Live Stats / Ontario Nationals
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's first exhibition action of the fall features a visit from our neighbors to the north, as the Ontario Nationals provide the opposition Friday at Alexander Field.
First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is open to the public and admission is free. The Boilermakers will also be holding an open scrimmage Saturday at 1 p.m. before the big night game at Ross-Ade Stadium as Purdue football hosts TCU.
The Ontario Nationals are the third traveling team from Canada's most-populated province to visit Alexander in the last three years. Purdue hosted the Ontario Blue Jays in the fall of 2017 and the Fieldhouse Pirates in October of last year.
The Ontario Nationals' 18U team is also playing at Chicago State this weekend on its trip to the Midwest. They're expected to travel a 16-player roster. Ontario Nationals president and coach Shawn Gillespie pitched at Kent State in the 1990s and later in the independent Frontier League. Coach Jeremy Jayaweera serves as an associate scout of Ontario and Quebec for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Boilermakers have 44 players on their fall roster – 26 returnees from the 2019 season and 18 newcomers. Outfielder Cole McKenzie and Bo Hofstra are back after being named third-team All-Big Ten. Skyler Hunter has over 200 as a Boilermaker and is in line to finish his career as a four-year starting outfielder. Milo Beam, Bryce Bonner, Dalton Parker, Andrew Bohm and Matt Moore have also been part of the program since the fall of 2016.
Hofstra and Moore helped the Cotuit Kettleers win the Cape Cod League title this summer. It marked the second year in a row that a Boilermaker was part of the championship team in the nation's top summer league. Hunter helped the Wareham Gatemen win the Cape Cod League in 2018.
Meanwhile, newcomer Kyle LaPlante was a starting shortstop for the championship team (Niagara Power) in the New York Collegiate League over the summer. LaPlante is among the five new Boilermakers that have joined the program as transfers this fall.
Purdue also has fall exhibition games on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 11. The Black & Gold Series is slated for Oct. 17 to 19 and marks the conclusion of fall practice.
2019 TEAM AWARDS
MVP – Cole McKenzie
Red Mackey Award (Excellence by a Senior) – Patrick J. Smith
Offensive Player of the Year – Zac Fascia
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryan Howe
Pitchers of the Year – Trent Johnson and Bo Hofstra
Clyde Lyle Award (Top Non-Scholarship Performer) – Kyle Wade
Mr. Boilermaker Award (Attitude) – Bryce Bonner
Newcomer of the Year – Cole McKenzie
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's first exhibition action of the fall features a visit from our neighbors to the north, as the Ontario Nationals provide the opposition Friday at Alexander Field.
First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is open to the public and admission is free. The Boilermakers will also be holding an open scrimmage Saturday at 1 p.m. before the big night game at Ross-Ade Stadium as Purdue football hosts TCU.
The Ontario Nationals are the third traveling team from Canada's most-populated province to visit Alexander in the last three years. Purdue hosted the Ontario Blue Jays in the fall of 2017 and the Fieldhouse Pirates in October of last year.
The Ontario Nationals' 18U team is also playing at Chicago State this weekend on its trip to the Midwest. They're expected to travel a 16-player roster. Ontario Nationals president and coach Shawn Gillespie pitched at Kent State in the 1990s and later in the independent Frontier League. Coach Jeremy Jayaweera serves as an associate scout of Ontario and Quebec for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Boilermakers have 44 players on their fall roster – 26 returnees from the 2019 season and 18 newcomers. Outfielder Cole McKenzie and Bo Hofstra are back after being named third-team All-Big Ten. Skyler Hunter has over 200 as a Boilermaker and is in line to finish his career as a four-year starting outfielder. Milo Beam, Bryce Bonner, Dalton Parker, Andrew Bohm and Matt Moore have also been part of the program since the fall of 2016.
Hofstra and Moore helped the Cotuit Kettleers win the Cape Cod League title this summer. It marked the second year in a row that a Boilermaker was part of the championship team in the nation's top summer league. Hunter helped the Wareham Gatemen win the Cape Cod League in 2018.
Meanwhile, newcomer Kyle LaPlante was a starting shortstop for the championship team (Niagara Power) in the New York Collegiate League over the summer. LaPlante is among the five new Boilermakers that have joined the program as transfers this fall.
Purdue also has fall exhibition games on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 11. The Black & Gold Series is slated for Oct. 17 to 19 and marks the conclusion of fall practice.
2019 TEAM AWARDS
MVP – Cole McKenzie
Red Mackey Award (Excellence by a Senior) – Patrick J. Smith
Offensive Player of the Year – Zac Fascia
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryan Howe
Pitchers of the Year – Trent Johnson and Bo Hofstra
Clyde Lyle Award (Top Non-Scholarship Performer) – Kyle Wade
Mr. Boilermaker Award (Attitude) – Bryce Bonner
Newcomer of the Year – Cole McKenzie