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Risco's Bennett signs with Trojans
Pitcher/infielder will play for Hannibal LaGrange next year
RISCO -- After helping guide the Risco Tigers to one of their best seasons in school history, Brandon Bennett has accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball for the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans.
"It's another big step in my life," Bennett said. "I think I'm going to have a good career there."
Bennett is coming off a banner year in which the Tigers posted their best record in school history at 15-7.
Risco made a run to the Class 1, District 1 championship game where they fell 10-7 to the Cooter Wildcats.
Bennett was a double threat for the Tigers posting solid numbers both at the plate and on the mound.
He hit .431 on the year, leading the team in hits with 31 including seven doubles and three home runs. His on-base percentage was also the highest on the team with a .642 average.
On the mound Bennett held a 6-1 record while posting a 3.79 ERA. He struck out 49 batters while walking 14 in 48 innings on the rubber.
"He's just such a competitor, that's the big thing that really sticks out," Risco coach Brandon Blankenship said. "He wants to win as bad as anybody I've ever coached and been around. He's willing to work hard and pay the price to be successful. All that hard work has definitely paid off for him.
"He's kind of the heart of the team as far as his never say die attitude. Just giving it every thing he's got."
With Blankenship being a former Trojan himself, he said he was able to use some ties to the program to secure Bennett a tryout.
"I threw well, fielded well and everything," Bennett said of the tryout. "They seemed to really like me. They got a scholarship offer to me within two weeks."
He'll join Josh Jackson and Josh Pierce, both from Sikeston, as former local players in the Trojans baseball program.
Last season Hannibal-LeGrange went 22-29 competing in the American Midwest Conference at the NAIA Division 1 level.
Though Bennett played catcher, shortstop and also pitched in high school he said he'll have to wait until the fall before the coaching staff decides what position he'll play for the Trojans.
On the academic side he said he plans on pursuing a Biology degree with the goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Bennett becomes the second Risco player this season to sign a college offer after teammate Ross Carter signed with Crowley Ridge Community College. Both Bennett and Carter were selected by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association as Class 1 second team all-state honorees.
Having gone to Hannibal himself, Blankenship is obviously happy with his former player's choice.
"It's nice to see your players go to a school you're familiar with," he said. "He's going to get a good education and coach Clay Biggs up in Hannibal has the program going in the right direction."