VANCOUVER – A pair of Thunderbird pitchers have taken the next step in their baseball dream. Twenty-two year-old Conor Lillis-White was selected in their 32nd round of the MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Then four rounds later, teammate Alex Webb was drafted by the San Diego Padres.

It has been an emotional season for Lillis-White. In April, a day after being named UBC Male Athlete of the Year, Lillis-White learned his older brother had died in a car crash. Despite the tragedy, Lillis-White pitched the T-Birds to victory just two days later.

The Toronto native compiled an 9-4 record this season with a 3.27 earned-run average. In 2014, Lillis-White was 9-0, and had an ERA 0.46. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound pitcher has fastball in the high 80's and biting curve ball.

He calls his selection a culmination of a lifelong dream, "it's numbing, I didn't really jump up and down when I heard the news, it was more surreal, I don't think it has really sunk in yet."

UBC baseball head coach Terry McKaig and the rest of his staff are thrilled for Lillis-White, "He deserves this and it shows what hard work, determination and perseverance will do for an athlete."

McKaig also believes Anaheim could be the perfect spot for Lillis-White to start his journey in pro baseball, "I know local Anaheim scout Don Archer has always like him (Lillis-White) and joining the Angels organization will be good fit for Conor."  

While Lillis-White knows his immediate future, Webb has a decision to make. The right-handed pitcher still has a year of eligibility at UBC.

McKaig says "no matter what he chooses to do, he has put himself in great position with all of his hard work both on the field and in the classroom."

Earlier this month Webb, an electrical engineering major, was named an Academic All American, on the field he was named the NAIA West Group Pitcher of the Year. The Surrey, B.C., native finished the year with a record of 10-3 with 2.15 ERA.

Lillis-White and Webb are the 19th and 20th Thunderbird products to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

According to McKaig, "their selection continues to show that playing baseball at UBC will not only result in receiving a world class education but potentially be your pathway to professional baseball also."