Krawchuk tosses perfection
Carter Krawchuk was determined not to let perfection slip away.
The 20-year-old St. Catharines native recently tossed a seven-inning perfect game for the Seminole State baseball team versus Hillsborough College in National Junior College Athletic Association action.
The graduate of Saint Francis Secondary School struck out 13 and threw 92 pitches in his masterpiece which saw him retire all 21 batters he faced.
The Raiders had taken an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth so when Krawchuk shut down Hillsborough in the top of the seventh the mercy rule kicked in and the game was called.
“Definitely in the seventh inning when I knew I had the opportunity to do it, it was probably the most nervous I’ve been on the mound in quite some time,” Krawchuk said. “I was definitely a little jittery out there, but at the same time, I don’t put my hours in the gym when no one’s watching and do all that extra stuff to get into those big moments just to fizzle out.”
Krawchuk credits his control for the dominating outing.
“I was locked in. I felt good. I was commanding all my pitches to the best the ability I can. I was really getting ahead and staying ahead and letting my weapons work,” he said.
Krawchuk said he realized early on he might be in for a special night.
“Every single time I step on the mound I’m not there for stats or any of that,” he said. “I’m just there to win. I want to be the pitcher that wants to win, that wants his team to win and stats come along with that. As long as I am going out there and doing everything I can to help us win, that’s all I’m focused on but as the game kept going on I was thinking to myself I have a good opportunity here.”
Krawchuk is wrapping up his first season at Seminole State after transferring from Purdue. He has put together a solid campaign with a 4-1 record, 4.65 earned run average and 62 strikeouts in 60 innings.
“I started off really hot, a 1.90 ERA through four or five games, and then got hit with brutal stomach virus and lost some weight and it was really hard to come back from that,” Krawchuk said. “It took me around three weeks in March but once I came back I was coming for blood. I started off so hot, I didn’t want to throw it all away.”
He remained undeterred through his rough patch.
“That’s the life of a pitcher. Things don’t always go your way. It’s how you really get out it when you’re not doing well,” he said.
Krawchuk made an adjustment on the mound this season which has paid off big time.
“My mechanics are locked in. I took the full wind up out and I’ve been going from stretch and ever since I’ve been having success,” he said. “When I hit my spots, good things happen.”
Krawchuk has enjoyed his first season at Seminole, which is located near Orlando. He hopes to catch on with another Division 1 school next season, but only if the situation is right.
“Being a freshman here and having the ability to start every single game this year has given me so much confidence and experience. Confidence is so key in pitching. If you’re not confident, how are you going to get anyone out or be dominant?
“I have ability to come back next year. I have very high hopes. I’m not going to settle for going somewhere just to go to leave a place. I think it’s irresponsible and immature and I have goals I want to reach. If I don’t get the offers I want from the Power 5 I really crave, if I have to stay back another year, that’s OK. I’ve done that before. If I see a great opportunity for myself, I’m never going to let that go but if it’s not there, I’ll stay patient with it. You don’t put in all that time and effort to go out there and not chase your dreams.
“My parents sacrificed their time and money to put me in these situations and I’m going to make them proud.”
Krawchuk, who is scheduled to make two more starts this season, is excelling in the classroom as well.
“I’m getting crammed with schoolwork but I stay academically disciplined and if I get my grades, there’s nothing that can stop me,” he said.
Seminole State has six conference game remaining and is three games out of the last Citrus Conference playoff spot.
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