Elliott: Patterson NAIA All-American, plus Daktronics Scholars

Former Okotoks Dawgs 3B J.T. Patterson (Calgary, Alta.) earned All-American honours.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

J. T. Patterson calls Alberta home.

Yet, Patterson is at home anywhere. The Bellevue Bruin had a memorable season last spring. He had the best of any of the Canucks playing NAIA ball. For Example what Patterson (Calgary, Alta.) accomplished as he:

_ Was the only Canuck to receive All-American First Team 2019 honours.

_ Named honorary captain on the All-Nebraska Team by the Omaha World-Herald.

_ Selected North Star Athletic Association Player of the Year.

_ Earned Midlands Athlete of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald as the Bruins won 41 of their final 44 games on the way to the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Id. He edged out finalists Ryan Garver (Nebraska Wesleyan, Men’s hoops, first team NCAA Div. III All-American), Lyle Hexon (Peru State, Men’s hoops, first team NAIA All-American), Matt Malcolm (Nebraska-Kearney, Wrestling, NCAA Div. II National champ) and Drew Smith (Northeast CC, Baseball, first team NJCAA Div. II All-American).

Patterson batted .367 with 13 doubles, a triple, 24 homers and 91 RBIs. He had a 1.219 OPS thanks to 38 extra-base hits which included a BU-record 24 home runs.

While Patterson had the most hits, these guys had the highest marks. A total of 10 Canadians earned Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athletes honours:

OF Brendan Baker (Red Deer, Alta.) of the Siena Heights Saints.

RHP Marshal Burgess (Brandon, Man.) of the Jamestown Jimmies. He was 0-0 with a 12.38 ERA. He walked five and struck out six in eight innings.

RHP Hunter Cunningham (Mission, BC) of the LSU Shreveport Pilots. He was 5-1 with a 5.02 ERA. He walked 24 and struck out 37 in 11 games -- making nine starts.

LHP Ben Donnell (Oakville, Ont.) of the Mid-America Christian Evangels

C Sid Elford (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Grace Lancers. He hit .283 with three doubles, a homer and six RBIs. In 28 games he had a .741 OPS.

C Brandon Garcia (Brampton, Ont.) of the Tabor Bluejays.

INF Daniel Lichty (Denfield, Ont.) of the Huntington Foresters

IF Ricardo Marin (Mississauga, Ont.) Aquinas Saints. Marin batted ,225 with four doubles, two triples and seven RBIs. In 29 games he had a .651 OPS.

RHP Kurt Meeberg (Edmonton, Alta.) of the Bryan Lions. He had an 11.81 ERA, walking two and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

C Taylor Nychyk (St. Andrews, Man.) of the Indiana Tech Warriors. He hit .304 with a double, a homer and 10 RBIs. He had an .812 OPS in 44 games.

OF Ryley Overacker (Calgary, Alta.) of Siena Heights Saints. He hit .210 with five doubles, a triple, a homer and 21 RBIs. He had a .614 OPS in 39 games.

OF Noah Renaud (River Canard, Ont.) of the Madonna University Crusaders.

INF Austin Schibler (Medicine Hat, Alta.) of the Columbia Cougars. He hit .118 with a double and two RBIs. He had a .449 OPS in 11 games.

RHP Ryo Takenaka (Richmond, BC) of the Sterling College Warriors.

INF Reilly Walters (Bowmanville, Ont.) of the Lourdes Gray Wolves.

1B Jamie Whynot (Bridgewater, N.S.) of the Fisher College Falcons.