UBC hosts international tournament

VANCOUVER – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds program is proud and excited to host an historic international tournament Aug. 13-18, 2019.

The four-team tournament will be hosted primarily at UBC’s Tourmaline West Stadium, but will also feature a premiere game at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, home of the class-A Vancouver Canadians.

On the heels of a highly successful UBC team tour of Japan last summer, the Thunderbirds are honoured to reciprocate by welcoming both the University of Tokyo and Keio University, both of which will become the first Japanese University teams to ever compete on Canadian soil. Joining the two Japanese visiting programs will be the Sacramento State University Hornets (NCAA Division I).

“UBC is very excited to welcome these three universities to our first ever Collegiate Baseball Classic,” said UBC baseball director Terry McKaig. “International baseball is unique. It is played with passion for both your university but also your country and I hope baseball fans here in Vancouver take this opportunity to come out and witness it.”

The inaugural tournament will feature a round-robin format followed by two semifinals, culminating with a consolation final and championship final game on the last day of competition, Sunday, Aug. 18. Each team will play five games over the course of the six-day event, a first of its kind in Vancouver.

While the bulk of games will be played at Tourmaline West Stadium, the Thunderbirds will open up against the University of Tokyo at historic Nat Bailey on Tuesday, Aug. 13. In partnership with and because of the tremendous ongoing support of the UBC Baseball program by the Vancouver Canadians, the T-Birds are revelling at this unique opportunity to compete under the lights while also harkening back to a decade ago when UBC routinely played at “the Nat”.

The round-robin portion of the tournament will wrap up on Thursday, Aug. 15. The Friday will serve as an off-day from competition when all four teams will participate in a day full of cultural and sightseeing opportunities, showcasing the beautiful city the Thunderbirds call home.

“The tournament is much more than ball games,” added McKaig. “We are allowing the student-athletes from these four great universities to showcase the game of baseball through a blend of education and culture. The university presidents are committed to allowing these student-athletes a once in a lifetime experience to come to Vancouver to play but to also learn through cultural experience about each country’s sport, education and cultural differences. We are using the game to build a bridge between Asia and North America for our student-athletes and fans.”

Saturday, Aug. 17 will feature both semifinal games with the tournament champions being crowned on Sunday.

Single-game and tournament ticket packages are on-sale now with details and ticket links at gothunderbirds.ca/baseballclassic. Admission will also be available at the gate.

Last spring Sac State had six Canadians on its roster: RHP Zack McQuaid (Oshawa, Ont.), INF Dylan Ohlsen (Abbotsford, BC), RHP Connor Sparks (Saskatoon, Sask.), C Martin Vincelli-Simard (Boisbriand, Que.), INF Steven Moretto (Coquitlam, BC) and RHP Tanner Dalton, Lethbridge, Alta.) drafted in the 17th round by the Chicago Cubs.

And for this spring they will add RHP Carter Morris (Vernon, BC), RHP Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC) and RHP Ryan Scott (Quispamsis NB).

Schedule

Tuesday, Aug. 13

Sacramento State vs Keio University – 6:30 p.m.

UBC vs University of Tokyo – 7:00 p.m. – Nat Bailey Stadium

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Keio University vs University of Tokyo – 2:30 p.m.

Sacramento State vs UBC – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15

University of Tokyo vs Sacramento State – 2:30 p.m.

Keio University vs UBC – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Semifinal Game 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Semifinal Game 2 – 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 18

Consolation Final – 11 a.m.

Final – 3 p.m.