BMOC Week 5

March 11, 2020

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

We’re back for week five of the BMOC. There are some new faces that are making their debut in the column this week, along with some you have read about before. Check out the recap below for what you need to know.

Canadians crush for Colby

Three Canadians were on fire for the Colby Community College Trojans during a four-game set with Dodge City. Brayden Cust (Edmonton, Alta.) was strong in the series sweep. In Game 1, a 17-3 win, Cust went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. He collected a hit, a walk and a RBI in an 11-7 Game 2 win. Game 3 saw him go 3-for-4 with another home run. this time it was a solo shot in the 10-8 loss. The finale was a a barn burner that went the way of Dodge City by a 14-13 score. Cust had two hits, including another two-run home run. He also walked three times in the loss.

Zach Olson (Red Deer, Alta.) had three hits in the four games. All three hits were home runs. His biggest blast was a grand slam in the bottom of the first of Game 2. He finished the series with seven RBIs and a pair of walks. Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) had two hits in the series. One of the hits was a two-run home run, making it seven home runs for the three Canadians in the series. Zdunich also had three RBIs, walked nine times and stole a base.

UBC goes 2-2

Keizer, Oregon was the site of the University of British Columbia’s games last week as they visited Corban for a four-game series. The T-Birds came up short in Game 1, dropping the contest 4-3. It wasn't from a lack of effort from Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), however. Hawkins tossed six innings of one run baseball to give his team a chance. Hawkins allowed four hits, two walks and struck out five. Jared Spearing (Winnipeg, Man.) was able to get UBC back on track by working six scoreless innings in a 7-2 Game 2 victory. Spearing allowed four hits, walked one and punched out 14 to improve to 3-1.

The ball went to Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC) in Game 3 and he came through with six innings of work, giving up six hits, two runs, a walk and striking out five. Maier is now a clean 3-0 on the season. Not only was he stellar on the mound, he also chipped in a pair of hits in the series. Strong pitching continued to be the name of the game in this series as Barry Caine (Surrey, BC) was solid in Game 4. Looking to win the series, Caine lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on eight hits and walked one. He struck out six but it wasn't enough as Corban would go on to win the game 3-2. A standout on offence was Ryan Beitel (Surrey, BC). Beitel had seven hits in the series. In each of Games 2, 3 and 4 he had multi-hit games. He finished the series with four RBIs. The Thunderbirds now head to the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzly Classic in Lawrenceville, Ga where they will play a pair against Indiana Tech and the 23-2 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies.

Markle strong in first start

It didn’t matter how Weston Markle (Waterford, Ont.) pitched for Cayuhoga Community College, he wasn't walking away with a win.That’s because his team didn't score in a 4-0 Game 1 loss to Florence-Darlington Tech. Markle threw five innings, gave up one hit, four runs (one earned), while walking three and striking out four.

McInnes beats Mt. Hood

Tyson McInnes (Surrey, BC) allowed one run over six innings for Edmonds in their 3-1 victory over Mt. Hood. McInnes worked around three hits and five walks to move to 2-0 in 2020. He punched out six along the way to the win.

Early relief for Smith

The bullpen bench wasn’t even warm by the time Cade Smith (Vancouver, BC) was summoned to do his work for the University of Hawaii. Smith came on in the first inning of a 7-6 Game 3 walk off win over Oregon. After Hawaii starter Brandon Ross faced four hitters and didn't record an out, Smith came on and stranded the bases loaded. The tough spot didn't seem to bother him much as he went on to pitch six innings, allow four hits, four runs (two earned) with a walk and nine strikeouts.

Cote big for Kats

Erie Community College got their season underway last week with five games. Cole Cote (Welland, Ont.) had six hits, a walk four RBIs and a stolen base. In a game against Jackson, Cote was called upon to pinch hit in the top of the seventh and launched a solo home run to put the Kats up for good. Erie would go on to win the game 8-7.

Jean strong for No. 25 Tide

After splitting Games 1 and 2 with Lipscomb University, the No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide handed the ball over to freshman Antoine Jean. Jean would throw five innings and allow one run on four hits. He struck out six and exited with a 12-1 lead. Jean is 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA, not bad for a rookie with a top 25 team.

