ROCK HILL, S.C. - On this episode of Ever Stand at Home, Alyssa Sconzo caught up with former Winthrop pitcher, Nate Pawelczyk. The Florida native shares his baseball journey, favorite memory of being an Eagle and more!

AS: "How are you doing?"
NP: "I'm doing good. I made it through the quarantine and coronavirus pandemic pretty unscathed, no sickness, so I was pretty happy about that."
 
AS: "So, you've had a pretty crazy baseball journey so far. You graduated, then you were drafted in the 10^th round of the MLB Draft that year by the Chicago White Sox, you played a year in their minor league system and now you're playing independent ball. Tell me a little bit about your baseball journey so far."
NP: "I obviously had a pretty good career at Winthrop. I really enjoyed it. Then, I had the chance to get drafted by the White Sox and got to pitch in Great Falls, MT, honestly a beautiful part of the country. I really enjoyed my time out there. I moved back to Florida for the off season and then with the whole coronavirus pandemic going on, I was released by the White Sox in March. I got a call from an independent team up in Washington, PA and they were like "hey, we're like one of the only leagues going on right now, if you're interested, we'd love to have you." So, I made the trip up to Pennsylvania and now I'm playing here. So far, so good. The season isn't going too long though, it actually ends August 24, so we don't have too much left. I'm enjoying my time for sure."
 
AS: "Like you said, you had a great four-year career at Winthrop. You earned All-Conference honors three seasons and led the team in wins for three straight seasons. What would you say is your favorite memory of being an Eagle?"
NP: "That's a tough one. Everyone always asks that question. It's so tough because there is so many different things that added up to me enjoying my time at Winthrop, it wasn't just one specific occurrence. I would say just the comradery in the locker room with the guys. Even the 5:30 a.m. lift, just getting there and everyone is dead tired, I miss that. I would say just the locker room atmosphere just being with my teammates every day and forming a brotherhood is my favorite memory as an Eagle."
 
AS: "Back in June you were one of two former Winthrop baseball players to be named to the Big South All-Decade team. How special is it to be recognized in that way?"
NP: "That was super cool. I would say that is probably one of my biggest accomplishments as a baseball player, no doubt. I was really hoping I got it. I was kind of nervous the day it was coming out. I was thinking I really hope I get this, this would be super cool. I know the quality of baseball players from the years that I was in the Big South and there's some really good players here. So, to be named as one of the 40 players or whatever it was out of thousands was super cool and I really didn't take that for granted at all."
 
AS: "How do you feel Winthrop prepared you for life and baseball after college?"
NP: "I mean, TR (Tom Riginos), our head coach, talks about it all the time. He says baseball is something that teaches you about life after college is done because no matter what, if you stink the day before, you have to show up to the ball field ready to play like it didn't happen. You can't let that carry over. I think that is something I've carried over into my next few years. Obviously I was released, so, the next day I was still training and getting ready to play baseball even though my baseball career wasn't where I thought it was going to be for this next season. I would say that's the biggest thing I learned at Winthrop, no matter what happens you have to be ready for the next day and just continue to push on."
 
AS: "Professional baseball has implemented some new rules recently, some COVID-related, some not, how do you feel about the changes being made to the game?"
NP: "Honestly, I've really enjoyed the extra-inning shootout, where they put the man on second base for the 10^th inning. I never thought that would be implemented, we did that when we were like 12 years old. I wasn't sure how that was going to go but it's been fun. I'm one of the people who will sit there every night with like four different games on my laptop and I just watch every single one of them. The differences in the game, I wouldn't say they're a bad thing, obviously the fact that some players have to sit outside of the dugout stinks because you don't get to have those conversations with your teammates during the game but I would say they have worked out pretty well. I've enjoyed watching the extra-inning shootout for sure."
 
AS: "What advice would you give to high school or college athletes that would like to have a career as successful as yours?"
NP: "I would say have fun and don't sweat the small stuff. My freshman year was probably, undoubtedly, the worst year of my career. It was because I put way too much pressure on myself. Go out there and have fun. The only person putting that much pressure on you, is you. You're the one that sets the standard and if you just trust in yourself and believe in yourself, everything will work out just fine."
 
AS: "Before I let you go, I wanted to ask you about some of your favorite things. What's your favorite movie?"
NP: "Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith."
AS: "Favorite ballpark food."
NP: "Definitely a ballpark frank. You have to have a hot dog with mustard and ketchup. There's no exception to the toppings."
AS: "Favorite place on campus."
NP: "I'm going to say Digs. I like Digs a lot. I didn't get to spend much time there my junior and senior year but my freshman and sophomore year, that was a definite hangout spot for a lot of us baseball players living in Courtyard."
AS: "Favorite song."
NP: "Right now? Right now, my favorite song is Beer Never Broke My Heart by Luke Combs. It's a banger."
AS: "Yep, that's a good one! Favorite athlete."
NP: "Right now basketball is popping into my head but it has to be a baseball player right? Alright, I'll go basketball first. Dwyane Wade, undoubtedly. I'm a South Florida guy so Wade County is forever in my heart. Favorite baseball player? Growing up it was Ken Griffey Jr., so I'll go with that one. The kid."
AS: "Favorite pitch to throw."
NP: "Oh, the slider, undoubtedly. That pitch is a go-to whenever I am in trouble."
AS: "Favorite stadium you've played at."
NP: "My favorite stadium would probably be TD Ameritrade in Omaha, which is where the College World Series is held but favorite atmosphere would be Ole Miss. We opened up there my junior year and it was super fun."
AS: "Favorite holiday."
NP: "Christmas, all day every day. People are nicer around Christmas."
AS: "And your favorite thing about Winthrop."
NP: "My favorite thing about Winthrop is – I have so many favorites. I would say my favorite thing about Winthrop is the small school feel but it's not a super small school. I was walking around campus and I feel like I knew a lot of the people. I really enjoyed walking around campus and saying hey to the soccer girls or the basketball team or the men's soccer team, just being about to know a large group of people at a larger school as well."

AS: "Thank you so much for your time today. It was great catching up with you!'
NP: "Thanks for having me. It was a good time!"