UBC clinches top seed for Cascade Conference tourney
Former Langley Blaze Kyle McComb (Surrey, BC) went 7-for-8 on the final weekend of UBC's season.
UBC WEEKLY UPDATE #11
RESULTS:
Conference Play
Loss 5-3 Oregon Tech (NAIA)
Win 14-13 Oregon Tech (NAIA)
Loss 9-2 Oregon Tech (NAIA)
Overall Record: 25-22 Conference Record: 19-12
Former Ontario Blue Jays RHP Christian Botnick (Brampton, Ont.) pitched two scoreless innings.
TOP PITCHERS:
Fr Finnigan Duffield 2.2 Inn, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 1 BB, 5 K’s
Sr Christian Botnick 2 Inn, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 1 BB, 1 K,
So Nick Virdo 2 Inn, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Earned, 1 BB, 1 K
Sr Anthony Olson 2 Inn, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 3 Earned, 1 BB, 1 K, (1 Win)
Former Sherwood Park Athletic Jake Lanferman (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was second among the Birds with six hits.
TOP HITTERS:
Sr Kyle McComb 7-8, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB
Sr Mitch Robinson 5-12, 5 RBI, 3 R, 1 HR
So Austen Butler 4-9, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HR
Jr Jake Lanferman 6-13, 1 RBI, 2 R
Fr Nolan Weger 5-10, 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 HR
COACHES COMMENTS:
The regular season came to a close in Klamath Falls, Oregon this weekend where the Thunderbirds took one of three games. The one victory combined with a few Corban loses gives UBC the No. 1 playoff seed from the Cascade Conference and No. 2 seed overall in the Cal Pac Conference Tournament.
Due to inclement weather, there were only three games played this weekend as the Birds battled through the elements and some unfortunate luck in Game 1.
The two teams went back and forth all game as the Birds found themselves down two runs in the top of the ninth. With two men on and two out, Mitch Robinson came to the plate and delivered an opposite field two-run double off the wall, which then ricocheted off the right fielder’s glove, and eventually secured before hitting the ground. Unfortunately, the initial ruling on the field was overturned as the ball was not seen to have hit the wall. This of course was the third and final out of the inning, giving the Owls the win late Saturday evening.
In Game 1 on Sunday, Braeden Allemann was roughed up for the first time this year as the Owls exploded for 13 runs on 19 hits. Fortunately, the Birds offence was there to back up the senior pitcher to the tune of 14 runs on 23 hits. The game lasted three hours and 45 minutes and saw a total of 42 hits and 27 runs in the slugfest that was led by UBC infielders Mitch Robinson (4-7, 4 RBI), Nolan Weger (4-6, 2 RBI), and Kyle McComb (6-6, 1 RBI).
In the back end of the double header, Oregon Tech outplayed the Thunderbirds for the split on the day. A two-run home run by Nolan Weger was all the Birds could muster, being out hit 13-6 in the 8-2 loss.
The regular season is now a wrap and the Thunderbirds start preparation for the Conference tournament in Mesa, Az. in which a #2 seed has been earned.
It has been an up and down season thus far, but the first goal of the year was to finish atop the Cascade conference, and that was accomplished this weekend. The next step will be earning a spot in the World Series opening round playoffs. UBC will fly to Arizona Friday to try and make that a reality during the weekend tournament.
Missing in action again this weekend were two sophomore starting pitchers, Adam Mckillican and James Bradwell. Both continue to recover and are hopeful for the post-season.
UPCOMING:
CAL-PAC Conference Tournament
Sunday 5/6 @ Benedictine-Mesa (NAIA) @ 12:30 PM