The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523120
TRACKING THE PACK 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Shortly after NC State's season-end- ing 5-4 loss to Florida in the Men's Col- lege World Series, graduate third base- man Alec Makarewicz emerged from the locker room. He turned down a hallway decorated with photos of each team par- ticipating in the event and headed back to the Charles Schwab Field playing surface one last time. Makarewicz spent four years at East Carolina chasing this dream, but he and the Pirates fell short in the Super Re- gional round twice. This time, though, he made it. While the Wolfpack's trip to Omaha didn't last as long as the team had hoped, consisting of only two games, Makare- wicz wanted to soak it all in. He walked down the ramp to the dugout before hop- ping up the dugout steps toward the dirt. The Raleigh Regional's Most Out- standing Player, Makarewicz squatted down and collected a handful of infield dirt into a cup. With his college career having drawn to a close, he wanted a me- mento of his lone season on the diamond in a Wolfpack uniform. Afterward, emotions still fresh, Ma- karewicz reflected on his 61 games for NC State. "These coaches and these players have let me be myself as a player and a person," he said, fighting through tears outside NC State's clubhouse. "It's been the most fun year I've ever had." Makarewicz picked NC State in the transfer portal because he thought the Pack had a good chance to make a post- season run, but he was also looking to have no limitations at the plate. Mission accomplished. Makarewicz put together not only a career-best campaign as a hitter, but one of the most impressive of any player in NC State history. The Longwood, Fla., native batted a career-high .378 with 98 hits, 84 RBI, 66 runs scored, 25 doubles and 24 home runs. He became the first Wolfpack player to have 25 doubles and 20 hom- ers in the same season. He also set the program single-season record for total bases with 195, while logging the eighth-most hits in a year — the highest total since Ramon Co- rona's 98 in 2006. Makarewicz's RBI numbers were the second-most ever in program history (behind Turtle Zaun's 87 in 1988) and his long ball total was the fourth-highest in one year for the Pack, the most since Tommy White hit 27 in 2022. All of this, however, came after a rather pedestrian four years at East Carolina. Makarewicz batted .298 with 182 total hits, 128 RBI, 127 runs scored, 36 doubles and 28 home runs during his time with the Pirates. So, did Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent see this coming? "Lord, no. God, no," Avent said. "The numbers that he put up, eye-popping. … When you talk about [nearly] 100 hits, Lord knows how many doubles — the numbers that he put up, nobody saw coming." Although Makarewicz burst onto the scene to lead the Wolfpack's lineup, he had it within him all along. He just needed a chance to show his full capa- bilities. "I've had high expectations for myself as a player, and I knew I could do more than what I did in the past at East Caro- lina," Makarewicz said. "These coaches brought the most out of me. I just lis- tened to what they said, trusted my gut and had a great year." Makarewicz was able to cap his sea- son with a 15-for-38 showing with 2 doubles, 5 home runs and 13 RBI in the NCAA Tournament, including 2 blasts and 4 RBI at the College World Series. And as he did it, his infectious smile was hard to wipe off his face. The third baseman was a constant in the Pack's lineup the entire season, nearly an automatic run-producer, and that didn't change on the big stage. But once the Wolfpack's season ended, Makarewicz was able to spend one more moment with his skipper. Avent took his time to hug each player after the final defeat against Florida, sharing a brief message during the em- brace. The coach who took a chance on Makarewicz and means "everything" to him, continued to encourage his slugger. "I didn't really hear what he said to anyone else," Makarewicz said, paus- ing to collect himself, "but he told me that it's only the beginning for me and he's going to watch me play in the big leagues one day." — Noah Fleischman STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH GRADUATE THIRD BASEMAN ALEC MAKAREWICZ Makarewicz, an East Carolina transfer, enjoyed a historic campaign with the Wolfpack. He set a single-season school record with 195 total bases and became the first NC State player ever to have 25 doubles and 20 homers in the same year. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS