Keys voted to CBN's All-Canadian College First Team

Former Aquinas Saints left-hander and London Badgers alum Travis Keys (London, Ont.) has been voted to the Canadian Baseball Network’s All-Canadian college First Team. Photo: Aquinas Saints

October 28, 2021

Official Aquinas Saints News Release

Former Aquinas left-handed pitcher Travis Keys has been selected to the Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian College First Team for his performance at AQ last season, as announced on Wednesday.

Hailing from London, Ont., the former Grand Valley State transfer played with the U18 AAA London Badgers team out of London before coming to the states for his collegiate career.

Keys was joined by Griffin Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) from the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies as the only two NAIA players to be selected to the first team. The teams were selected by a panel that was made up of 56 scouts, coaches, executives, former players, writers and broadcasters from both Canada and the United States.

In the 2021 season, Keys was dominant on the mound as he appeared in 13 games, including 10 starts, and had a record of 5-2. In 62 innings, Keys amassed 101 strikeouts compared to only 23 walks and held opponents to a .210 batting average. His 2.61 earned run average led the Saints pitching staff, while hurling two complete games, one shutout, and even earned a save.

His 101 total strikeouts were the second most in a season only behind Paul Assenmacher's 123 in 1981. This successful season led to Keys being tabbed as an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention selection and the WHAC Pitcher of the Year.

There were two games last season against Lawrence Tech and UM-Dearborn where Keys struck out 16 batters, the most in a game in program history. He also had another two games where he reached double-digit strikeouts, including a complete game win over Cornerstone where he struck out 12 and did not walk a batter. Keys led the WHAC in strikeouts, while pitching 30 innings less than the second place finisher, who had 100. He also had the fewest hits allowed per game (6.68) and the most strikeouts per nine innings (14.66) in the WHAC, while finishing second in ERA and batting average against. Across all NAIA pitchers, Keys was fifth in strikeouts per game, 16th in total runs allowed (21), and 26th in fewest hits allowed per game.

Keys and Keller were joined by seven NCAA DI players, a NCAA DII player, and three junior college players on the first team. There were another three NAIA players that were selected to the second team as NCAA and junior college players rounded out the rest of the second team and the third team.