Eagles cruise to win behind Canadian arm

After an inning of Game 1 of their series with Felician, Embry Riddle Eagles was up 7-0. That was more than Garrett Goodall (Nanaimo, BC) needed as he threw 7 2/3 innings and allowed the lone run to pickup his fourth win of the campaign. Goodall gave up five hits and struck out 10. The Eagles are now 14-5.

Potter hangs in against Harding

Despite an eventual 7-2 loss to Harding, Jacob Potter (Victoria, BC) kept his Southeastern Oklahoma University team in the ball game with his start. Potter allowed eight hits and four runs (two earned) over six innings in the loss. He walked one and struck out five.

Jackson throws complete game

Corey Jackson (Calgary, Alta.) didn't need any help from his fellow Bellevue pitchers in a 7-1 win over Michigan-Dearborn. Jackson tossed all seven innings, while giving up three hits, a run and a walk to improve to 1-2. He also struck out nine.

Chester goes the distance

No. 18 Salt Lake Community College needed Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) to be good and he was in a 2-1 win over the College of Southern Idaho. Chester threw a complete game, seven innings. He surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out five.

Cappe is more than capable

Brady Cappe (Waterford, Ont.) went eight innings and allowed a pair of runs in the University of Pikeville’s 6-2 win over Lindsey Wilson College. Cape also gave up five hits, walked four and struck out eight. Cape suited up for the Brantford Red Sox of the Intercounty Baseball League in the summer of 2019 and posted an 0-1 record and a 3.24 ERA.

No surprise here

One of the most frequent names to pop up during this seasons BMOC columns is David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.). Last week proved to be another performance worth mentioning. In five games for Connors State, Mendham pounded out 10 hits, walked four times and drove in five. His best showing was in a 12-11 loss to Eastern Oklahoma State when he went 4-for-6 with a RBI. Connors State dropped 2-of-3 from Eastern Oklahoma State in the battle of the Sooner State.

Bourassa picks up first win in 2020

Redshirt senior Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) blanked the University of California over five innings as his University of San Francisco won the opener of the series 4-1. Bourassa limited the opposition to two hits and two walks in the outing, while striking out two.

Hofmann maintains 0.00 ERA

No one has been able to put up an earned run on Northwestern State’s Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) this season. Abilene Christian University was no different last week in Game 1 of their series. Hofmann allowed five hits and an unearned run over five innings of work as the Demons picked up a 7-1 win. He walked three and struck out nine as he has now gone 28 innings (four starts) without allowing an earned run.

Offence can’t pick up Parker

It was a tough decision for Adam Parker (Toronto, Ont.) as he gave up an unearned run over five innings of work for Jefferson College in a 1-0 loss to St. Louis. Parker surrendered four hits and walked six in the game. He struck out two in the game.

3-1 week for Southeast Missouri State

Caleb Feuerstake (Waterdown, Ont.) helped lead his Southeast Missouri State Redhawks to three win in four tries last week. It all got started with a 5-3 win over Arkansas State, a game which Feuerstake had a hit and swiped a base. Next up was a three-game series with the University of Tennessee at Martin. Game 1 went the way of the Redhawks by a convincing 16-6 score. Feuerstake had a hit, a walk and another stolen base in the series opening triumph. He then launched a two-run home run and finished with three RBIs in a convincing 22-4 win. They couldn't secure the sweep, however, as they dropped Game 3, 14-13. Even though the game ended in a loss Feuerstake was still impressive going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and his third stolen base of the week. He finished a home run short of the cycle in the finale.

Hutzal, Leitch launch long balls

Two Canadians played a role in the Marshall Herds 3-1 series win over Akron last week. Peter Hutzal (Calgary, Alta.) walked in a 3-1 Game 1 win and then went 2-for-4 in a 2-1 Game 2 victory. Game three would be the only game the Herd would drop in the series, losing 7-4. Hutzal went 2-for-4 in the loss. The Herd took the series with authority by winning Game 4 in blowout fashion, 18-4. Hutzal went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run to finish off his solid week. Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.) hit his first NCAA home run in the 18-3 Game 4 thumping.

