BMOC Week XV: Gillis, Gomm, Lawson, Lenihan, Leroux, Wouters, Zdunich

Team Manitoba grad Matthew Thompson (Winnipeg, Man.) tossed a two-hit complete game for Williston State in his final start of the regular season. Photo: Williston State Athletics

BMOC Week 15


May 5, 2025


By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network 

It’s May, which means it’s conference tourney time across much of college baseball.  

For those that it’s not quite the postseason, the push continues. 

Let’s take a look at which Canadians stood out from April 28 to May 4. 

Gomm helps Pilots win Red River Athletic Conference 

What a run it’s been for the NAIA No. 1 LSU Shreveport Pilots. After running the table at the Red River Athletic Conference tournament, they now sit with a 51-0 record. Austin Gomm (Georgetown, Ont.) chipped in six hits, three walks, eight RBIs and a stolen base to assist his team in winning the conference championship. He hit a pair of two-run home runs, including in the 11-1 title clinching win over Louisiana Christian. 

Gillespie surpasses 100 strikeouts 

With six strikeouts in his start against Rice on Friday night, University of North Carolina at Charlotte right-hander Blake Gillespie (Lucan, Ont.) now has 105 on the season. The former Ontario National tossed eight innings in the outing and allowed two runs on four hits in a 2-0 loss. 

Thompson picks up win No. 9 

In his final start of the regular season, Williston State’s Matthew Thompson (Winnipeg, Man.) tossed a complete game, seven innings to lead the Teton to a 9-1 victory over Dakota College at Bottineau. Thompson gave up two hits, walked one and struck out five to improve to 9-1. 

Leroux keeps producing offensively for Owls 

Former Toronto Met Brando Leroux (Markham, Ont.) had eight hits, drove in three and was hit by two pitches in four games for Florida Atlantic. He went 3-for-6 with three RBIs in a 16-12 Game 1 win over Tulane. 

Dawgs Academy alum Turner Zdunich (High River, Alta.) starred on the mound and at the plate for Colby Community College. Photo: Colby Athletics


Zdunich pitches and hits for Colby 

Turner Zdunich (High River, Alta.) did a little bit of everything for Colby Community College this past week. At the plate, he collected seven hits and 10 RBIs. In a 13-7 Game 1 win over Butler, he went 4-for-5 with a two-run and three-run home run, finishing with eight RBIs.  

On the mound, he evened his record at 3-3 with 5 1/3 innings of work in a 6-3 Game 2 victory. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four. 

Hall, Gillis contribute for Bossier Parish 

Two Canadians had good weeks for the Bossier Parish Cavaliers. 

Jacob Gillis (Fergus, Ont.) amassed eight hits and six RBIs. He homered twice and went 4-for-5 with one of the homers in a 15-11 Game 1 victory over Angelina. 

Hall, on the other hand, had seven hits, walked once, drove in seven and stole a base. During the Game 1 win, he hit a pair of home runs. 

The Cavs would sweep the three-game series. 

Lawson hits grand slam 

Infielder Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) hit a grand slam and finished with five hits in all as Florida swept a three-game series from South Carolina. He also walked twice and drove in six. 

O’Hearn hits first two college home runs, Barr baffles Buckeyes 

Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.) hit home runs No. 1 and 2 of his college career, both two-run shots, as Michigan swept rival Ohio State. He had four hits, three walks and seven RBIs in the series. 

Run support wasn’t an issue for Michigan’s Kurt Barr (Saint Joachim, Ont.) in his Game 1 start against Ohio State. The Wolverines scored 23 runs and Barr worked five scoreless innings, surrendering three hits and striking out four in a 23-1 win. The game featured a 16-run top of the fourth. 

Pro 5 Academy alum Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.) allowed just one run in six innings in his start for Creighton. Photo: Creighton Athletics


Pineau pitches well in Creighton win 

Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.) tossed six innings and surrendered one run on four hits and a pair of walks to aid Creighton to a 13-1 Game 2 victory over Butler. He struck out eight in the start. 

Babiuk’s bat not enough for Valley City State 

Jaden Babiuk (St. Albert, Alta.) had five hits, including a solo home run, and two RBIs in a pair of North Star Athletic Association tournament games for Valley City State. He went 4-for-5 with the home run and two RBIs during a 9-3 loss to Bellevue. The Vikings then dropped Game 2 to Dakota State to see their season come to an end. 

Barlow belts pair of home runs 

Carson Barlow (Victoria, BC) put up six hits, a walk, seven RBIs and a stolen base for Trinidad State Junior College in a four-game split against Luna. Two of his hits left the yard. 

Chee-Aloy hits pair of homers 

Outfielder Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) chipped in three hits, five walks, four RBIs and was hit by a pitch in four games for Illinois. He hit a three-run home run in a 9-7 Game 1 loss to Rutgers before hitting a solo shot in a Game 2 loss. 

Piccolo puts together strong relief effort 

Anthony Picillo (Burnaby, BC) threw five innings of relief for Southwestern Oregon in a 7-5 Game 3 loss to Umpqua. He allowed an unearned run on two hits and three walks. Three of his outs came by way of the strikeout. 

Going Yard Baseball Academy’s Cory Wouters (Saskatoon, Sask.) had nine hits - including three home runs - and 12 RBIs for McCook Community College this past week. Photo: McCook Athletics

Shavers, Wouters swing it for McCook 

A couple Canadians performed well offensively for McCook Community College. 

Maddox Shaver (Belleville, Ont.) collected nine hits, walked three times and drove in seven. He homered in a loss to Dodge City and did it again during a Game 3 win over Southeast Community College. His best performance came in the finale of the series when he went 4-for-5 with a walk and five RBIs. 

Cory Wouters (Saskatoon, Sask.) totalled nine hits, five walks and 12 RBIs. He homered three times to bring his season tally to an even 20. 

Chadwick goes seven strong  

Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings of work as Illinois State defeated Missouri State 7-3. He issued two walks and struck out four. 

McTavish records five hits 

Brennan McTavish (Lethbridge, Alta.) contributed five hits and five RBIs over three games for Midland College. He finished 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs as the Chaparrals downed Western Texas 13-0 en route to a four-game sweep. 

Del Rosario strikes out nine for Douglas 

Noah Del Rosario (Delta, BC) worked seven innings and allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks as Douglas College downed Skagit Valley 2-1. The right-hander struck out nine in ensuring a series split. 

Delta Blue Jays grad Will Anderson (Delta, BC) allowed just one run in six innings in his start to help lead UBC to a win over the College of Idaho in Game 1 of the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament on Friday. Photo: UBC Athletics

UBC falls in CCC championship game   

The University of British Columbia lost in heartbreaking fashion in the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship game on Sunday. 

Tied 6-6 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Lewis-Clark State plated one to secure the title. 

In Game 1 of the tournament against the College of Idaho, lefty Will Anderson (Delta, BC) worked six innings and allowed one run on six hits and a walk in an 11-1 win. He fanned four. 

Over all four games, Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) had nine hits, two walks and 11 RBIs. He hit a solo home run during a 9-6 victory over Oregon Tech before swatting a three-run home run in the final. 

Dionne does damage to end regular season  

Purdue commit Jimmy Dionne (Quebec. Que.) closed out his regular season for Howard College with nine hits, three walks, six RBIs and a stolen base as the Hawks swept a four-game series from New Mexico Military Institute. He hit four home runs, with two in Game 4, to bring his season total to 22.   

The number of Canadians in action each week is beginning to dwindle but there’s still plenty to keep track of. 

Check back in seven days to see who’s making a difference for their team. 

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. 

BMOCMatt Betts