BMOC Week XIX: Arnold, Coutney, Duffy, Nicoll, O’Halloran, Ward

Ontario Blue Jays alum Taylor Lepard (Toronto, Ont.) started and tossed seven strong innings to earn the win for the University of Southern New Hampshire Penmen in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their Super Regional with Malloy. Photo: SNHU Athletics

June 1, 2022

BMOC Week 19

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The wild, unpredictable world of college baseball continued last week. And with it, Canadians were front and centre making an impact for their schools. Get caught up on all the latest below.

Lepard wins, Penmen punch ticket to World Series

Taylor Lepard (Toronto, Ont.) took the mound for the University of Southern New Hampshire Penmen in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their Super Regional with Malloy. Lepard lasted seven innings and surrendered three runs (two earned) on five hits in a 7-3 win. He walked three and struck out three to improve to 5-0. The Penmen will take on Angelo State in Game 1 of the Division II College World Series.

Liddell, Nicoll headed to Cary

Brandon Nicoll (Coombs, BC) accumulated four hits, a walk, five RBIs and a stolen base as the Southern Arkansas Muleriders swept their best-of-three Super Regional from Augustana. One of the hits was a two-run home run in an 8-7 Game 1 win. Both Nicoll and right-hander Jack Liddell (Mississauga, Ont.) are headed to the Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C. The Muleriders will see Rollins College in Game 1.

O’Halloran helps Wolverines to Big Ten title

In Game 1 of the Big Ten Tournament, the Michigan Wolverines turned the ball over to lefty Connor O’Halloran (Mississauga, Ont.). The southpaw held Illinois to three runs on six hits over five innings in a 7-5 Wolverines’ win. He issued a walk and struck out three. Back on the mound against Iowa later in the tournament, he picked up the win by going four innings and allowing an unearned run on three hits, with three walks and two punch outs. His team would go on to beat Rutgers the next game to claim the conference championship.

Arnold a catalyst in Camels championship win

Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) went 3-for-4 with a double as the Campbell University Camels beat Charleston Southern in the Big South Conference Tournament championship game.

Ontario Terriers and Junior National Team alum Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) was part of the Oklahoma Sooners pitching staff this season. Photo: Oklahoma Athletics

Abram, Sooners win the Big 12

The Big 12 Conference belongs to the Oklahoma Sooners. They beat Texas in the championship game. Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) is a member of the Sooner bullpen.

Hawkins guides Bears to conference championship

Ontario Blue Jays alum and current Missouri State Bears assistant coach Joey Hawkins (Whitby, Ont.) helped his team to the Missouri Valley Conference championships. Hawkins also played for the Bears from 2012 to 2015.

Karall and Malenfant members of OVC champs

Joseph Karall (St. Albert, Alta.), Hayden Malenfant (Whitby, Ont.) and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks are the Ohio Valley Conference champions. Malenfant tossed a scoreless inning of relief in a 14-6 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Laukkanen and New Mexico State win the WAC

New Mexico State and righty Josh Laukkanen (Nanaimo, BC) claimed the Western Athletic Conference championship with a 7-1 victory over Abilene Christian.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Lucas Johnson (Hamilton, Ont.) is a member of the Horizon League champion Wright State Raiders. Photo: Wright State Athletics

Raiders in back-to-back championships

For the second year in a row, the Wright State Raiders are the Horizon League champions. And for the second year in a row, they have a Canadian on their roster. In 2021 it was Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.), this year it’s freshman Lucas Johnson (Hamilton, Ont.).

Duffy the Most Outstanding Player

Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) started Game 1 of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament and delivered a complete game, seven-inning shutout in Canisius’ 11-0 win over Niagara. Duffy allowed three hits, walked one and struck out seven. Three games later, he was back on the mound in relief in the final against Rider. He worked 3 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts as the Golden Griffins won the MAAC title. His strong appearances earned him the MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award.

Also, thanks to his overall 8-2 record and 3.67 ERA, Duffy was named to the All-MAAC First Team.

Coutney named to All-Tournament Team

Infielder Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) was yet again a force for the Old Dominion Monarchs during the Conference USA Tournament. Coutney pounded out 11 hits, walked twice and drove in five as his team finished 3-2. He swatted a solo home run and went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in an 18-7 Game 1 win over Middle Tennessee. The Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist also hit a solo shot in an 8-7 loss to Louisiana Tech. The Monarchs were not selected to a regional, meaning Coutney’s season and college career comes to an end. He finishes 2022 with a .376 average, 27 home runs, 70 RBIs and a 1.281 OPS.

Ward with strong conference tournament

Another Canadian named to his respective All-Tournament team was Niagara catcher Matt Ward (Mississauga, Ont.). The former Ontario Terrier had seven hits, four walks, and nine RBIs. He hit a three-run home run in the Purple Eagles’ 19-14, 10-inning win over Fairfield in Game 4 of the tournament. The backstop finished that game 3-for-4 with two walks and five RBIs.

