A Crusader is turning in his sword and shield in exchange for some wings.
“It felt great. To have that moment with my family was just a weight off of my shoulders. Off my family’s as well. It was something I had dreamed about and they had wanted for me, so to actually be signing was a great feeling,” Krusinski said.
The school held a ceremony for Krusinski on Wednesday Nov. 13, the first day students were allowed to sign letters of intent. Though he had also received offers from Maine University and Winthrop University, Krusinski chose Delaware for a variety of reasons.
“I have close friends and cousins that went to Delaware, and when they graduated, they were able to find jobs doing what they wanted. They had a received a great education, and finding a good academic school was important for me,” Krusinski said.
He plans on studying biology and would like to go to dental school after his baseball days are done. Krusinski and his father traveled to Delaware last year to visit the university and walked away impressed after a meeting with head baseball coach Jim Sherman.
“Coach Sherman is a great guy and a great coach. We talked about the program and I was excited about them as a team,” Krusinski said.
Playing shortstop, second base and outfield for the Crusaders, Krusinski has led Bishop Eustace in home runs the last two seasons and in triples as a sophomore. He was a member of the Ohio Valley Regional Team and was named second team all conference as a junior. Krusinski said Delaware plans to make him a corner infielder as they love his power lefty bat from that position.
The Blue Hens program was especially attractive to Krusinski after seeing his friend and Bishop Eustace alum Jimmy Yezzo get selected by the Washington Nationals in this year’s Major League Baseball draft.
“Jimmy is a good friend of mine, so I’ve talked with him and knew that they had a strong program. Seeing him be drafted by the Nationals is what really made it stick that they have a really talented group down there,” Krusinski said.
With concerns of what college to attend addressed, Krusinski is now able to gear up for his final season of high school baseball.
“I’m excited to have a great senior year. It’ll be fun to be able to be a little more loose knowing that playing at the next level is taken care of,” Krusinski said. “At the same point, there are always things you can improve on so that’ll be a focus going into the season. The speed between the high school game and the college is a massive difference that I will have to learn to adjust to.”
While his parents may be heartbroken to hear it, Delaware also offered Krusinski the perfect blend of distance from his town.
“It’s just far away enough to move out and live on campus but close enough that I will still be able to come home and see my friends and family,” Krusinski said. “It’s really exciting to think about.”
