Maple Ridge’s Devon Stewart is starting his collegiate baseball career in fine form, and was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rookie of the week for his efforts.
Stewart, a graduate of Samuel Robertson Technical, plays for the NCAA Division 1 Canisius College Griffins of Buffalo, New York. The six-foot-two freshman right-handed pitcher threw seven innings and struck out nine in a no-decision against Penn State on Saturday to earn the honour.
Stewart had only one earned run in his start, while giving up six hits and walking two.
Stewart’s nine strikeouts were the most by a Canisius pitcher this season and most by a Canisius freshman pitcher in the past 12 years. Stewart retired the first eight batters of the game and only allowed two runners past first base in the first five innings.
The Griffins eventually lost the game 4-3 in extra innings, and currently hold a 17-17 record this season.
Stewart got his first start of the year back in February, not allowing a hit through 4.1 innings.
Stewart grew up playing for the Ridge Meadows Royals, and after aging out of bantam AAA, opted to stay close to home and play with the Ridge Meadows midget AAA team instead of joining the B.C. Junior Premier Baseball League.
Stewart and the midget AAA Royals won provincials, a Western Canada championship, and placed third at nationals.
Stewart spent the past two seasons with the Langley Blaze, and his fastball has been clocked at 91 miles per hour.