When it’s Blake Krushinski’s turn at the plate and he hears the sharp “crack” of the bat after making contact, he’s not immediately thinking about whether he’s just hit a home run. Instead, his first goal is to get a line drive that helps his teammates move around the bases and extend the inning. The home runs, he says, “are just a bonus.”
That team-first approach seems to be paying off. With the season past the halfway mark, Blake leads the Foxes with 12 RBIs, has two home runs, and holds a .368 batting average. He’s also racked up 14 hits and has the second-highest on-base percentage on the team.
Still, for all his success at the plate, Blake is most comfortable on the mound.
A right-hander who can throw in the 88-92 mph range, Blake has 16 strikeouts on the year so far in 15 innings.
“Nothing compares to pitching; I love it,” says the 6’3”, 180-pound West Virginia University full scholarship recruit. “For me, there’s no place better in the world.”
Offseason Work Brings Success
Blake put a lot of work into the offseason to sharpen his skills. He played on several different top-level leagues and on a national travel team. That hard work paid off and was a confidence booster: Blake kicked off the this season with a three-run homer his first time at bat and has continued to have many other standout performances.
In mid-April, during the first game of a three-game set again section rival Mars, Blake recorded two RBIs. With the score tied, Blake was summoned to the mound to close out the game and for three innings stifled Mars’ bats. In extra innings, Blake led the Foxes to a 7-3 victory.
In another prominent performance, he shined on both offense and defense in a two-game set with New Castle. He pitched in both games. In the first game, Blake contributed four hits to help the Foxes to a 7-3 win. In the second game, Blake tallied four strikeouts to help the Foxes close with a 13-4 victory.
Motivated to Reach His Dream
It didn’t take long for college recruiters to take notice of Blake’ skills. Just before midnight on August 1, 2024 – the first day colleges could officially reach out – the rising junior got the call from West Virginia University. The Mountaineers offer also lines up with Blake’s family legacy in athletics – his father wrestled at Penn State, and his mother ran track and played rugby at the United States Naval Academy.
A few other programs had reached out to him, but he says, “Ultimately, I connected best with the WVU coaching staff, and it gave me even more drive to fulfill my dream of playing baseball at the highest level.”
Coach Jim Hastingspraises Blake’s work ethic.
“Blake is a very motivated player,” says the coach. “He’s playing loose, and his talent is really showing. He’s great when we’ve needed big hits and is emerging as a leader his teammates can count on at the plate and on the mound. He’s also a great defensive player in the outfield.”
“I knew he had talent, even as a kid,” says coach Hastings. “I’ve enjoyed watching his energy and seeing him grow and develop. Blake’s high velocity throws are hard to hit, and he’s developed a changeup that will help him this year. He works very hard, is always trying to improve and get better, and leads by example. I really enjoy being around him.”
From T-Ball to Leader
Blake’s love of baseball goes all the way back to T-ball, but his real passion for it was ignited after a trip to a Pirates’ game when he was 4 years old. A chance encounter with Andrew McCutchen made a lasting impression.
“I’ve had several opportunities to meet him since then and even had a chance to pitch to him and strike him out! He was so caught off guard that he picked me up and swung me around. It’s a pretty great memory. He became my favorite player, and that’s why I wear No. 22 to this day,” he says.
A More Mature Approach
Now an upperclassman, Blake brings a veteran mindset to the field.
“Since last year, I think I’ve matured and figured out what my goals are,” says the junior, who describes himself as extremely competitive at everything he does, but naturally quiet and introspective. “There’s a strong team mentality necessary in baseball to be the best, and our (Foxes) team has so much talent. I think we can go far, but having a winning momentum leading into the playoffs is going to be a big deciding factor in a tough section. We have a lot of strong arms and bats, so that might make a difference.”
He gives credit to several of his fellow pitchers, including seniors Jeremy Haigh, a Wagner College full scholarship recruit; senior Franco Pistella, who will continue his baseball career at Oberlin College; and talented sophomore Tristan Blum.
“I love the competitive rush and just feel the most like me when I’m playing,” says Blake. “I was a pretty shy kid, but when I started playing baseball, everything just clicked. It’s like I was born to play the game.”