By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Benton scored four runs in the second inning, four more in the fourth and then sealed the deal with three runs in the fifth as the Cardinals (3-0) run ruled Lafayette, 11-1, on Wednesday at Phil Welch Stadium.
Benton breezed its way through the round robin, following up a 13-2 win over Central last Friday and a 19-4 drubbing of Bishop LeBlond on Monday.
The Cardinals drew first blood in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on a pair of hits and a wild pitch. A two-run RBI double by senior Treigh Nowak blew things open, giving Benton a 4-0 lead.
After leaving the bases loaded to end the third inning, Benton essentially put it away in the fourth, scoring four more runs on three hits, including RBI doubles by Jackson Kanacsky and Carson Davis.
Leading 10-1 in the bottom of the fifth with the bases juiced, junior Bryson Brown called game with an RBI single to right, ending the game via run rule.
Benton had eight total hits while drawing 12 walks.
All the while, Benton's starting pitcher, freshman Zaidyn Woodward, tossed a complete game, holding Lafayette (2-1) to just three hits. He struck out four batters and walked three.
"I was keeping the ball down and able to spot up on the outside corner," Woodward said. "I just stayed right there, forced ground balls, pop flies, weak contact."
Expectations are high for Benton in 2024, as the Cardinals return the bulk of their roster from last season - a team that had no seniors in 2023.
Benton has also been reassigned to Class 4 District 16, joining MEC foes Cameron, Lafayette, Maryville and Savannah. With 11 seniors in the program this year, the Cardinals are hoping to do something special.
Even if they don't express that outwardly.
"They don't talk about state and championships," Benton head coach Johnny Coy said. "It's in the back of everyone's mind. That's what everyone wants to do. But, they know they have to take it game-by-game and just have fun and enjoy the process."
"There's a lot of guys that are playing their last year of baseball forever. I told them to just enjoy every single day. Don't worry about tomorrow, worry about today and everything will fall into place the way it's supposed to."
Benton is home to Pembroke Hill on Friday at 4:30. Lafayette will host Savannah next Wednesday at 4:30.
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