BMOC Week II: Boies, Chenier-Rondeau, McGarry-Doyle, Olchoway, Or, Saldias

Vauxhall Academy Jets alum and Canisius Golden Griffins infielder Max Grant (Fredericton, N.B.) has been named a Preseason All-American Third Team selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Photo: Canisius Athletics

February 8, 2023

BMOC Week 2

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

Week 2 of the college baseball season is in the books and there was no shortage of standout performances from Canadians. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best of the best from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5.

Wilkinson picks up first win

Central Arizona left-hander Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) held Yavapai scoreless over seven innings as the Vaqueros marched to a 4-0 win. The former Okotoks Dawg scattered three hits and struck out eight to pick up his first win of the season.

Saldias helps Saint Xavier stay with No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan

There was no easing into the season for Nico Saldias (Ajax, Ont.) and the Saint Xavier Cougars as they played a three-game set with NAIA No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan. Saldias took the ball on Opening Day and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings in a 3-1 loss. He walked a pair and punched out four.

Van Every strong in relief

If you just looked at the score, you wouldn’t think there were any positives in Southwest Baptist’s 17-0 Opening Day defeat at the hands of St. Cloud State, but there was. Cole Van Every (Kelowna, BC) came on in relief in the first inning and threw five innings. The right-hander surrendered three runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Grant a Preseason All-American

Canisius College infielder Max Grant (Fredericton, NB) was named a Preseason All-American Third Team selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after posting a .398 batting average with 10 home runs, 53 RBIs and a 1.135 OPS in 2022. The Golden Griffins open the season at the Swing and Swine Classic in Charleston, S.C. with four games against Rutgers, Merrimack, Boston College and Ball State beginning Feb. 17.

UBC drops 2-of-3 on opening weekend

The series between the University of British Columbia and Ottawa University Arizona didn’t lack fireworks. Over the course of three games, one of which was won by the Thunderbirds, the teams combined for 55 runs.

UBC Thunderbirds catcher Noah Or (Richmond, BC) had five hits in the first two games of the T-Birds series against Ottawa University Arizona. Photo: UBC Athletics

Noah Or (Richmond, BC) started things off with a 3-for-5 showing with a stolen base as the T-Burds took Game 1, 9-2. He followed it up by going 2-for-4 with a walk, a RBI, a stolen base and a hit by pitch in Game 2.

Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) pounded out five hits in the three games with a walk, two RBIs and was hit by a pair of pitches.

Russell Young (Surrey, BC) had a pair of two-hit games in the opener and the finale. He hit a two-run home run to open the scoring in a 19-6 Game 3 loss. He finished the weekend with the five RBIs and was hit by a pitch to go along with his four hits.

Cameron Sanderson (Illderton, Ont.) also had four hits and added three walks, a RBI and two stolen bases.

Mike Fitzsimmons (Chilliwack, BC) swatted a three-run home run in the finale. He closed out opening weekend with four hits in total and a hit by pitch.

Irvine shines in Weevil debut

With the series sweep on the line for the University of Arkansas at Monticello against Mississippi College, Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) turned in six innings and allowed two runs on five hits to earn the win and get the Weevils off to a 3-0 start. Irvine walked a pair and fanned nine.

Toronto Mets alum Noah McGarry-Doyle (Vaughan, Ont.), shown here with the Junior National Team, hit for the cycle for the Mid-America Christians in a 16-8 win. Photo: Baseball Canada

McGarry-Doyle hits for the cycle

Game 3 of Mid-America Christians series with Houston-Victoria was one to remember for Noel McGarry-Doyle (Vaughan, Ont.). In the 16-8 victory, he hit for the cycle and drove in a pair of runs. During the other three games, he totaled three more hits, a two-run home run, a walk and two stolen bases. The four-game sweep moved MACU to 7-0 on the season. They’re being led on offence by McGarry-Doyle’s .429 average.

Boies bashes pair of home runs

Emile Boies (Pointe-Levy, Que.) appears to be fitting in just fine at Fort Hays State as he smashed a two-run home run and a three-run home run on opening weekend. He collected six hits and walked three times and drove in six runs in all.

Olchoway tosses up zeros

Looking to build on a Game 1 win, Ottawa University looked to Ryan Olchoway (Saskatoon, Sask.) for a strong start in Game 2 of their series with St. Ambrose. Olchoway exited after five scoreless innings, having given up three hits and striking out three to pick up the win.

ABC alum Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.) belted two home runs - including a grand slam - to lead Oklahoma University to an 11-3 win. Photo: Oklahoma City Athletics

Chenier-Rondeau powers Oklahoma City to first win

Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, Que.) came out with something to prove after an opening weekend that saw Oklahoma City University swept by LSU Alexandria. In the Stars’ opener against Clarke, Chenier-Rondeau crushed a solo shot and a grand slam to lead his team to an 11-3 win. He came a triple away from the cycle in the impressive performance. If that wasn’t enough offence, he was also hit by a pitch and swiped a pair of bases. A loss in Game 2 was followed by a 4-3, Game 3 win to take the series. Chenier-Rondeau had a hit in the series clincher.

Howard handed no-decision after strong start

Former Toronto Mets right-hander Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) lasted five innings and surrendered a pair of unearned runs on three hits in Chipola’s 3-2 loss to the State College of Florida. The sophomore walked one and struck out seven in his second start of the season.

Bach bangs out four hits

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M may have lost their series 2-1 to Panola, but it wasn’t from a lack of performance from Jordan Bach (Delta, BC). The sophomore pounded out four hits, including two home runs, walked twice and drove in three.

Lutzig with four-hit game

Haiden Letzing (Surrey, BC) closed out his week with four hits and a pair of RBIs as Ventura College downed Citrus 17-11.

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