After a long winter of training and a pair of trips to California, the UBC Thunderbirds begin their 2019 NAIA conference season this weekend when they host the Lewis-Clark State Warriors for a four game series starting Friday, March 1 at Tourmaline West Stadium.
The series also marks the conference debut for a large number of rookie 'Birds as the team has seen some remarkable turnover from last season, including graduated infielder
Mitch Robinson who was selected by the New York Yankees in last summer's MLB entry draft.
Even with some notable departures, fans will recognize a number of returning names including veteran outfielder
Lucas Soper and
Austen Butler along with junior pitchers
Niall Windeler and
Adam McKillican.
Last year the T-Birds made it to the NAIA baseball championship opening round for the fourth time in the previous five seasons. This weekend officially begins their quest to get back to the NAIA World Series for the first time since 2006.
First pitch Friday against the Warriors is 6:00 p.m. PT at Tourmaline West Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader kicks off at 1:00 p.m. PT and the series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. PT. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Last Action
UBC closed out their non-conference schedule with a three-game series sweep over the visiting Concordia Cavaliers. The 'Birds outscored Concordia by a combined 20-13.
The Warriors came away with two wins, a loss, and a tie in a four-game non-conference series at Antelope Valley two weeks ago.
Players to Watch
Noah Or (#17, C) – The rookie from Vancouver had an outstanding series against Concordia going 8-for-10 at the plate with 4 RBI while earning the Cascade Conference's Player of the Week. Through nine non-conference games, Or is batting .333.
Niall Windeler (#49, LHP) – UBC's third-year ace has picked up where he left off last year when he was named to the All-NAIA West roster. Last Saturday he pitched seven and a third innings with 11 strikeouts and just five hits in a no-decision against the Cavaliers.
Coach's Take
The conference season may just be beginning, but the T-Birds feel they are battle tested having played nearly a dozen games against some stiff competition over the past few weeks.
"Every week we've gotten better, for a lot of them it's their first time playing college baseball and not to mention together as a group," said UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett who enters his fourth season with the 'Birds. "Experience is important, not just these first few weeks but that we continue to move in the right direction. It's a long year and we're really excited about what this team could be."
This first weekend of conference play will be a big experience generator for the new-look T-Birds squad as they face a perennial powerhouse in the LC Warriors right off the hop.
"We'll have to be clicking on all cylinders to beat a team like Lewis-Clark State, so all we can do is practice hard and get ready," added Pritchett. "It's a young group overall so you'll see a lot of mistakes that by the end of the year you hope we won't be making any more."
Last season the 'Birds weren't able to play at home until the latter half of the conference schedule with construction on Tourmaline West Stadium finishing up. This go around, UBC has been able to get plenty of practice time and game action in at their still sparkly new digs.
"It's certainly nice to be home, there's something special about this park too, there's been a lot of close games in which we've been able to come out on top and there's just a good feeling having that last at bat here at Tourmaline West, so hopefully we can build on that and get a few more good results."