Ontario Nationals alum David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) had five hits and three walks for Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Photo: Oklahoma State Athletics

Mendham makes Big 12 All-Tournament team

David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.) supplied No. 7 Oklahoma State with five hits, three walks, and a RBI during the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Those numbers earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Krzeminski comes through for Griffs

The Canisius Golden Griffins used seven hits, two walks, eight RBIs, three stolen bases and a hit by pitch in four games from Gibson Krzeminksi (Tecumseh, Ont.) to power themselves to the MAAC championship. Krzeminski was later named to the All-Tournament Team.

Grant another Griff All-Tournament selection

Max Grant (Fredericton, N.B.) amassed eight hits, six RBIs and was hit by a pitch for Canisius in their championship run. Grant smashed a two-run home run and was 3-for-4 with a hit by pitch in a 12-1 Game 2 win over Marist. He left the yard again, this time for a solo shot, in an 11-9 victory over Rider. Grant, like Krzeminski, was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Consigli named to All-Rookie Team

Peyton Consigli (Fonthill, Ont.) has been named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team after posting a 4-2 record and a 3.15 ERA in 22 appearances so far in 2022 for the Canisius Golden Griffins. Consigli was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week five times, with the latest coming on May 17.

Other Canadians helps Griffins to championship

Seven other Canadians are members of the Canisius Golden Griffins. Right-handed pitcher Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.), right-handed pitcher Lukas Barry (Mississauga, Ont.), outfielder Carlin Dick (Abbotsford, BC), right-handed pitcher Aaron Duffy (Burlington, Ont.), infielder Kyle Kush (Guelph, Ont.), infielder Josh Niles (St. Thomas, Ont.), and left-handed pitcher Chris Pouliot (Boischatel, Que.) all call Buffalo home.

Okotoks Dawgs alum Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) had 10 hits and eight RBIs in three Pac-12 Tournament games for the Oregon State Beavers. Photo: Oregon State Athletics

Logan lands on All-Tournament Team

Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) contributed 10 hits, two walks and eight RBIs in three Pac-12 Tournament games for the Oregon State Beavers. Logan hit a solo home run in a 13-8 tournament opening win over Washington. His best performance came in a 25-22 loss to UCLA when he went 5-for-7 with five RBIs.

Dykstra an A-10 Tournament selection

Catcher Connor Dykstra (Chilliwack, BC) went 5-for-10 with an RBI and was hit by two pitches for the George Mason Patriots in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Dykstra was named to the All-Tournament Team after the Patriots went 1-2.

Boucher bashes for Salukis

It was a tough end to the season for Pier-Olivier Boucher (Saint-Joseph-du-Beauce, Que.) and the Southern Illinois Salukis as they fell 13-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game to the Missouri State Bears. However, Boucher did have a strong tournament collecting 10 hits, a walk, six RBIs, two stolen bases and two hit by pitches. He hit a pair of home runs, a solo and three-run shot, in a 9-6 Game 5 win over Missouri State.

Fabian finishes season hitting .359

Matt Fabian (Toronto, Ont.) had eight hits, two walks, five RBIs, a stolen base, and two hit by pitches for Ithaca College. Five of those hits, including a four-hit game, came in a 2-1 Super Regional series loss to Catholic. In the finale, a 16-2 loss, he was 4-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. He also hit a two-run shot in the first game of the week, a 17-2 win over Keystone. On the year, he hit .359 with 11 stolen bases in 44 games played.

Victoria Eagles alum Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) allowed just one run in eight innings in his start for Cal State Fullerton to lead them to a series-clinching win over the University of California Irvine. Photo: Cal State Fullerton Athletics

Chester closes campaign with win

The final game of the season for Cal State Fullerton belonged to Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC). He threw eight innings and yielded one run on six hits as the Titans downed the University of California Irvine in Game 3 of their series. The right-hander struck out eight in the series-clinching win.

McCabe mashes one more time in 2022

David McCabe (Oshawa, Ont.) produced five hits, two walks and two RBIs for the University of Charlotte in three games during the Conference USA Tournament. The 49ers lost the opener 4-0 to Louisiana Tech, beat Middle Tennessee 22-0, before losing to Old Dominion 13-4.

Williams breaks single-season RBI record

Infielder Malik Williams (Toronto, Ont.) is the new single-season RBI record holder at Lipscomb University. The former Ontario Blue Jay drove in 66 in 2022.

***

Describing college baseball as intense this time of year would be an understatement. Teams are relying on their Canadian talent now more than ever as they chase the ultimate prize. Remember to check back here for all the highlights in Week 20 of the BMOC one week from today.

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.