Even as a coach, Kurtus Millar admits it, he got goosebumps.
The crowd was loud. The energy was real. And with resilience and heart, the St. Albert Cardinals captured the 2025 Baseball Alberta Elite League (BAEL) Provincial Championship, finishing off a season that will be remembered for its grit and togetherness.
“There were a couple times when the stands got loud and the kids were rolling, and I just stopped and took it in,” said Millar, head coach of the 18U squad and long-time leader within St. Albert Minor Baseball. “It was a great weekend.”
The Cardinals didn’t cruise to the title, they fought for every inch. Of the four games they won at provincials, they trailed in three. “They don’t have quit in them,” Millar said. “They came back to tie and win those games. Extra innings, late hits, they just kept going.”
The path to the championship was a full team effort. Timely hitting in high-pressure innings, strong situational pitching, and clean defensive execution kept the Cardinals alive when games could’ve slipped away. The coaching staff made sharp in-game adjustments, while the players stayed composed and confident in the biggest moments. Every comeback win built on the last, and by the time the final out was made, there was no doubt: this was a championship earned, not given.
It was an impressive feat for a group as young as this one. Twelve rookies. Eight with no Tier 1 experience. And yet, by the end of the year, they were playing like veterans. “We had a younger team, but also some awesome vets who really showed the kids the ropes,” Millar said. “They taught them how to win.”
That mentorship mattered. The Cardinals finished second in league play behind the Calgary Bucks, dropping only two games in their final month of the regular season. By the time provincials rolled around, they had momentum and belief.
“Out of all the years I’ve been coaching, I don’t remember a group that’s been closer than this one,” Millar said. “They really came together.”
The connection wasn’t accidental. Sixteen of the 18 players came up through the Cardinals’ own development program, years of winter training that built more than just skill. “We talk a lot about approach, about trusting your training,” Millar said. “We told them: don’t be afraid to fail. What we care about is effort, accountability, and playing for each other. And they bought into that.”
Leadership within the dugout played a huge role. Captains kept the group focused and locked in. Veteran players set the tone with work ethic and consistency. After more than two decades with St. Albert baseball, Millar has seen plenty of teams, but this one, he said, will stand out.
“They worked so hard. They left everything on the field,” he said. “I was really proud of them.”
Now, the Cardinals turn their focus to Baseball Canada Nationals, opening Thursday against Ontario and Fort McMurray, with Quebec and New Brunswick on deck Friday.
