March 11, 2024

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The University of British Columbia needed a strong start in Game 1 of their series against the College of Idaho.

Coming off a disappointing four-game sweep at the hands of No. 3 Lewis-Clark State, the Thunderbirds were desperate to get back on track in their home opener.

And Sean Heppner (Tsawwassen, BC by way of Point Roberts, Wash.) delivered exactly what they sought.

Heppner didn’t just give his team a quality start, he made history.

His 16 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in an 11-5 win set a Cascade Collegiate Conference single-game record. He allowed just one run on a hit and walk to put the wheels in motion for a T-Birds’ sweep.

Through three seasons with UBC, Heppner has logged 138 1/3 innings over 32 appearances.

While his hometown is technically Point Roberts, Wash., located at the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen peninsula south of Vancouver, he spent his minor baseball days in Tsawwassen, BC before suiting up for the Delta Blue Jays. He also holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.

Sean Heppner is the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week for March 4 to 10.

Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week

Week 1: INF Simon Grinberg (Kitchener, Ont.) - Keiser University

Week 2: OF Francesco Barbieri (Brampton, Ont.) - Ave Maria University

Week 3: INF Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia

Week 4: INF Kalem Haney (Lethbridge, Alta.) - University of Mary

Week 5: INF Johnny Vulcano (Cloverdale, BC) - Ottawa University

Week 6: RHP Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) - Illinois State University

Week 7: RHP Sean Heppner (Tsawwassen, BC by way of Point Roberts Wash.) - University of British Columbia