Wayne Valley Pitcher Dreams of Striking Out Major League Hitters

Andrew Furber’s dream is to play baseball in the major leagues, a dream no doubt shared by thousands of young ball players throughout the country.

The Wayne Valley pitcher just might get there the way he is pitching this season.

He threw a no-hitter against Wayne Hills in his first game this season. He’s also thrown a one-hitter and a three-hitter.

“I’ve been pitching since I was 8 years old. I just love it,” Furber said. “You’re always in the game and you’re very much in control of what happens.”

For Furber it’s simple: just get hitters out.

Baseball games tend to pass by slower than other team sport games do, something Furber said he likes about baseball.

“It’s much more relaxed than say football. The practices are more relaxed and laid back,” Furber said. “It’s an everyday sport.”

Furber also pitches for the New Jersey Twins, a club team. His favorite major league player is World Series champion pitcher Tim Lincecum. Lincecum is a two-time recipient of the National League Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in both leagues annually.

“He’s a little guy and no one really thought much of him when he first went to the majors, but now look at him,” Furber said.

Watching Lincecum play the game has helped keep Furber’s dream of playing in the majors alive.

“The dream hasn’t diminished at all,” Furber said. “I don’t even have a team in mind I want to play for. I just want to get there.”

Furber knows that if someone like Lincecum can achieve what he has achieved, there’s no reason he can’t. Furber will attend Gloucester County College in South Jersey in the fall.

“Throughout my life, baseball has taught me to work hard,” Furber said. “Working hard isn’t just regulated to baseball either. It applies to everything, no matter what you have to do.”