WINTER HAVEN – For former Polk State Baseball outfielder Ty Crittenberger, his college career was spent as a journeyman, playing at four schools in six years. That career, however, culminated in the opportunity to play on college baseball's grandest stage.
As a redshirt senior this past season at the University of Kentucky, Crittenberger helped the Wildcats reach the College World Series for the first time. The trip to Charles Schwab Field in Omaha capped a 46-win season for Kentucky in which it entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 national seed.
"It was really special," Crittenberger said. "You can't prepare yourself for that energy and vibe until you step foot on the field. Walking home to our hotel from Charles Schwab, it felt like being a rock star."
Largely a reserve for Kentucky this past season, Crittenberger appeared in just 23 of the team's 62 games. That, however, didn't stop him from making an impact in Omaha.
"This past year, I really had to fight for my opportunities," he explained. "I showed up each day with a good attitude and was ready when I got my chance."
As a defensive replacement in the College World Series opener against North Carolina State University on June 15, Crittenberger entered the game late with the score tied 4-4. To begin the top of the 10th inning, he made a diving catch in centerfield to rob NC State's Matt Heavner of a hit. The Wildcats won it a half-inning later on Mitchell Daly's walk-off solo home run. Crittenberger's play in the outfield made "Top Plays" on ESPN's SportsCenter that evening.
"It was one of the most special moments of my career," Crittenberger reflected. "I was locked in at the moment. It didn't really sink in until it was over. It's a moment I'll never forget. I was grateful to be in that situation."
Kentucky's stay in Omaha and season ended with losses to Texas A&M University and the University of Florida in consecutive games. It also ended an accomplished college career for Crittenberger.
"Ty overcame quite a bit of adversity in his career," Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil said. "It's rewarding to see his perseverance pay off and open doors that eventually culminated on the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in the College World Series."
After beginning his collegiate career at the University of Central Florida, the Lighthouse Point, Fla. native spent just the COVID-shortened 2020 season at Polk State. Crittenberger appeared in 17 games for the Eagles, batting .297. He led the team with two home runs and two triples while ranking second on the team with 14 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
"First and foremost, I'll always remember my Polk State teammates," Crittenberger noted. "It's always fun to meet new guys. Polk State gave me a year to remember who I was as a person and a player."
"Ty was an explosive athlete who really just needed an opportunity and to stay healthy," Corbeil added. "Unfortunately, we only had him for half a season, because of COVID, so we didn't get to see everything completely come together for him here, but we could see he was really close to taking off as a ballplayer."
With two redshirt seasons under his belt, Crittenberger left Polk State with four years of eligibility remaining. He spent the next three years at Western Kentucky University where he hit .289 with nine home runs, 64 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. As a redshirt junior in 2023, he led the Hilltoppers with 20 steals and 57 runs scored while hitting a career-best .314.
He spent just this past season at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Despite spending five of his six college seasons at the Division I level, Crittenberger remembers his year at Polk State fondly.
"Coach Corbeil taught us toughness and perseverance and that stuck with me for the rest of my career," he said. "Coach Corbeil always had confidence in me. He always believed in me."
