NC State’s Alec Makarewicz closes career with record-setting campaign

OMAHA, Neb. — Shortly after NC State’s 5-4 loss to Florida in the College World Series, graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz emerged from the locker room. He took a right down the hallway decorated with photos of each team in the event to head 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 Regional round twice. Now, though, he made it. 

While the Wolfpack’s trip was shorter than expected, an 0-2 mark, Makarewicz wanted to soak it all in. He walked down the ramp to the dugout before hopping up the dugout steps towards the dirt. 

Makarewicz, the Raleigh Regional’s Most Outstanding Player, squatted down and collected a handful of infield dirt into a cup. It was a memento to take home to go with the gifts the team received from the event’s sponsors earlier in the week.

But for Makrewicz, this was his chance to remember his collegiate career with his lone season on the diamond in a Wolfpack uniform coming to an end. 

Afterwards, emotions still fresh from the Pack’s season coming to a close, Makarewicz reflected on his 61 games in Raleigh. 

“These coaches and these players have let me be myself as a player and a person,” Makarewicz 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 postseason run, but he was also looking to have no limitations at the plate. 

And, well, 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 program history.

The Longwood, Fla., native hit a career-high .378 with 98 hits, 84 RBI, 66 runs scored, 25 doubles and 24 home runs. He the first Wolfpack player to have 25 doubles and 20 homers in the same season on record. 

He also set the single-season record for total bases with 195, while logging the eighth-most hits in a year — the highest total since Ramon Carona’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 ECU. Makarewicz hit .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. What he did defensively, consistency, professionalism, all the things that had gave that nobody sees is big. Then when you talk about [nearly] 100 hits, lord knows how many doubles. … The numbers that he put up, nobody saw coming.”

Although Makarewicz exploded onto the scene to lead the Wolfpack’s lineup, he had it within him all along. He just needed a chance to show it.

“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 Carolina,” Makarewicz said. “These coaches brought the most out of me. I just listened to what they said, trusted my gut and had a great year.”

Makarewicz was able to cap his season with a 15-for-38 showing with two doubles, five home runs and 13 RBI at in the NCAA Tournament, including two blasts and four 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 had its door closed, 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 embrace. The coach that took a chance on Makarwicz and means “everything” to him, continued to encourage his slugger. 

“I didn’t really hear what he said to anyone else,” Makarewicz said, pausing 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.”