Pinnacle High School graduate proud to represent Chai
August 28, 2026
Originally Published for The Jewish AZ HERE
Andrew Alberts’ baseball skills bloomed in the desert, and now the Pinnacle High School Class of 2023 graduate is ready to shine, 2,050 miles away in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Phoenix is an incredible place,” Alberts said. “I love the heat, so I can’t complain about the weather there. It was a great place to go to high school.”
Alberts, 21, is a redshirt sophomore pitcher for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). He loves the support and camaraderie he enjoys with his teammates and coaches within the 49ers’ baseball program.
Alberts heard that his teammates planned on wearing the popular “Jesus Won” warm-up shirts that Texas Rangers rookie Evan Carter debuted in 2023.
Alberts completely understood and there’s a mutual respect between himself and his teammates, who are predominantly Christian. But he wanted a shirt that represented his faith tradition.
Thus, Alberts partnered with Jeremy Moses, co-founder of NIL Tribe, to work with Yonatees, a custom T-shirt shop that makes Jewish-themed apparel, to make the shirt a reality. NIL Tribe, of which Alberts is a member, is a name, image, and likeness collective for Jewish athletes to promote Jewish brands while connecting with fellow Jewish athletes.
The shirt has a Chai symbol above the word ‘Chai’ spelled in English. Alberts proudly wore it to the ballpark during his redshirt season last spring and plans to continue wearing it throughout his playing career. He also proudly wears a Star of David necklace whenever he plays.
“This shirt would not have been possible without Jeremy and Tribe NIL,” Alberts said. “I ultimately want to see as many Jewish athletes as possible rocking it. It would be pretty sweet to see a guy like Alex Bregman (of the Chicago Cubs) walk out in a Chai shirt. It is also a conversation starter because people ask and learn more about Judaism when they see it.”
Even with a busy schedule, Alberts tries to attend events at Hillel and Chabad on the UNCC campus.
Alberts said his connection to Judaism became stronger after the tragic events of October 7, 2023. At the time, he was playing junior college baseball in Washington State.
“Everyone seemingly wanting to turn against the Jews, from the left and right — the misinformation is astonishing,” Alberts said. “I had two options — I could hide and conceal my Star of David, or I could wear it proudly and show that I’m not going to back down. I decided to speak out and stand up for who I am and for the Jewish people. That led me to the Chai shirt. I’m on a pretty special journey and excited to keep going on it.”
Alberts took an interesting path through both Judaism and baseball. Born in Dallas, Texas, he attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, where he was an AP Scholar. His family would attend services on the High Holy Days but wasn’t in one location long enough to establish ties with local synagogues.
Alberts is one of the few college baseball players who never played high school baseball. Instead of suiting up for the Pinnacle Pioneers, he decided to train independently and play for club teams in the Phoenix area. Alberts ultimately landed at Manhattan University, a Division I school. Despite its name, the university is located in The Bronx.
He enjoyed his time in New York but decided that Charlotte was a better fit.
Alberts is considering a career in physical therapy or coaching after his playing days are over. In July, he completed an internship with Prime Performance, a baseball training facility in Florida.
“I was able to help with the program’s routines, training and data,” Alberts said. “I enjoyed the opportunity to make a positive impact in athletes’ lives. There are so many guys who have been a positive influence on me. Giving back is one of the most fulfilling things, and the internship catapulted my interest in coaching and mentoring.” JN
Michael Murra is a freelance writer based in Texas.
