North Vancouver athletes making waves
North Vancouver's Keaton Briscoe, third baseman for the University of B.C. Thunderbirds, is one step closer the big leagues after being drafted by the Boston Red Sox this week.
Briscoe — a career .318 hitter, with four homeruns and 51 RBIs in 100 games with the Thunderbirds — was drafted in the 24th round, 751st overall.
“We are really proud of Keaton and congratulations to him on being selected by the Boston Red Sox,” said UBC head coach Terry McKaig, in a press release Wednesday.
“It is a unique situation given he couldn't play this year because of academic ineligibility, but he stayed dedicated to improving in the classroom and on the field this spring. He deserves this opportunity and we wish him luck as he chases his dream.”
Briscoe's teammate David Otterman was drafted in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
In other sporting achievement news, North Van's Max Grassi, a member of the UBC Thunderbirds hockey squad, was part of the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship-winning Canadian squad.
Team Canada defeated host team Germany 9-5 in the gold medal match on Thursday.
Grassi, who finished second in points in the tournament with 17, scored four times and added an assist.
Thomas Woods, another North Van native, chipped in with a hat trick.
It's been 14 years since Canada has won gold at the tournament.
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