Few players get to wear the Team Canada red as a baseball player and the number of small-town Saskatchewan baseball players is just a tiny fraction of that.
Andrew Albers, of the Battlefords, who considers himself a small-town Saskatchewan boy had that opportunity a few weeks ago.
It wasn't the first time Albers had worn the maple leaf, but it was his first time doing it in the main stream at the World Baseball Classic.
Albers was a pitcher for team Canada and suited up alongside greats like Joey Votto and Justin Morneau.
"It was a tremendous learning experience," says Albers who is currently in Fort Myers Fla. for spring training. "Getting the chance to see how guys that are elite players go through their day-to-day routines and just getting the chance to talk to them about baseball and pick their brains - it is nice to be able to get that kind of insight on the game."
Albers and Team Canada missed advancing from the pool after losses to Italy and the United States. Canada did win one round robin game, against Mexico and Albers took to the mound in that one.
"When I found out I would be pitching against Mexico I was a little nervous," admits Albers. "I knew that was going to be a huge game for us. We were going to need to win that game if we wanted to have any chance of advancing."
Albers got off to a slow start giving up three straight hits and two runs in the fourth inning, but he settled in. He finished with three innings, two runs allowed, and three strikeouts including a strikeout of Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of Major League Baseball's best batters.
Also in the Canada/Mexico game, there was some extracurricular action, as the teams had a bench-clearing brawl in the ninth inning.
Albers said he wasn't really involved in it as he was one of the last guys off the bench and had to help separate guys, as their adrenaline was pumping high at the time.
Once the teams were calmed down and returned to their dugouts, Canada emerged with the win, but the next day lost to the United States to be eliminated.
It was an opportunity that comes around only every four years, so for some players it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For Albers, the 26-year-old lefthander, that opportunity may come up again, but for him it may have been even more special this time around. Albers pitched in the qualifying game where Canada beat Germany to advance to the World Baseball Classic and knew he had an outside chance to be listed on the WBC roster months later.
"The best part of the whole thing is getting to put Canada on the front of your chest and then getting the chance to play with 27 other proud Canadians and go compete against the rest of the world," said Albers. "They were a great group of guys and it's always fun when I get the chance to go play with those guys. We have a blast together and really become a pretty close group in a short period of time. It's special."
Albers is now at spring training with the Minnesota Twins organization. He expects to start the season where he finished last year at the AA level in New Britain.
"The plan is to hopefully pitch well enough to get promoted at some point this year and hopefully end the year in Rochester (AAA) or if I pitch really well and catch a break or two maybe end up with the Twins by the end of the year."
