Lefty pitcher Mark Hardy turns out for the UBC Thunderbirds today, starting the first game in the NAIA Region I college baseball tourney that the school also happens to be hosting.

While coach Terry McKaig isn’t exactly throwing out the pre-game hype, telling The Province’s Kent Gilchrist that his team is "young and inexperienced", adding, "I just hope we can compete because we’re not even close to rolling out our best team."

But for a team that was expected to get their backsides handed to them for most of the year, what with a rash of seniors from last season having moved on to the minors and assorted non-baseball careers, this UBC Thunderbirds team has done more than enough to warrant their spot in the tournament.

Part of the reason behind that is McKaig, their no-nonsense coach who pulls no punches, understands the game like few other coaches at this level, and has strong support from his athletic director.

It must also be said, the team has been getting strong support from their landlords at Nat Bailey Stadium - the Vancouver Canadians - who, instead of ignoring the college team as they have in recent years, have got behind the ballclub this season, realizing that promoting baseball means promoting it at every level.. not just the pros.

Previous incarnations of the C’s have generally minded their own business when the pre-draftees were in season, not promoting the team, not encouraging Canadians fans to show up, and certainly not making improvements to the field itself.

But these days, post-ownership change, the new guard is embracing what UBC brings to the table.

From today’s Province:

Three years ago, McKaig had been intent on getting his own baseball stadium constructed on campus, but with the new local baseball ownership of Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney and their enthusiastic endorsement of the UBC program and the Vancouver Canadians’ involvement, things have changed.
"They held a barbecue for the team Tuesday night," said McKaig. "Jake’s a UBC grad and [team president] Andy Dunn was a Division 1 player and has really taken me under his wing. They want our kids to feel like professional players."

UBC is going to build McKain a diamond on campus, which will help the team handle training without having to trek across town, but it’s nice to know that the Tbirds will still be showing up at The Nat on game day.

Maybe it’s time that Vancouver Canadians fans did the same. Games start tonight at 6PM with UBC taking on the College of Idaho.

For more information, as always, visit the Tbird Baseball Fanpage. While you’re there, check out the latest information on UBC’s change of conference for next season.