Heppner and Heppner pitch UBC past LC State and Idaho
Former Delta Blue Jays Sean Heppner (Delta, BC), of the British Columbia Thunderbirds, and his younger brother Ryan Heppner (Delta, BC) in 2022, has UBC where it wants to be in the Cascade Conference championship tourney.
May 7, 2023
Heppner’s dominant pitching leads T-Birds past LC State, advancing to CCC championship game
By Stu Walters
UBC Communications
KLAMATH FALLS, ORE. - First-year pitcher Ryan Heppner was flat out dominant Sunday afternoon, striking out 12 batters through eight innings as the UBC Thunderbirds doubled up the Lewis-Clark State Warriors 4-2 to advance to Tuesday’s championship game at the Cascade Conference Tournament.
Before Heppner was able to set the tone from the hill on the afternoon it was the T-Birds bats that carved out the early lead finding success against Warriors starter Dallas McGill who lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits.
UBC catcher and lead-off hitter Russell Young got it started in the top of the first with a single to right centre, Young would be replaced by pinch runner Luciano Letteri who eventually came around to score after a Brandon Hupe single through the left side to make it 1-0.
Meanwhile, Heppner was dialed in early as well, frustrating LC State batters and showing the opponents the main theme of the afternoon as he registered four of his 12 strikeouts through the top of the second inning.
The ‘Birds offence would strike again in the top of the third for some much-needed breathing room as infielder Aaron Marsh cranked a home run over the centre field wall for a 2-0 advantage.
UBC first baseman Trent Lenihan followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Mike Fitzsimmons to make it a 3-0 lead, chasing Warriors starter, McGill from the game, replaced by Greg Blackman.
The T-Birds rounded out their scoring in the top of the fifth inning with Hupe reaching base on a throwing error from LC State’s third baseman which allowed Letteri to score for a 4-0 lead.
Heppner’s outstanding outing finished with eight innings pitched, 12 strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits to improve his record to (7-2) on the season.
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The T-Birds needed to win both of their games on Sunday to advance to Tuesday’s championship tilt and the blue and gold relied on another Heppner pitching sibling to lead the way in a 5-1 victory over the College of Idaho in the CCC tournament opener on Sunday morning.
Sean Heppner, the freshly minted CCC Pitcher of the Year award winner, had a solid outing in securing the win (7-4) going six innings, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out five before Daniel Sereda came in to handle the final three innings and earn the save, allowing one hit and also striking out five opponents.
On offence it was Brandon Hupe stirring the drink with a three-run home run to left centre field in the bottom of the seventh inning to help seal the deal while Trent Lenihan added a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth stanza.
The championship game is set for 11:00 a.m. (PT) on Tuesday morning and UBC will meet the winner of Monday’s game five featuring Lewis-Clark State against the winner of Sunday night’s battle between College of Idaho and Oregon Tech.
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Here is the remaining CCC Baseball Tournament schedule”
Monday, May 8 - Klamath Falls, Ore.
Game 5 - 12:30 p.m. | Oregon Tech vs. Lewis-Clark State
Tuesday, May 9- Klamath Falls, Ore.
Game 6 - 11 a.m. | Championship - British Columbia vs. Winner Game 5
*The Cascade Conference Automatic Qualifier (AQ) will go to the tournament winner, unless LCSC is the winner then it will be awarded to the tournament runner-up as LCSC has a host bid to the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championships.