NAIA opening rounds, UBC advances thanks to Bradwell, Dray, Valcke

RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask) was outstanding on the mound for the UBC Thunderbirds pitching a three-hit shutout.

University of British Columbia Update Week 11

Results:

Cal Pac Conference Tournament

Win 15-12 (11 Inn) No. 18 Benedictine Mesa (NAIA)

Loss 14-7 (11 Inn) Antelope Valley (NAIA)

Win 2-0 Marymount California (NAIA)

Loss 6-3 Antelope Valley (NAIA)

Overall Record: 29-19 Conference Record: 22-9

Top pitchers:

Fr Garrett Hawkins 9 Inn, 3 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 1 BB, 5 Ks (1 Win)

Jr James Bradwell 5 Inn, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Earned, 5 BB, 5 Ks (1 Win)

Fr Brett Corbeth 3.2 Inn, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Earned, 0 BB, 2 Ks (1 Save)

Top Hitters

Fr Brandon Hupe 4-15, 2 RBI, 7 R, 2 HR, 5 BB

So Jordan Dray 9-20, 7 RBI, 3 R

So Jaxon Valcke 5-17, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB

Fr Mike Fitzsimmons 3-8, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Coaches’ Comments:

The Thunderbirds concluded an exciting week of play with a second place finish in the Cal Pac Conference tournament, and an automatic bid to the NAIA World Series Opening Round.

With Antelope Valley winning the tournament for one of two automatic bids, UBC captured the second spot by making it to the championship game.

Game 1 versus No. 2 seed Benedictine Mesa was a marathon shoot out that went 11 innings. Starter Niall Windeler went five innings for the Birds allowing seven runs, but the offence was running on all cylinders, scoring in each of the first six innings. Windeler was strong to start before giving up a five spot in the third and another second in the fifth. The score was 11-7 when Windeler exited and the Redhawks promptly put up another five to take the lead 12-11. Down one in the eighth, Jaxon Valcke doubled to lead off the inning and would later score on a fielding error to tie the game. The game stayed that way until the top of the 11th when the Birds scored three thanks to a passed ball and a two-run single by Noah Or. Freshman Brett Corbeth shut down the Redhawks in the bottom half for the save in an entertaining first game.

Game 2 was a matchup against #1 seed Antelope Valley, in which the winner would get a bye straight to the championship game. Jared Spearing got the ball and the game was scoreless after four. The Pioneers got to Spearing in the fifth with three runs and scored again in the seventh, taking a 7-0 lead. The Thunderbirds couldn’t muster any offence through seven, but exploded for five in the eighth and added two in the ninth tying the game and sending it to extras. A scoreless 10th prolonged the game going before Antelope Valley put up seven in the top half of the 11th. The deficit was too much for the Birds, who fell 14-7 in the second 11 inning game in a row. Jordan Dray was 3-for-6 with four RBIs and Jaxon Valcke was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.

With the loss, the Birds would face elimination versus California Marymount, with the winner advancing to the championship game and earning an automatic bid to the Opening Round of the NAIA World Series.

Freshman Garrett Hawkins got the start and was absolutely brilliant. He saved one of his best performances of the year pitching a complete game three-hit shutout while striking out five. The offence took advantage of a few mishaps and put two on the board in the sixth which was all Hawkins needed to get the 2-0 win.

The Thunderbirds battled through three games to gain a spot in the next round and earn a rematch against Antelope Valley in the championship of the Cal Pac Tournament.

The Birds would have to beat the Pioneers twice in the double knockout format and sent Barry Caine to the mound. UBC jumped out to a two-run lead in the second after an RBI triple by Jordan Dray and an RBI ground out by Austen Butler. Antelope Valley would cut the lead to one in the fourth and add three in the sixth taking a 4-2 lead. The Birds got one back in the bottom half but that’s as close as they would get in this one. The Pioneers added two more insurance runs in the ninth and would win the championship game 6-3.

A hard fought weekend for the Birds put them in a position to advance to the next round of playoffs. UBC will head to the Middle Georgia Regional for a chance to make it back to the World Series in Lewiston, ID. The Thunderbirds will enter as the 5 seed and will have to win the 5 team tournament to advance.

UPCOMING:

NAIA World Series Opening Round

Monday May 13th (Time TBA) vs Huntington (Ind) (NAIA) Macon, GA

Each Opening Round winner will advance to join Lewis-Clark State, which qualifies via an automatic berth.

Henderson Bracket (Henderson, Tenn.) — 1. Oklahoma Wesleyan. 2. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.). 3. Texas Wesleyan. 4. Concordia (Neb.). 5. Clarke (Iowa).

Kingsport Bracket (Kingsport, Tenn.) — 1. Tennessee Wesleyan. 2. Webber International (Fla.). 3. Campbellsville (Ky.). 4. Madonna (Mich.). 5. Marian (Ind.).

Lawrenceville Bracket (Lawrenceville, Ga.) — 1. Georgia Gwinnett. 2. Georgetown (Ky.). 3. IU Southeast (Ind.). 4. Saint Xavier (Ill.). 5. Union (Ky.).

Macon Bracket (Macon, Ga.) — 1. Southeastern (Fla.). 2. Middle Georgia State. 3. Rio Grande (Ohio). 4. Huntington (Ind.). 5. British Columbia.

Miami Gardens Bracket (Miami Gardens, Fla.) — 1. St. Thomas (Fla.). 2. William Jessup (Calif.). 3. Bryan (Tenn.). 4. Talladega (Ala.). 5. Thomas (Ga.).

Montgomery Bracket (Montgomery, Ala.) — 1. Faulkner (Ala.). 2. Central Methodist (Mo.). 3. Hope International (Calif.). 4. Jarvis Christian (Texas). 5. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).

Santa Barbara Bracket (Santa Barbara, Calif.) — 1. Science & Arts (Okla.). 2. Westmont (Calif.). 3. Antelope Valley (Calif.). 4. Arizona Christian. 5. Jamestown (N.D.).

Shreveport Bracket (Shreveport, La.) — 1. Oklahoma City. 2. LSU Shreveport (La.). 3. Bellevue (Neb.). 4. Columbia (Mo.). 5. York (Neb.).

Williamsburg Bracket (Williamsburg, Ky.) — 1. Cumberlands (Ky.). 2. Indiana Tech. 3. Lyon (Ark.). 4. Mobile (Ala.). 5. Baker (Kan.).