Busy week for Benson, Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan College played nine games last week, finishing with a 7-2 record. Owen Benson (Toronto, Ont.) played in five of those games and contributed seven hits, four walks, two RBIs and five stolen bases.

Raiders take down ranked Vols

Tyler Black (Toronto, Ont.) kick started his week with a pinch hit in Wright State's 8-6, 14-inning midweek win over Miami of Ohio. Next up was a big test with the No. 11 University of Tennessee Volunteers. The Raiders drew first blood with a 5-4 win in Game 1. Game 2 went the way of the Volunteers by a 3-1 score. Black had a hit in the loss. With the series on the line in Game 3 he went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run to power the Raiders to a 6-3 win.

Keeping up with Jones

Ben Jones (Toronto, Ont.) was tasked as the leadoff man for Mineral Area Community College and didn't disappoint. In five games last week he had 15 hits, two walks, nine RBIs and a stolen base. His best performance came in a 16-11 Game 4 loss to Metropolitan Community College when he went 5-for-5 with a home run, a walk and six RBIs. He also tripled in the game and finished a double shy of the cycle. He had multiple hits in all five games.

Clarke clobbers Gonzaga pitching

It's hard for a series to be closer than the four-game set between Cal State Northridge and Gonzaga last week. Three of the games were decide by one run and the other by two. Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) had a hit in a 4-3, 10 inning Cal State Northridge win to open things up. In Game 2 he had a hit, a walk and was hit by a pitch as Gonzaga returned the favour by downing the Matadors 4-3 to even the series. The Matadors took Game 3, 4-3 again behind a 2-for-4 game from Clarke. He legged out a triple and hit a two-run home run in the win. The series would end in a split after Gonzaga won Game 4, 4-2. Clarke went 2-for-4 with a RBI in the final game.

Trogrlic-Iverson strong in Gonzaga loss

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (Oakville, Ont.) allowed three unearned runs over eight innings of work for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a 4-3 Game 3 loss to Cal State Northridge. Trogrlic-Iverson allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six. Cal State Northridge scored one in the top of the ninth to claim the win.

Seven strong from Gauthier

Mathieu Gauthier (Montreal, Que.) spun seven innings and gave up one run in West Texas A&M's 14-4 Game 1 win over Texas A&M International. Gauthier allowed six hits, walked one an struck out five to improve to 2-1.

Gagnon goes the distance in win over Howard

Clarendon College took down Howard 7-1 behind a complete game effort from Zach Gagnon (Ste. Julie, Que.). Gagnon scattered five hits, a walk and struck out six over the seven innings of work.

Howie hits as Eastern Kentucky sweeps

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels ran their win streak to seven with a three-game sweep of Norfolk State last week. It started with a 14-2 win. Nick Howie (Oakville, Ont.) went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a hit by pitch in the opener. In Game 2, a 6-0 win, he had a hit and three RBIs. He rounded out the series with a 3-for-4 performance with a solo shot, a walk and two RBIs. Eastern Kentucky takes on in-state foe Northern Kentucky in a midweek before opening Ohio Valley Conference play with a series against Morehead State.

Van Every lasts seven in tough loss

Cole Van Every (West Kelowna, BC) allowed two runs over seven innings of work but Southwest Baptist dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 11 Lindenwood. Van Every gave up three hits, walked three and struck out three.

Babcock beats Lamar

McCook used five innings from Braden Babcock to help defeat Lamar 9-8. Babcock surrendered four hits, three runs (one earned) with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Hall moves above .500

Freshman lefty Tevin Hall (Magrath, Alta.) threw five innings and allowed one run on four hits as Montana State Billings beat Saint Martin's University 15-6. Hall struck out three and improves to 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA. He is holding opponents to a .188 average over five starts.

Cox clamps down against William Baptist

Tyler Cox (Mississauga, Ont.) picked up the win as Harris-Stowe State took down William Baptist 11-3 in their series opener. Cox tossed seven innings, scattered four hits, allowed three runs (two earned) and walked four. He also struck out four.

That does it for week five. Thanks for reading along. Check back next week to see what Canadians were up to around the college baseball circuit in week seven of the BMOC.

If you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com. Please note our week runs Monday-Sunday.