Muhlenberg's Alex Krick, Drue LaFaver juggle school, baseball, firefighting

May 16—Alex Krick and Drue LaFaver faced a difficult choice on the first Saturday in April.

They could travel with their Muhlenberg baseball teammates to their first game at Pottsville or attend a mandatory training session in order to receive their certification as volunteer firefighters.

"We had to decide which one we would go to and which one was more important," Krick said. "We wanted to be at the game a lot, but we also had to attend the session because it's only offered once a year."

After Muhls coach Brian Kopetsky said he would understand, Krick and LaFaver attended the training session. They missed a 5-1 win so they could complete their training in a field that also has become a large part of their lives.

"The most rewarding thing (about being a firefighter) is just knowing you're helping someone," LaFaver said. "It's someone's worst day and you're just trying to help them."

Krick and LaFaver will try to help Muhlenberg (12-6) beat Gov. Mifflin (16-5) Monday at 4:15 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium in the first of two Berks Baseball League semifinals. Thirty minutes later, Wilson (18-1) and Oley Valley (16-3) will tangle in the second game.

The winners will advance to the championship game Wednesday at 6 p.m. back at the stadium.

Krick pitched a four-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory over Wyomissing, which sent the Muhls to the semifinals. He's 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA and is batting .319 with 18 RBIs.

LaFaver has been used as a late-inning defensive replacement and as a relief pitcher. He said his firefighting with the Muhlenberg Township Fire Company has helped him deal with the pressure of pitching in the middle of tight games.

"Both of them have a good adrenaline rush," he said. "You're put on the spot in each situation. You gotta do what you can do. You know how to do it. You do what you can to get yourself out of it."

It's not surprising that LaFaver wants to make firefighting his career. His father, Andrew, has been a volunteer for a long time and is Muhlenberg's first deputy chief. His paternal grandfather, Larry LaFaver, retired from Temple Fire Company as of Jan. 1. His maternal grandfather, Bruce Feltenberger, is a chief at Central Fire Company in Laureldale.

"I think I was 7 or 8 when I went on my first call," LaFaver said. "My dad was a chief so he could take his own car. I'd ride with him. I grew up around it. I just had interest in it so I started doing it and I loved it."

Influenced by LaFaver, a life-long friend, Krick began volunteering two years ago. His grandfather and great-grandfather were volunteers at the former Lincoln Park Fire Company.

"At first I was a little nervous running into a burning building," Krick said. "Once I started doing it for a while, I got used to it and I was comfortable with it. 'Wow, I really like this. This is something I find really interesting.' "

Their schedules have been very tight this spring as they've juggled school, baseball and firefighting.

"As coaches and teachers, we're trying to teach these kids life skills," Kopetsky said, "like how to work as a team and how to be part of a group. Fifty to 75% of these kids will be done with baseball after high school. When it ends, what do you have?

"With these two guys, they've made a huge commitment. For them to be able to balance school, baseball and a commitment like that, it's a really pretty cool thing."

Krick has committed to play baseball and major in criminal justice at Division II Wilmington University. He plans to volunteer at a firehouse near the campus.

LaFaver plans to attend Harrisburg Area Community College and pursue an associate's degree in fire science.

They've both been inspired by 2014 Muhlenberg grad Derrick Redcay, whose baseball career suddenly ended during his senior year when he suffered a rare spinal cord stroke. Redcay, who also was a volunteer firefighter in high school, was planning to follow that as a career. He now serves as an assistant coach with the Muhlenberg A's Legion team.

"I even looked into the school he was going to attend, the University of New Haven," LaFaver said. "They have an awesome program. He's not able to do it, so we gotta help keep his thing going."

LaFaver said he went out on a call at 3 a.m. earlier this month on a Saturday the Muhls had practice.

"It was a wires-down call," he said. "I ended up being there till right before I came to practice. I was tired. Practice dragged. I went back home and took a good nap."

LaFaver and Krick make sacrifices, they say, because they love their community. They're following a 20-year tradition of Muhlenberg baseball players volunteering as firefighters.

"It's about helping somebody who needs help," Krick said. "If someone's in a terrible accident, you can comfort them and keep them safe until you can get them out of the vehicle. Or you can rescue someone from a building. It's all about helping the community."