MM_061418

mokenamessenger.com sports
the Mokena Messenger | June 14, 2018 | 47
fastbreak
Going Places
Bennitt’s baseball versatility, passion for engineering lands him at IIT
Steve Millar
Freelance Reporter
22nd Century Media File
Photo
1st-and-3
Brandon, baseball
go hand in hand
1. Education first,
baseball second
Lincoln-Way Central
alumnus Brandon
Bennitt chose to
play baseball at
Illinois Institute of
Technology because
of its well-known engineering
program.
2. Getting recognized
Bennitt started
receiving calls from
schools after a stellar
junior year when
he had a .429 batting
average and a
.532 OBP. His power
numbers went up
this year, as he had
2 home runs, 16 RBI
and 30 runs.
3. Jack of all trades
Bennitt played the
corner outfield
positions, second
base and third base,
and closed for the
Knights, registering
a 1.26 ERA in 16.2
innings his junior
year. He was 3-for-3
in save opportunities
this past year.
When Lincoln-Way Central
senior Brandon Bennitt
was searching for colleges,
his number one priority was
clear: to find a school with
strong academics and a respected
engineering school.
Baseball, Bennitt decided,
would not be the ultimate
decision-maker.
“My dad really wanted
me to play college baseball,
but I started looking at
schools like [the University
of Illinois] and Purdue for
their engineering programs,”
Bennitt said. “I told my parents
I might just go to a big
school like that and not play
baseball, and they were good
with that.”
Instead, Bennitt found a fit
that would give him the best
of both worlds. He’s signed
to play baseball at the Illinois
Institute of Technology,
a NCAA Division III program.
He plans to major in
computer engineering.
“I didn’t want to go too far
away, and IIT is really close
to home,” Bennitt said. “I
felt really comfortable with
the coaches there, and I already
know some guys that
play there.
“The school has a great
engineering program, and
that’s the most important
thing. Baseball is just a bonus.”
It’s a bonus that’s allowed
Bennitt to fulfill a lifelong
goal, and to follow in the
footsteps of his dad. Bob
Brandon Bennitt started to receive calls from schools after he
had a .429 batting average, 11 RBI and 26 runs his junior year.
He also threw 16.2 innings with a 1.26 ERA that same year.
Bennitt played baseball at
Joliet Junior College and
Quincy University.
“It’s always been a dream
to play college baseball,”
Bennitt said. “My dad always
worked with me and
pushed me. I had a good
junior year and I started to
get some calls from college
coaches. I knew at that point
that I could play at the next
level.
“It’s been a goal ever
since. I knew that if I went to
college and didn’t play baseball,
I’d definitely miss it.”
As important as baseball
is to Bennitt, he’s always
prioritized school. He was
an honor-roll student at Lincoln-Way
Central and scored
a 30 on the ACT.
“My mom always made
sure I focused on academics,”
Bennitt said. “When I
got into my sophomore and
junior years, I decided I really
needed to make that my
top priority.
“I got some really good
academic scholarships for
IIT, so it paid off.”
On the baseball field, IIT
will get a versatile player
who did a bit of everything
for the Knights.
An infielder all his life,
Bennitt played in the outfield
for the first time this season,
Lincoln-Way Central graduate Brandon Bennitt decided
to stay close to home and will play continue his baseball
career at Illinois Institute of Technology next year. PHOTOS
BY BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY
in addition to time spent at
second and third base.
He also was the team’s
closer.
“Brandon did anything we
asked of him without hesitation,”
Central coach Mitch
Nowicki said. “He played all
over the field for us.
“He’s such a hard worker
and he’s a great leader, on
and off the field.”
Bennitt especially enjoyed
the closer’s role.
“I like being the guy in the
spotlight,” he said. “I like
the pressure. There’s nothing
else that comes close to
that level of competitiveness
that you get on the field.
That’s what I knew I’d miss
if I didn’t keep playing after
high school.”
Bennitt said many of his
best memories from playing
for the Knights will be from
the 2017 playoffs, when
Central advanced to the sectional
finals.
“Beating [Lincoln-Way]
East in the regional last year
was my favorite moment,”
he said. “I closed it out on
the mound, and it was an
amazing feeling.”
Overall, Bennitt is proud
of what he and his fellow
Please see bEnnitt, 43
Listen Up
“He’s such a hard worker and he’s a great leader,
on and off the field.”
Mitch Nowicki – Lincoln-Way Central baseball coach, on three-year
varsity player Brandon Bennitt
TUNE IN
Baseball Camp
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 19-July 19
• Lincoln-Way Central’s baseball camp runs on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fee
is $125 per camper. For more information,
contact Mitch Nowicki at mnowicki@lw210.
org..
Index
43 – Sports Briefs
43 – Athlete of the Week
FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor T.J. Kremer III, tj@
mokenamessenger.com.