BMOC Week XIX: Chester, Gollert, Mitchell, Villeneuve, Wood
Left-hander Jackson Soucie (Cambridge, Ont.) made two notable appearances for Wabash Valley in the NJCAA Division I College World Series tournament. Photo: Wabash Valley Athletics
June 6, 2023
BMOC Week 19
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
A pair of NJCAA World Series final appearances in Division I and II along with regional showdowns highlight the week that was in college baseball. Let’s take a look at the top Canadian performances from May 29 to June 4.
Wabash Valley falls in national championship
It was an impressive run by the Wabash Valley Warriors but they fell just short of claiming the NJCAA Division I College World Series title after dropping back-to-back games to No. 1 College of Central Florida.
On the mound, Louis Phillipe Langevin (Quebec City, Que.) and Jackson Soucie (Cambridge, Ont.) both made multiple appearances.
Langevin picked up the win in the first game of the tournament over Salt Lake Community College with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. The right-hander allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five. He was back on the mound in a 14-4 Game 4 victory against Weatherford when he made the start and threw 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. His final appearance came with the national championship on the line, a game the Warriors would lose 13-6. Langevin worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. He walked one and struck out four.
Soucie earned the win in a 16-6 Game 3 victory over Blinn. He also came on in relief in the 13-6 national championship game loss, lasting 4 2/3 innings and surrendering four runs (two earned) on four hits. He walked a pair and struck out eight.
On offence, Mack Mitchell (Toronto, Ont.) stroked seven hits, walked seven times, drove in eight and stole a base. He hit a solo home run in the season ending loss to the College of Central Florida.
Wood with relief in title game
Ayden Wood (Courtice, Ont.) was summoned from the bullpen in the NJCAA Division II national championship game for Southeastern Community College. Wood threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings and yielded two hits in an 8-6 loss to Heartland. He walked one and struck out one in the outing.
ABC and Junior National Team grad Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) had six hits and four RBIs in four games for Weatherford during their NJCAA Division I World Series tournament. Photo: Baseball Quebec
Villeneuve hits three home runs in World Series
Weatherford’s Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Que.) did what he’s done all season during the NJCAA Division I World Series, hit. The Académie de Baseball du Canada grad had six hits, three walks and four RBIs in four games. He hit a home run in a 14-6 win over the College of Central Florida to open his tournament before going deep twice more in a 14-13 loss to the Patriots in Game 4.
Gollert a Second Teamer
Left-hander Harley Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles has been named to the All-Summit League Second Team. The former Ontario Blue Jay is 10-1 with a 4.00 ERA as his team prepares for a Super Regional at Oregon.
Former Victoria Eagles’ righty Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) has been selected an All-Big West Conference Honourable Mention. Photo: Big West/Twitter
Chester recognized by Big West Conference
Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) was selected as an All-Big West Conference Honourable Mention after a stellar season on the mound. Chester finished the season 7-3 with one save, a 4.21 ERA over 57 2/3 innings.
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As the college baseball season continues into June, there’s still a few Canadians on the road to a national championship. Check back next week for the highlights as more teams head toward the finish line.
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.