Stephen Schoch secured a win for Virginia during the NCAA baseball tournament on Tuesday by pitching 3 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five.
While Schoch was happy about the victory, it did come at a cost. It meant that he would miss out on the free Dippin’ Dots an Old Dominion fan offered him to blow the game.
In a postgame interview, Schoch told the story and joked about exactly why the offer gave him a moment’s pause during the game.
“I heard a fan offer free Dippin’ Dots if I blew it, which the price of Dippin’ Dots with inflation is just unreal,” Schoch said. “So, for a brief moment, I was like, ‘Damn, Dippin’ Dots sound good.’ But also I thought in the back of my head, we win today, we win tonight, we’re gonna be here another day. That’s more per diem. So that means I can buy my own Dippin’ Dots and be a winner.”
That definitely seems like the better choice in the two scenarios. And if Virginia keeps winning, that could mean even more Dippin’ Dots for Schoch.
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That wasn’t the only comical comment featured in Schoch’s interview. He also explained his mentality on the mound while toning down some of the more colorful language that typically pops into his head when pitching.
“I think three words every time I’m out there,” Schoch said. “The first one’s a swear word, start’s with F. The second word’s attack. The third one’s win. And I just repeat that to myself unless there’s a breach in the system and I walk a guy. Then I tell myself that I’m a few different things that isn’t a winner. I might break that, but then I get right back on it. Just this, attack, win.
The delivery from Schoch is hilarious. He might have a backup career as a comedian if the baseball thing doesn’t work out.
But at 6-5, 235 pounds and after posting a 2.52 ERA, 4-1 record and 52 strikeouts as a senior, he should be drafted and have a chance to continue his career if he so desires.