St. Albert AHP Baseball Academy alum Reece Hemmerling (Beaumont, Alta.) threw five scoreless innings in his start for Barton Community College. Photo: Barton Athletics

May 7, 2024

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

April has come to a close and May is officially underway as tournament time begins for many college baseball teams.

Let’s take a look at the Canadians who performed the best over the past week.

Magill and Tennessee Wesleyan win Appalachian Athletic Conference

The Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament championship game was full of Canadians as Tennessee Wesleyan took on Reinhardt.

Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) and the Bulldogs came out on top 5-4 in the final. Throughout the tournament, Magill had four hits, a walk and four RBIs. His best game came in a 13-0 victory over Montreat when he went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and four RBIs. He had a hit and a walk in the final. It’s the 15th straight season the Bulldogs have clinched a spot in the NAIA Opening Round.

Reinhardt falls short but clinches automatic bid

Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, NS), Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) and the Reinhardt University Eagles were on the wrong end of the 5-4 score in the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship game but still secured a spot in the NAIA Opening Round.

In the conference tournament, Crowell collected three hits, four walks and five RBIs. He went 3-for-4 with two, two-run home runs in a 5-2 win over Milligan.

Zdunich’s big knock came in a 9-8 win over Milligan when he hit a walk-off three-run home run to put the Eagles into the championship game. Over the course of five games, he had three hits, a walk and four RBIs.

Canadians lead Barton to sweep of Garden City

The Barton Community College Cougars used strong starts from two Canadians to help them sweep a four-game series from Garden City Community College.

Reece Hemmerling (Beaumont, Alta.) got the ball in Game 1 and threw five scoreless innings in a 13-0 win. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five.

Ethan Minaker (Winnipeg, Man.) spun six scoreless innings in a 6-0 Game 4 victory. He gave up four hits and struck out six.

Barbieri, Ave Maria bow out of conference tournament

Sun Conference Player of the Year Francesco Barbieri (Brampton, Ont.) provided four hits, three walks, three RBIs and a stolen base for Ave Maria during the Sun Conference Tournament. The former Fieldhouse Pirate hit a solo home run and walked as the Gyrenes dropped Game 1, 6-4, to Southeastern. He swatted another solo shot in the second game, a 6-3 win over Warner. They’d be eliminated after losing Game 3 to Keiser.

Toronto Mets alum Marshall Leishman (Huntsville, Ont.) threw a seven-inning complete game for Ashland University. Photo: Ashland University Athletics

Leishman throws complete game shutout

Ashland University starter Marshall Leishman (Huntsville, Ont.) threw a complete game, seven-inning shutout to beat Tiffin, 10-0. He yielded two hits and struck out four.

Tremblay, Western Nebraska win opener over Southeastern

Getting the ball in Game 1 against Southeastern Community College, Western Nebraska starter Nick Tremblay (Ste-Julienne, Que.) lasted six innings and conceded two runs (one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts.

Nugent notches win No. 2

Aidan Nugent (St. Thomas, Ont.) worked five innings, allowing two unearned runs for Kankakee as they downed Moraine Valley 22-6. Nugent gave up three hits, walked four and struck out four.

Lund helps Salem dominate Notre Dame

It was a convincing performance for Salem University in Game 2 of their series against Notre Dame College. Jaryd Lund (London, Ont.) tossed a complete game, seven-inning shutout to lead the Tigers to a 22-0 win. He scattered five hits, walked two and punched out eight.

Ernst earns win for Cayuga

Wyatt Ernst (Saskatoon, Sask.) threw six innings, giving up one run on five hits as Cayuga beat Corning. He struck out two.

Terriers alum Sam Worthen (Guelph, Ont.) secured his 12th and 13th saves of the season for D’Youville. Photo: D’Youville Athletics

Worthen locks down saves No. 12 and 13

Former Terriers right-hander Sam Worthen (Guelph, Ont.) is having one of the better seasons as a Canadian closer in recent memory. Worthen secured his 12th and 13th saves of the season as D’Youville took games 1 and 2 of their series with Mercy by scores of 3-1 and 8-5, respectively. In Game 1, Worthen threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and striking out one. Game 2 saw him throw a scoreless 1/3 of an inning.

Cookson critical in Valley City State’s conference tournament

After being named the North Star Athletic Association Freshman of the Year, Takao Cookson (Regina, Sask.) showed exactly why he received the honour in the first two games of Valley City State’s conference tournament. Cookson came on in relief in Game 1, a 7-6 win over Dickinson State, to pick up the save with four innings of work. He allowed one run on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Summoned again in Game 2, he threw 3 2/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits to earn his fourth save of the season. He walked one and struck out two in the outing.

Consigli, Morin and Niles assist Canisius in sweeping week

The Golden Griffins of Canisius College ran the table and went 4-0 with the help of two Canadians on the mound and one in the batter’s box.

Peyton Consigli (Fonthill, Ont.) started Game 1 of a three-game series against Saint Peter’s and threw six innings. He surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits, while walking three and striking out six.

