KANSAS CITY — Kentucky senior southpaw Andrew Albers has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2008 Lowe?s Senior Class Award, it was announced.
The Lowe?s Senior Class Award is presented annually to NCAA Division I student-athletes in eight sports, who excel both on and off the field, with a focus on the ?Four C?s? of classroom, character, community and competition. Albers was one of 30 players in the nation and one of just two Southeastern Conference players named as candidates.
Albers, a fixture for four years on the UK pitching staff, has compiled countless hours volunteering to mentor and educate children in the Lexington area. Albers has volunteered for the past three years in the Fayette County Public School system, serving a variety of functions including leading and teaching classes, promoting literacy to first and second graders, mentoring children on importance of physical fitness. Albers has also worked the Children?s Little Olympics, supervising children during competition, as well as volunteering as a tutor for the Kentucky Center for Academic Tutorial Services. The 6-foot, 195-pounder has also volunteered at the Children?s Miracle League ? a little league baseball program for disable children, attending the opening ceremonies and working with participants during games.
A native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Albers has found a home over 28 hours away in the Bluegrass, excelling both on and off the diamond. A 2007 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, Albers has graced the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll for three years, also earning UK Athletic Director Honor Roll accolades for perfect 4.0 GPAs during the 2005-06 Spring semester. A Physical Education and Health Promotion major, Albers currently has a 3.79 cumulative GPA and has posted Dean?s Lists honors in every semester of his collegiate career, earning a 3.5 GPA and above in each semester.
?Andrew Albers is the definition of a student-athlete,? Kentucky associate head coach and pitching coach Gary Henderson detailed. ?He is an individual who exudes tremendous leadership capabilities both on and off the field. The University of Kentucky Athletics Department and baseball program has benefited remarkably by his presence in the organization. Showing up every day with a positive attitude and ample amount of energy can be a challenge, but not for Andrew, who does this every single day.?
On the field, Albers has appeared in 55 career games, with 31 career starts. A year ago, Albers started a team-high 15 games for the Wildcats, posting a 6-5 record and a 4.82 ERA in 72 1/3 innings. After functioning as a SEC weekend starter during his freshman season, Albers shifted to the bullpen during the 2006 SEC Championship run, racking up seven saves, the second most in school season history. So far in 2008, Albers has appeared in five games with one start, earning a 1.69 ERA and a 3-0 record.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college baseball seniors who fulfill their entire athletics eligibility and pursue their degree. Since that time, Lowe?s has expanded the award to including other sports including baseball.
This is the second annual Lowes Senior Class award, as Alabama outfielder Emeel Salem was the inaugural winner in 2007.
From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe?s Senior Class award in mid-April. Those 10 named will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
UK Moves to No. 4 in the Polls
LEXINGTON, Ky. — One of the hottest baseball teams in the country, Kentucky has moved up to No. 4 in the polls, released in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper top-30.
Kentucky has climbed steadily in the polls since the beginning of the season, when it was tabbed as high as No. 20. UK?s No. 4 ranking ties the 2006 squad, which climbed to No. 4 during the Southeastern Conference Championship run.
The Wildcats rank in the top 25 in all of the four major polling services, one of only four SEC schools to do so. UK has moved to No. 17 in the Baseball America poll, No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and No. 17 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association top-25.
UK comes in as the highest-ranked team in the SEC this week, edging Ole Miss and South Carolina, each ranked as high as No. 5.
Kentucky has outscored its opposition 175-39, ripping 49 doubles, seven triples and 20 homers, stealing 30-of-36 bases. On the bump, UK has been equally dominating, posting a 2.10 team ERA, working in 133 innings and striking out 138.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday with its first SEC series of 2008. UK hosts the Alabama Crimson Tide, the team it split the 2006 SEC Championship with. First pitch at Cliff Hagan Stadium is set for 4 p.m. ET.
Parking Available in the R-Lot for the Alabama Series
Parking will be available in the R-Lot, adjacent to Cliff Hagan Stadium, during UK?s weekend series with Alabama.
Due to the series coinciding with Kentucky?s Spring Break, the R-Lot will be available throughout the weekend series. Parking is also available in the C-Lot behind the outfield fence.
Carroll Tabbed No. 1 Outfielder by Rivals.com
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Senior Sawyer Carroll has been tabbed as the No. 1 outfielder, as ranked by Rivals.com latest positional power rankings, it was announced.
Carroll, who is batting .558 (29-for-52) on the season, has crushed six doubles, a triple, and six homers, driving in a team-high 29 RBI. Carroll has drawn 13 walks to just five strikeouts, also swiping 4-of-4 bags. Carroll has reached base safely in 14-of-15 games this season, including running up a four-game stretch with a homer and thee-hits in each contest. Carroll has tallied three four-RBI games and thee three-RBI games so far this season.
Last week, Carroll was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week after batting .667 (14-for-21) during UK?s 6-0 week. Carroll added three doubles, a triple, four homers and 17 RBI during the week. Carroll was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Hitter of the Week and Collegiate Baseball tabbed the right fielder as the National Player of the Week. The College Baseball Foundation recognized the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, placing him on the CBF?s National All-Star Lineup.
Carroll is not the only Wildcat listed in the Rivals rankings, as right-hander Scott Green ranks as the 13th pitcher. Green, tabbed as a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, has started three games for UK, earning a 1.50 ERA, a 2-0 record, working 18 innings and striking out 28. Green has still yet to walk a batter in 2008.
During the summer, Green emerged as one of the top arms in the nation and the SEC with a dominating performance in the Cape Cod League. Green worked in 40.1 innings at the cape, earning a 1.56 ERA, striking out 35.
UK Baseball Announces Camp Dates
Wildcats Baseball School
Session I: June 9-12
Session II: June 16-19
Wildcats Pitching, Catching, and Infield Skills Camp
July 13-15 * Grades 9-12
Wildcat Hitting Camp
July 15-17 * Grades 9-12
*More info on 2008 Wildcat Summer Baseball Camps will be available on UKathletics.com/baseball
