CANADA – The University of British Columbia has hauled in a strong recruiting class for the 2009 season. The Thunderbirds under Head Coach Terry McKaig won regional National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships in 2003 and 2004, and a Super Regional title in 2006 when UBC finished fourth in the NAIA Baseball National Championship.

The Thunderbirds will compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in 2009, and will continue to schedule out of conference games against NCAA Division I, II, and III teams.

Eleven Thunderbirds have been taken in the Major League Baseball draft, and eight have played professional baseball. The only major leaguer so far is Jeff Francis, who started for the Colorado Rockies in Game One of the 2007 World Series. Another pitcher, Brooks McNiven, played for Canada in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Greg Densem – Catcher (Toronto)
Greg was Captain and MVP of the Northview Heights baseball team and played for the Canadian Junior National Team in 2007 and 2008, and for the Toronto Mets from 2006-2008. He batted .387 with two home runs in 2008. He also played for the Ontario Youth Team in 2007, and was MVP in the Canada Cup. He was also named to the Toronto Star’s Annual High School All Star Team.

Abe Fernandez – Infield (Plantation, FL)
Abe graduated from American Heritage High School in 2007. He made the all-county football team, as a running back and linebacker. He spent the past year playing baseball in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Abe is the son of Tony Fernandez, who played Major League Baseball for 19 seasons (12 with the Blue Jays).

Sean Pisarski – RHP/Outfield (Toronto)
Sean played for the Toronto Mets and Team Ontario in 2008. He had a record of 6-1 on the mound for Team Ontario, and batted .324 with four home runs and 53 RBIs. He made the Toronto Star’s High School All-Star Team in 2007 and 2008.

Danny BrittonFoster – RHP (Ladysmith, BC)
Danny played for the Canadian Junior National Team and the Nanaimo Pirates in 2008. His numbers for the Pirates were 4-3 with a 2.20 ERA, 63 strikeouts and only seven walks in 51 innings pitched. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the BC Premier League, and is expected to be a starter for the Thunderbirds.

2008 UBC RECRUITS:
Jordan Padrinao – Infield/RHP (Surrey, BC)
Matt Bannister – RHP (Saint John’s, NF)
Brent Muirhead – Outfield (Maple Ridge, BC)
Miles Verweel – LHP (Toronto)
Cody Ouellette – (LHP Nanaimo, BC)
Shawn Heatherington – RHP (Tsawwassen, BC)
Ben Chan – Outfield (Mississauga, ON)
Phil Owen – RHP (King City, ON)
David Hole – Catcher/Infield (Vancouver)

Source: Media Release

Tags: Canada