Felix Morin (Quebec, Que.) came on in relief in Game 4 against Saint Peter’s and threw six scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out 10 as the Griffs completed the sweep with a 16-0 victory.

Josh Niles (St. Thomas, Ont.) had five hits, walked twice, drove in five and was hit by a pitch. He swatted a two-run home run in a 9-3 Game 2 win.

Machkovski back in the column

Stefan Machkovski (Toronto, Ont.) makes a repeat appearance in the BMOC thanks to throwing six innings and giving up one run on four hits as Garrett College downed CCBC Dundalk 7-6. Machkovski walked two and struck out eight.

Doig homers twice and Big Bend splits with Spokane

Outfielder Riley Doig (Olds, Alta.) contributed five hits, including two home runs, four RBIs and a stolen base for Big Bend Community College in a series split with Spokane. Doig’s solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 1 put the Vikings ahead for good in a 2-1 victory. He went deep again, this time a two-run home run, in an 8-7 Game 4 loss.

Toronto Mets grad Dawson Walters (Toronto, Ont.) had six hits - including a two-run home run - for McPherson this past week. Photo: McPherson Athletics

Walters collected six hits

Dawson Walters (Toronto, Ont.) chipped in six hits, walked twice and drove in three as McPherson finished the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament 2-2. He hit a two-run home run as part of a 3-for-4 game in an 11-9 win over Kansas Wesleyan.

White has two homer game

Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) hit two solo home runs to power West Virginia to a 5-4 Game 1 win over Cincinnati. Over four games on the week, White had seven hits and two RBIs as the Mountaineers beat Pittsburgh and lost two of three to the Bearcats.

Del Vecchio homers as part of five hit week

Kevin Del Vecchio (Niagara Falls, Ont.) played in four games for Mohawk Valley Community College and put together five hits. He went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in a 4-1 loss to Hudson Valley. He also swiped five bases on the week.

Magdic produces seven hits for Marshalltown

Ryan Magdic (Beamsville, Ont.) had seven hits, two walks and six RBIs in six games for Marshalltown Community College. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs as the Tigers downed Southwestern Community College 15-5 to open the week.

Gray, Mabee steer Trojans’ offence

A pair of Canadians at Trinidad State Junior College had strong weeks at the plate.

Kai Gray (Oak Bay, BC) hit three home runs as part of a nine-hit performance. He added two walks, 12 RBIs and two stolen bases. In a 10-5 Game 2 win over Luna Community College, he hit two home runs.

Oliver Mabee (Oak Bay, BC) had eight hits, five walks, eight RBIs and a stolen base. He homered twice.

Coquitlam Reds alum Cassidy Watt (Coquitlam, BC) had five hits - including two doubles and a home run - for Dakota State in the North Star Athletic Association tournament. Photo: Dakota State Athletics

Watt closes conference tournament with five hits

Cassidy Watt (Coquitlam, BC) pounded out five hits, walked and drove in two as Dakota State went 1-2 in the North Star Athletic Association tournament. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run in the Trojans’ only win, a 10-4 victory over Dickinson State.

Pringle impressive in relief

The game ended in a loss but Gavin Pringle (Duncan, BC) tossed five innings and surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits as West Texas A&M fell to Arkansas Fort-Smith in Game 2 of their Lone Star Conference tournament series. Pringle walked one and struck out eight. The Buffs would lose the series 2-1.

Irvine beats Oklahoma Baptist

Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) worked six innings and allowed one run on four hits as Arkansas-Monticello thumped Oklahoma Baptist 14-1 in the Great American Conference tournament. He issued four walks and struck out six in the start.

Luchies wins for Lower Columbia

Despite allowing 10 hits, Owen Luchies (Victoria, BC) managed to throw six innings and pick up the win for Lower Columbia against Pierce. Luchies gave up two runs (one earned), walked one and punched out a pair.

Boucher wins and records a save

William Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) got into the final two games of Frank Phillips’ regular season, earning a win and a save. Boucher threw four innings and yielded two runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out one in a 9-8 Game 3 win over El Paso. Called upon again in Game 4, he picked up the save with a scoreless inning of work in a 13-12 victory. He walked one and struck out one.

Grand River Flying Squirrels alum Jackson Soucie (Cambridge, Ont.) dominated in his start for Wabash Valley College, striking out 11 batters in five innings. Photo: Wabash Valley College Athletics

Soucie fans 11 in final regular season start

Left-hander Jackson Soucie (Cambridge, Ont.) struck out 11 over five innings as Wabash Valley defeated John. A Logan 13-3 to open their final regular season series of the campaign. Soucie surrendered one run on two hits and walked one to improve to 9-2.

The number of Canadians in action each week may be going down due to teams being eliminated but there’s still plenty of highlights from those who remain.

Check back next week for all the action from the first full week of May.

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 to Sunday.

Be sure to follow Matt Betts at @Bettsy41 for extensive Canadian baseball coverage all season long.

BMOC Week XV: Barbieri, Del Vecchio, Doig, Gray, Lund, Morin