|
The Thunderbirds led 8-1 after two innings, and trailed 11-8 after five. They took a 12-11 lead with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, led by a two-run home run by 1B Scott Webster. The Cougars tied it 12-12 in the top of the eighth on a home run by Virgil Chavira. The Birds had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and they left them loaded. The Cougars didn't make the same mistake; they loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, and scored three runs on a double by C Ryan Delgado off the left-center field wall.
It still wasn't over. The Birds loaded the bases again with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch-hitter Jordan Pandoff hit a hard line drive to first base that was snagged with a good defensive play, ending the season.
The Cougars got 19 hits off three Thunderbird pitchers. Dan Britton-Foster started, lasted four innings, and gave up six runs on nine hits. He was replaced by Jeff Hall, who had a really bad day. He recorded only one out, and was lit up for five runs on four hits. He walked two, and threw two wild pitches. Shawn Hetherington went the rest of the way. He allowed only one run over the first three innings that he pitched. He should have been out of the ninth inning with no further damage, but an error set up Delgado's double and three unearned runs. It was a valiant effort by Hetherington, who was pitching with bad back spasms.
Starr went 5-6, and hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. CF Jon Syrnyk, in his final game for the Thunderbirds, went 3-5 with four RBI. LF Nic Lendvoy was 3-4.
Some words from Coach McKaig: " Just trust me in the fact that these kids are a special special group. We were on fumes (especially pitching) and they never stopped fighting. Guys playing through injury, pitchers gutting it out while completely spent etc. All the coaching staff could have asked for... These players left everything they had on that field tonight.
"An amazing season. This group really over achieved and their commitment, heart, leadership really came through carrying us till the bitter end.
"Thanks for the support this season everyone. It was a lot of fun. We will reload and be ready to make another run next year."
Box score
Story from UBC Athletics site: T-Birds Lose Epic Battle to Cougars As Season Ends
|
