VANCOUVER – After kickstarting the season in Arizona followed by a couple more weekend trips to Idaho and Oregon, the UBC Thunderbirds are finally set for their 2023 home opener as they host the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls for a pair of doubleheaders Sunday and Monday, March 5 and 6 at Tourmaline West Stadium.
The T-Birds ended 2022 on an incredible postseason run that saw them come one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series. Accomplishing that with a very young roster, the bulk of which is back this year, has the team excited for its potential as the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season approaches in just a few weeks' time.
"We've played some pretty good opponents so far so we've been able to test ourselves," said UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett, now in his eighth season with the blue and gold. "We're certainly a team that I expect big things out of, but we also realize that we've got a lot of things to work on so we're nowhere near where we need to be. It's a long season but we'd like to hit our stride a little earlier than we did last year so I think there's a consensus in the group there's some things we got to work on."
Starting the year 9-7, the 'Birds split last weekend's four-game series at Bushnell University, highlighted by a tremendous starting pitching performance from freshman
Ryan Heppner, helping him earn the conference's Pitcher of the Week award.
"There's a few freshmen, and freshmen you never know, sometimes they have to find their way but we've got a few guys that came in with that confidence and they're already impacting our team which is great," added Pritchett. "It just adds depth and they're going to be good players not just for this year but for a while to come."
One significant loss of note in 2023 is that of
Ty Penner who began his professional career last summer with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. It leaves a bit of a hole both on the field, but perhaps especially off it, for a group that will need others to step up into leadership roles.
"We did lose a few of our team leaders last year, they were not just good players but they were vocal and they made sure the energy was always constant and at a high level. We're still feeling our way out in that way, guys are starting to emerge and starting to take on that role. Of all the things with our team, that's the one we're still kind of figuring out right now and I think when that does get figured I can see this team taking off."
Third-year catcher
Brett Corbeth is one of the veteran players who has been making a big impact so far this year, leading the 'Birds with a .375 batting average. Second-year infielder
Trent Lenihan leads the team with 20 hits and 13 RBI.
Given the tough early season schedule against some quality opponents, the 'Birds enter their first home series of the year both battle tested and hungry for some good home cooking.
"I think the guys are exited to sleep in their own bed and play on their home field. They know this field so well, it's been an advantage over the years. I think the league's tougher this year, it's going to be a battle each weekend which is good for our conference. Lots to look forward to, it's going to be a challenge, we're looking forward to getting going here at home."
First pitch for Sunday's doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m. PT. Monday's double dip begins at 11:00 a.m. PT, all at Tourmaline West Stadium with admission for all games free of charge.
