To all those local ball players who played minor, junior and senior baseball against North Battleford's Andrew Albers, don't feel bad that you couldn't hit his pitches.
Some of the best players in the AA baseball league and MLB prospects have had the same issues this season. The most recent batters to struggle against the 26-year-old left-hander were the best baseball players in Germany.
Albers was the starting pitcher for Canada in the World Baseball Qualifier final Monday against the host Germans. Albers helped Canada earn their third win of the qualifier and did so pitching six innings in the final. Canada won 11-1.
Albers closed out the qualifier as the Canadian pitcher with the most innings pitched (six). He had the best earned-run average on the team at 1.50. He was second on the team in strikeouts with three, second to former major leaguer Shawn Hill. Albers surrendered just two hits in the game against Germany, one being a home run.
With the win Canada qualified for the World Baseball Classic in March. Canada will have a roster makeover by the time the Classic starts, as 17 players in MLB will have a shot to play for the team and nearly 130 other Canadians under contract playing professional baseball will be hoping to make the team.
Albers, a second year professional, has a legitimate shot at making the Canadian team in March and has experience on Team Canada on his side. He was a member of the 2011 Pan Am Games team that won gold and the bronze medal winning 2011 World Cup team.
Along with the success coming on the diamond this week, Albers also received an elite award as well.
Baseball Canada named Albers as the Senior Male Athlete of the Year for 2011. Albers was key contributor on the mound for the senior national team as both a starter and reliever.
Albers started the World Cup opener against Puerto Rico and threw five shutout innings to earn the victory.He also pitched five innings in relief shutting out Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands where he gave up only two hits.
When Canada faced a must win situation against South Korea with a medal round spot on the line, Albers came through with another five inning shutout performance to earn the win.
At the Pan Am Games Albers continued to dazzle in relief as he threw three solid innings as Canada opened the tournament with a win against Puerto Rico.
