Several local athletes have contributed to a strong start by the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (UBC) softball team.
The T-birds are 8-8 after a pair of tournaments in California and Oregon, with four of the losses against competition ranked in the top six of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).
An off-season training program implemented by head coach Phil Thom of Surrey has paid off, with UBC tied for the NAIA lead in home runs with 26.
Senior catcher Tanya McLean of North Delta is leading the NAIA with nine home runs, while senior second base Courtney O’Connor of South Surrey is tied for third with six.
The team is fourth in the NAIA in runs scored, RBI’s and hits, while both McLean and O’Connor are in the top five in runs scored. O’Connor is also tied for the NAIA lead in RBI’s with 24 and is in the top ten with 23 hits on the season.