Anonymous $3.5 million Donation

A state of the art training facility will soon be a reality for the UBC Thunderbirds baseball program and players across the Lower Mainland, thanks to an anonymous $3.5 million donation.

The 12,500 square-foot facility is scheduled for completion in September 2015, and will be located next to the baseball field at UBC’s Thunderbird Park.

The centre will feature four (4) full size-batting cages, three pitching mounds and a high-tech camera system to monitor bat speed, pitching physics and much, much more.

It will also feature a performance institute designed to hone skills  among players ranging from eight to professional-level athletes.

There will also be hitting leagues, camps and clinics run year-round by exceptional coaches.

UBC’s Baseball Head Coach stated “There has been a huge void in the Vancouver market for a facility like this and we are grateful to the generous donation and we will now have the opportunity to train young players the same way we train our varsity players.”

He continues “The more success kids have when they are younger, the better chance they have to keep playing the game.”

Ashley Howard, Managing Director of UBC Athletics and Recreation states  “This indoor training centre provides the opportunity for out team to train year-round in an environment that is truly a high performance facility.”

She continues “The facility also provides the anchor to help develop the pathway for baseball in Vancouver with our community partners.”

Following a long successful 18 year’s as the Head Coach of UBC Terry McKaig will step down at the end of this season, taking on the new role of Director of Baseball at UBC.
  
A Canada-wide search for a new coach will begin in April.
 
UBC has a reputation for being a top collegiate baseball program in Canada, and has competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) since 1997.

Eighteen former UBC players have been selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) amateur draft – including pitcher Jeff Francis, who is entering his 14th season of professional baseball and plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thanks to Dan Elliott, Manager for Media Relations Athletics at UBC for the info.

 Notes:

One has to wonder if any of the previous players at UBC that went on to play ball in the pro’s helped make this possible.

Off the record

I have been told that one player who played for the Delta Blue Jays organization refused to donate funds for growth at Mackie Park as it was not up to his standings!

Fact or Fiction – someone knows!!!