Jimmy Benson doesn’t hold back his emotions when he takes the mound for St. Laurence.
The junior left-hander, who is committed to TCU, celebrated just about every out with exuberance Tuesday, letting out loud screams and breaking out fist pumps after each strikeout.
“When I play, I’m mad at everybody no matter what,” Benson said. “I’m always mad. I use that to drive my emotions. I drive it toward the batter every time and it’s the same approach, just trying to get a one-pitch out or a strikeout.
“I don’t really know how to explain it, but I get emotional sometimes and I think it helps me.”
Benson thrived off the passion, striking out 11 and allowing just one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. The Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament pool-play game between the host Vikings and Lockport was tied 1-1 when it was suspended due to lightning in Burbank.
It will be finished at a date to be determined.
Oakton recruit Sean Popp doubled and scored on an RBI fielder’s choice grounder from Jacob Hite for the Vikings (6-1).
Morton commit Trace Schaaf allowed one run on four hits while striking out three over four strong innings for Lockport (3-4). Grand Valley State recruit Drew Satunas singled and produced an RBI groundout.
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Benson, meanwhile, was locked in. He struck out the side to escape a jam in the first inning and rode the momentum from there.
Junior catcher Tristan Steger, a Kentucky recruit, was impressed.
“I thought he was electric,” Steger said of Benson. “He had a little chip on his shoulder and he definitely wanted to grind out this win.
“It’s always good having a guy that pounds the zone and throws hard. He keeps me on my toes a little bit. He’s nasty and he has grit, so that’s always fun.”
In his first varsity season, Benson dominated last spring. He went 11-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 71 strikes in 57 2/3 innings. He earned all-state honors as the Vikings won the Class 3A state championship, the program’s first.
But he knew there was room to grow.
“The St. Rita game I pitched last year, I threw 102 pitches and 100 were fastballs,” Benson said. “That’s because I couldn’t really locate my curveball and change-up well. But this game, I was throwing that curveball for strikes. I broke out the change-up the second time through the order.
“My fastball is hard to hit because I’m long so my 86 (mph) kind of looks like it’s low 90s. So the curveball becomes a big factor when I can play it off the fastball.”
Benson committed to TCU during the offseason, which St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus believes was a big step toward clearing his mind for this spring.
“Recruiting is tough on these kids,” Lotus said. “There’s a lot of pressure with that. Without a doubt, I think that frees him up a little bit. I know TCU was kind of his dream school, so it’s great to see that work out for him.
“He was great last season and now he’s done a great job of making himself better, putting an emphasis on improving his off-speed pitches.”
Benson knows he has to be better. After all, opponents have extra motivation to want to hit him now.
“I know these kids are all coming for me,” Benson said. “Now that I’m committed, I think they think of me differently. But when I’m out there, I feel like I have nothing to lose.
“I just know I have to go out there and compete every single pitch and do my thing, just like last year. I’m excited about TCU, but I’m locked in for these next two years at St. Laurence.”