Ben Krusen: A ‘different mindset’ in the VBL

Ben Krusen took to Twitter to express his frustration at trimesters.

“I wish I was in Virginia with @wborogenerals for our exhibition game tonight instead of still in school.. #12moredays,” mused Krusen, a pitcher in his second season with the Waynesboro Generals, the night of the Generals’ exhibition game with the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks on May 29.

Krusen was finishing up his sophomore year at North Central College (Naperville, Ill.). North Central’s third trimester of the 2012-2013 school year didn’t end until June 5, meaning Krusen was delayed in making his summer debut until June 15.

He didn’t waste his first impression on the Valley League in 2013, striking out six in three and two-thirds innings of relief in a 3-0 loss to New Market.

This on top of a solid sophomore season at North Central, where Krusen went 3-2 with a 2.27 ERA with 65 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 63.1 innings.

The foundation for that success was set in the summer of 2012 in Waynesboro, where Krusen was 1-2 with a 3.31 ERA in four appearances (three starts).

“Out here, it’s definitely better competition. Being at the D3 level, you see better hitters here than I am in the spring,” Krusen said.

The level of talent up and down lineups in the VBL forces pitchers to take on a “different mindset,” Krusen said.

“It’s the little things, making sure you get ahead, making sure you spot the ball a little better here. You can’t get away with as many mistakes as you can in spring ball,” Krusen said.

More online at www.WaynesboroGenerals.net.