February 24, 2021

BMOC Week 4

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The Division I season kicked off this past weekend after almost a year hiatus. With even more schools starting their slates, the list of top performances from players north of the border continues to grow. Check out the best games from February 15 to 21 below.

Diodati named preseason All-American

After hitting .309 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 17 games in 2020 for the No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide, Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Third Team Preseason All-American. Diodati had a chance to back up that accolade this past weekend as the Tide welcomed McNeese State to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a three-game set. He had a hit and was hit by a pitch in a 10-6 Game 1 win. His series only got better in game’s two and three. In Game 2, with Alabama down 3-1, Diodati launched a two-run home run to tie the game. Alabama went on to win 4-3. Then, in Game 3 with his team leading 5-4, he blasted a grand slam to put the game away and secure the sweep.

Marks makes third consecutive Opening Day start

Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) cruised through six innings of work for USC Upstate in a 14-2 opening day win over Toledo. Marks allowed just one hit and an unearned run, while striking out nine. The start marked the third consecutive opening day nod for the 6-foot-2, 220 pound right-hander. For his efforts, Marks was named the Big South Player of the Week.

Landry lands Pitcher of the Week recognition

Nathan Landry (Quebec City, Que.) got the opening day start and spun six scoreless innings in Mineral Area College’s 6-0 win over Bevill State. Landry allowed two hits, walked three and struck out eleven to pick up the win. He was named Region 16 Pitcher of the week for his stellar outing.

Wintjes takes home Crossroads League honour

Six hits, three walks and six RBIs over the course of four games for Marian University earned Dion Wintjes (Vancouver, BC) the Crossroads League Player of the Week. His biggest hit was a two-run blast in Marian’s 5-2 win in Game 2 of their four-game set with Oklahoma City University. After dropping the opener, Marian would go on to win the series 3-1.

Bourassa knocks off No. 2 Bruins

The University of San Francisco Dons rolled into Jackie Robinson Stadium and handed the No. 2 UCLA Bruins a 6-2 loss in their season opener behind five strong innings from Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.). Bourassa picked up the win, giving up one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out a pair in the upset. The Dons would go on to take 2-of-3 in the series. Not a bad start.

Orenczuk tallies ten hits

Alex Orenczuk (London, Ont.) and his LSU Alexandria teammates locked horns with Arizona Christian eight times last week, with each team taking home four victories. Orenczuk finished the week with 10 hits, two walks, four RBIs and two stolen bases. He went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in a 12-1 win in the seventh game.

Reyes-Cruz rakes in Faulkner’s series win over St. Thomas

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 7 team, the Faulkner Eagles, improved to 7-1 with a series win over St. Thomas. Tommy Reyes-Cruz (Montreal, Que.) went 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs in an 11-5, Game 1 win. The Eagles took Game 2, also by an 11-5 score, with the help of a two-run home run from Reyes-Cruz. He finished the series with a 2-for-3 showing in a Game 3 loss.

Zapp leads Redhawks to sweep

Brian Zapp (Waterloo, Ont.) had a pair of multi-hit games for Miami (OH) in a three-game series with Jacksonville. Over the three games, all Redhawk wins, he had four hits, walked twice, drove in three and was hit by two pitches. Two of his four hits he legged out for triples.

Peters pounds out five hits

It was a good start for both Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) and his Southern Illinois Saluki’s. In an 8-7 season opening win over Jacksonville State, Peters went 3-for-5. After going hitless in a 4-3 victory against Tennessee Tech, the Chandler Gilbert Community College transfer contributed a 2-for-5 effort in a 13-1 drubbing of Alabama State to round out the week. By the way, a Saluki is a dog, who knew? Not me.

Cavs win rubber match, series over UConn

No. 14 Virginia kickstarted their campaign with a clean 2-1 win over the University of Connecticut. Marc Lebreux (Montreal, Que.) had a hit in the opener. Lebreux then chipped in a hit, walked twice and drove in a run in a 10-9, Game 2 loss. In the rubber match, he went 2-for-5 and drove in a run, as the Cavaliers won the series with a 4-2 victory.

Hicks helps lead Mineral Area to 3-0 start

Connor Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) hit a pair of home runs and collected five knocks in three games for Mineral Area College last week. He also walked once and drove in four as the Cardinals won all three of their games.

Keller continues to hit, McKillican saves his second

Scoring runs wasn’t an issue for NAIA No. 23 Georgia Gwinnett last week as they put up 57 runs in four games, and it was a Canadian who powered the offence. In the opening game of the week, a 5-3 win over Truett-McConnell, Griffin Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. The Grizzlies then went on the thump Truett-McConnell in their next game 20-3. Keller again left the yard, this time with a man on base, and finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs. A doubleheader with Lourdes University was next on tap, and the offence didn’t miss a beat. Keller went 2-for-4 with a walk in Game 1 of the double dip. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base in a 15-10 win. In Game 2, a 17-13 Grizzlies win, Keller finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a three-run home run and six RBIs. The senior currently leads the team with a .452 average over 10 games, and his four home runs are good for second on the squad.

Adam McKillican (Comox, BC) picked up his second save of the year by tossing a scoreless, hitless inning in the 5-3 win over Truett-McConnell.

Coutney does damage for Old Dominion

Game 1 of Old Dominion’s season opening series with Norfolk State was pushed back a day due to weather, but the delay didn’t seem to bother Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.). Coutney hit a two-run home run and was hit by a pitch in a 7-1 Old Dominion win to kick things off. In Game 2, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and another two-run blast as the Monarchs blew out Norfolk State 12-0.

Jackson goes six in loss

Corey Jackson (Calgary, Alta.) allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings of work for Bellevue University, but it wasn’t enough as they dropped a 4-3 decision to Texas Wesleyan. Jackson surrendered three hits, walked five and struck out four.

Saufl a standout for red hot Vanguard

Zach Saufl (Oakville, Ont.) scattered five hits over five scoreless innings to lead Vanguard to an 8-0 win over La Sierra. The former Ontario Terrier walked one and struck out three in the outing. The Lions have won five of their last six and are off to an impressive 12-2 start.

Bryan College wins 3-of-4

Down in Dayton, Tenn,. Tyler Scott (Calgary, Alta.) helped NAIA No. 21 Bryan College win three of a possible four games last week. Scott had five hits, three walks and four RBIs for the Lions. His best game came in an 8-5 win over Johnson University to open the week, when he went 3-for-4 with a three-run blast.

The NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA now all have teams playing and the action is picking up. Remember to check back here weekly to read about all the Canadians making a difference in the college game.

Do you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com. Please note our weeks run Monday to Sunday.