

Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) led the way with 13 hits, four walks and 17 RBIs. Grant swatted six home runs, including three in a 20-7 Game 4 win over Mayville State. During the finale, he went 5-for-6 with a solo home run, two three-run home runs, a double, a triple and nine RBIs. 

Nick Gravel (Halifax, NS) went 4-for-6 with a solo home run and two doubles as the Bruins took Game 3, 24-3. He finished the week with five hits and three RBIs. 

Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) chipped in seven hits, a walk and four RBIs. He hit a solo shot in a 13-2 Game 2 victory. 

That’s a wrap on this past week’s top performers. 

Remember, you can get caught up on all the Canadian college baseball action right here in the BMOC every seven days. 

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.