University of British Columbia Thunderbirds

Weekly Update #1

Results:

Loss 7-6 Westmont (NAIA)

Loss 8-4 Westmont (NAIA)

Loss 14-1 Westmont (NAIA)

Loss 9-0 Westmont (NAIA)

Win 10-9 Masters (NAIA)

Win 8-2 (6inn) Masters (NAIA)

Loss 6-1 Masters (NAIA)

Loss 7-1 Masters (NAIA)

Overall Record: 2-8 Conference Record: 0-0

TOP PITCHERS:

Jr Barry Caine 7 Inn, 8 Hits, 5 Runs, 3 Earned, 2 BB, 9 K’s, (1 Win)

Fr Daniel Sereda 6 Inn, 9 Hits, 4 Runs, 4 Earned, 4 BB’s, 8 K’s (1 Win)

Fr Brenden Logan 3 Inn, 7 hits, 4 Runs, 3 Earned, 2 BB’s, 8 K’s

TOP HITTERS:

Fr Ty Penner 6-20, 3 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB

Fr Mike Fitzsimmons 8-32, 3 RBI, 6 R, 3 HBP

So Jordan Dray 8-26, 5 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 HBP

Fr Ben Mitchell 5-20, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 BB

COACHES COMMENTS:

The 2019 campaign is underway for the Thunderbirds after completing 2 weekend trips down to California squaring off against NAIA competition. The first series saw the Birds back in Santa Barbara to play against the No. 25th ranked Westmont Warriors. The Birds came out in Game 1 with lots of energy as Jaxon Valcke and Jordan Dray both blasted their first home runs of the season helping the Birds to a 6-4 lead after six innings of play. The freshman middle infield of Mike Fitszimmons and Liam Vulcano combined for two crucial double plays to erase Warrior threats late in the game. The Warriors had the last laugh though overtaking the T-Birds with a walk off 3 run home run to secure the victory.

In Game 2, the Warriors got out to an early lead and were able to hold off a comeback effort late, as the Thunderbirds fell 8-4. Adam Mckillican started, going three scoreless as the offence was led by Nolan Weger and Jordan Dray (3-4, 3 RBI).

The Westmont bats stayed hot in the double header on the final day of the series, as they took the two games, 14-1 and 9-0 completing the four-game sweep.

Dray led the Birds the entire weekend hitting .417 with a .529 OBP

In the second series of the year, the Thunderbirds traveled to Santa Clarita to face off against the Master’s University Mustangs.

Mike Fitzsimmons paced the offence in Game 1 from the leadoff spot reaching base in five straight appearances with three hits to go along with 2 HBP. Valcke and Dray both pitched in with two RBIs apiece while Weger and Vulcano both had two hits each to help the cause. The Mustangs rallied late in the ninth, scoring four runs, but Pat Van Den Brink was able to shut the door to preserve a 10-9 victory.

Both teams played through some inclement conditions in Game 2 as the Birds were able to come away with an 8-2 victory in a shortened ssix-inning affair. The Mustangs got out to a 2-0 lead after one inning but an eight-pitch at bat by Ben Mitchell concluded by a three-run home run, gave the Birds a lead in which they never gave up. Daniel Sereda got the win, going four scoreless, striking out six. Ben Mitchell was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI as Fitzsimmons was 2-for 4 with 1 RBI.

The final day of the series saw the Mustangs get some revenge on the Birds as they swept the double header 6-1 and 7-1. The offence couldn’t solve either starter for Master’s University who both went seven innings in winning efforts.

The offensive attack this weekend was led by freshman shortstop, Fitzsimmons who scored 6 times, hitting at a .400 clip to go along with an OBP of .500.

The Birds completed the weekend with a split and head back to Vancouver to get ready to host the Concordia Cavaliers out of Portland, Or. The three- game series will be the final series before conference games begin in Vancouver on March 1 vs. LC State.