Benjamin blowing ‘em away at St. Charles East

As mentioned earlier this week by Chris Walker in his notes on lacrosse, Marmion will host its second annual Cadet Challenge lacrosse tournament this Saturday.

From 7 a.m. to dusk games will occupy five different fields on Marmion’s campus in Aurora. Three levels will be represented, varsity, junior varsity and frosh-soph playing in a round-robin format.

“If it’s like the past year’s, it’s kind of a cool event,” said Marmion athletic director Joe Chivari. “There’s people all over the place, there’s games going on all over and people coming and going.”

Trophies and medals will be handed out to the best teams, as well as awards for sportsmanship and most valuable player.

Regardless of what level they’re playing at, teams will represent area high schools Geneva, West Chicago, Montini and Bartlett plus Minooka, Marian Catholic, Grayslake Central, Grayslake North and, of course, the host Cadets.

“It’s really becoming more of a Midwestern sport, especially at Marmion,” said Valerie Canning, who’s helping promote the event and is the mother of freshman middie, Tim Canning.

“When Marmion started lacrosse three years ago they had 15 kids in it,” she said. “Now there’s 80.”

Catching up with... Wes Benjamin

St. Charles East senior Wes Benjamin doesn’t know exactly how many scouts have visited Saints baseball games when he’s pitched this season, but 22 Major League teams have contacted him. Such is the appeal of a left-hander with an 89-mile per hour fastball and a 20-2 varsity record, 7-0 this season with a 0.48 earned run average. All-state as a junior and a preseason All-American pick by Rawlings and Under Armor this year, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Benjamin stands a good chance of being drafted on June 10-11; if not he’ll play at Kansas on scholarship. Though he also plays travel ball for the Downers Grove Longshots and last year pitched in Wrigley Field for the Cincinnati Reds scout team, Benjamin is not all baseball. He’s got a 5.2 grade-point average and is a senior leader for physical education. After the father of Saints coach Dave Haskins was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, Benjamin started a small foundation that sold bracelets to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Research Society. On Tuesday, the enterprising 17-year-old was honored with St. Charles East’s Joe Gaffney Male Athlete of the Year Award. “I’m humbled by it,” he said.Q: Were you surprised to win that award?

A: A little bit. It seemed like the people around me thought I was going to get it more than myself.

Q: When did you start playing baseball?

A: I think my dad (former Shippensburg University punter Scott) got me into it when I was around 5. I played at the lowest level, I think it was tee-ball, with the younger guys, and everyone got a uniform with a Major League team on it. We went out and had fun and it#146;s grown since, and I still have love for the game.

Q: What#146;s been your baseball highlight?

A: I would say, definitely when I played for the Cincinnati Reds scout team down in Florida. The complex and facilities were just incredible. Being able to throw in front of all these scouts, who easily numbered into the 30s or 40s, and seeing all their radar guns go up behind home plate at the same time, it#146;s a humbling experience and something that I#146;ll never forget.

Q: How about pitching at Wrigley Field?

A: That was easily one of the biggest highlights of my baseball career. That was a lot of fun to be out there.

Q: Was the wind blowing out?

A: No, there was no wind, which was very nice.

Q: Over the years you#146;ve given up soccer, basketball and football. Ever wanted to quit baseball?

A: I can#146;t say there has ever been a time. There#146;s definitely been some tough moments where I never know how things are going to turn out, whether they#146;re going to be good or bad. But I think at the end of the day I#146;ve always wanted to play it.

It#146;s the one sport I could never get rid of. Ever since I was a kid, after playing all those sports I had been in all year #145;round I always had to make sure I made it to my baseball games and was always there. It seemed to be the most fun to me.

Q: What#146;s your favorite pitch on an 0-2 count?

A: I would have to say my favorite pitch would be a low-and-away changeup. Just because when it works they#146;ll swing right over it and it#146;ll make them look silly.

Q: What are your favorite sports movies?

A: I have to go with a baseball kind of theme here. I#146;m a big fan of the #147;Sandlot#148; and #147;Major League#148; movies. #147;The Sandlot#148; is a classic and #147;Major League#148; is one of the funnier comedic movies that I like. It pokes fun at the whole idea of Major League Baseball and what it takes to win.

Q: Your sister Kirsten, is a 2007 St. Charles East graduate. What have you learned from her?

A: She#146;s definitely helped teach me to be more open-minded toward many things going on in the world whether it#146;d be politics or trying new things. She used to play softball a little bit, then she got me into doing acting a little bit when I was younger #8212; which is actually what she does now, trying to be an actress.

Q: What do you feel is the greatest problem we face today?

A: I think trying to step away from the whole war on terror and everything like that. I think definitely with gas prices now, just in terms of a teenager such as myself, it#146;s tough to pay that off. And if they continue to skyrocket the way they are I might not be using my car anytime soon.

Q: Back to baseball. Ever down knock a batter?

A: I would imagine when I was a little younger I would have vented my rage a little bit. But that won#146;t fly because every batter counts at this level and I won#146;t risk doing that all for my own gain.

Q: Highly considerate for an athlete of the year.

A: It#146;s been fun playing for our team and all our guys do a great job. It#146;s not just one player all the time who has all the wins, the whole team is involved. It#146;s been fun playing with these guys the past four years, and I#146;ll miss it.

Glove story

Chances are good that in the dark recesses of your garage there is an old, outgrown baseball glove longing to return to active duty.

Through May 31 the Chicago Bulls/White Sox Training Academy in Lisle is collecting used baseball gloves, a drive called #147;Gift of Glove.#148; The mitts will be given to disadvantaged Chicago players in the Inner City Youth Baseball League.

Every person donating a glove will receive a voucher for 15 minutes of free time in the batting cage and a chance to win goodies autographed by White Sox players. The person who donates the most gloves at each of the five Training Academy locations will win four tickets to the July 7 ballgame between the Twins and White Sox.

In addition to the Lisle facility, gloves can be turned in to Training Academy satellite locations in Glen Ellyn, LaGrange, Tinley Park and Schererville, Ind. For details, call (630) 324-8221.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com