Harwich Native Marek Krystofolski Signs With Elon Baseball

Harwich native Marek Krystofolski is one step closer to reaching his baseball dreams. 

 When Krystofolski traveled to North Carolina last fall with his travel baseball team, North East Baseball, he was tasked with pitching against the Florida-based FTB Phillies, a scout team for the Philadelphia Phillies that was widely regarded as one of the top travel teams in the nation. 

 Krystofolski, a six-foot righthanded pitcher, was ready for the challenge. 

 “I threw well against [FTB Phillies] and after that, I got a call the next day and an offer from Elon University,” Krystofolski said. “We worked out the logistics and then I committed last November.”

 Krystofolski attended Harwich schools through eighth grade before enrolling at Phillips Academy in Andover for high school. The Cape native recently made his commitment to Elon official when he signed his letter of intent to play at Elon, a Division I program that competes in the Coastal Athletic Association. 

 “It was awesome,” Krystofolski said of the signing ceremony. “I had my family there and the school set up a big thing. It was a moment that it all came together. It was nice to do — it was a dream come true.”

 While Krystofolski’s Division I dreams may have come true at Phillips Andover, they first came to fruition on the Cape, where he fell in love with the game. 

The hard-throwing righty was introduced to baseball by his father, Jason, a former standout pitcher at the University of Rhode Island who went on to play professionally in the New York Mets organization.

 “My dad played Division I baseball and then played a little bit for the Mets,” the younger Krystofolski said. “I’ve always looked up to him and have wanted to follow in his footsteps, so I felt like that was one step closer to doing that.”

 Krystofolski becomes the second Harwich native to make a Division I baseball commitment in as many years. Brady Miller, a six-foot-five lefty who attended Belmont Hill and previously played for North East Baseball, is enrolled at Boston College as a freshman for the Eagles.

 Krystofolski said it was the connections that he’s made through NEB, which is based in Harvard, that helped him feel comfortable choosing Elon as his next program.

 “The environment seemed awesome,” the Phillips senior said. “There’s a big population of Northeast people, and then a lot of kids have gone from North East Baseball to Elon and loved it. I was really happy that I could be a part of that group that has gone from NEB to Elon.”

 Krystofolski was quick to praise NEB for helping to hone his skills while also crediting his family members that stuck by his side throughout his baseball journey.

 “Without their sacrifices, none of this could’ve been possible,” he said. “What my mom, dad and my grandparents have done – driving me to games and everything — has been a huge part of the process.”

 Krystofolski said it’s a weight off his shoulders to have his college plans finalized before he pitches in his final season in Andover. Although he’s already looking forward to pitching at the Division I level, he admitted he has another baseball dream that he hopes will bring him closer to home during his college career. 

 “One of my all-time goals for playing baseball is to spend a summer playing in the Cape League,” he said.