ADAMS TWP — Joey Craska has an electric arm.

His fastball is consistently in the mid-80s and occasionally touches 90 mph. He has a filthy curveball and an effective changeup.

The Mars' right-hander also has a knack for pitching.

“Joe is so gritty out there,” said Mars baseball coach Andy Bednar after Craska pitched the Planets to a 5-0 win over Fox Chapel in the WPIAL playoffs in the spring. “Situations don't get to him. He just continues to battle.”

Craska is heading to New Jersey Institute of Technology to play baseball. The Highlanders play in the Atlantic Sun Conference and Craska figures to get plenty of seasoning and action.

But this winter, Craska is turning his attention to a different sport.

Basketball.

And he's applied himself just as much to hoops as he has to hardball.

“I honestly like working on both sports,” Craska said. “Baseball is my primary sport, but basketball is a different feel for me. Honestly, I think it makes me better at baseball.”

Craska isn't bad at basketball, either.

Last year, he had a unique role for the Planets, who went 27-2, won the WPIAL 5A title and advanced to the PIAA semifinal.

Craska's job was to simply play stellar defense. If he scored, it was considered a bonus because of stalwarts Michael Carmody, Andrew Recchia, Brandon Caruso and Khori Fusco around him.

Craska averaged just 2.9 points per game last season.

That has changed in 2019-20.

After scoring just 85 points as a junior, Craska has already scored 42 in four games this season — including a career-high 15 against Indiana.

The 6-foot guard scored eight points in the first quarter against Franklin Regional Monday and finished with 10 in the 57-52 win.

“I embraced it,” Craska said of his new responsibilities this season. “I knew coming in we were losing Andrew, Brandon, Khori, so I knew I was going to have to make some shots and make some plays on the offensive end. I still need to be on that same aggressive side on the defensive end of the floor. I can't just push that aside.”

Craska hasn't.

“This isn't Joey's primary sports, obviously — he's going to college to play baseball — but he's really worked on his game,” said Mars basketball coach Rob Carmody. “He's become very adept offensively; he's already made more 3s than he made all of last year.

“What's nice is now he's still defending,” Carmody added. “Last year in a playoff game he took three charges. He has to find that balance between being that guy who is taking charges and making defensive plays and getting on the floor for us and also still being offensively capable for us.”

Craska is happy in whatever role he is given.

Even last year when he wasn't scoring, he immersed himself in being one of the best defenders in the WPIAL.

“One thing I've always done is try to be the best on my role,” Craska said. “I knew those guys were all great scorers.”

Craska has also taken on another monumental task.

Finding time to work on his basketball skills as well as his baseball ones.

“It's definitely a grind,” Craska said. “Some days, you have to do both. Even now there are some days where we practice from 5 to 7 and I go down to Baldwin to train for baseball. You just have to find the time.”