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February 27, 2007
All-MIAC shortstop ready for season opener
As Hamline baseball gears up for the new season, players have high hopes to build off their record breaking success of 2006 when the team won 26 games. Junior Andrew Bennett was an integral part of last year’s team that won three more games than the record that was set by the 2003 Pipers. As a sophomore, Bennett, the team’s starting shortstop, was named to All-Region third team and All-MIAC first team. He will no doubt be a relied-upon leader for this year’s team. Along with his teammates, Bennett has been putting in his work to prepare for opening day.
Bennett began practicing with Piper baseball at the beginning of February. Pending an immediate increase in global warming the team will not see a grass diamond until Spring Break when they travel to Arizona. There they will hold their first outdoor practices and play other weather stricken Midwest and eastern schools, according to Bennett.
Before arriving at Hamline, Bennett attended St. Paul Academy High School, as did Piper catcher James Bachmeier. After spending one year at Grinnel College in Iowa, Bennett transferred to Hamline.
“Baseball has been my passion as long as I can remember. I can’t see myself not playing,” said Bennett. “Coach Verdugo was a big part of me coming here.”
If you were looking at the back of the shortstop’s baseball card, it’s likely 2006 would catch your eye. Bennett had a career year. Last year he led the Pipers in at-bats (135), runs (33), hits (51), doubles (10), triples (7), RBIs (43), and home runs (5). His production at the plate and in the field netted Bennett ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team honors.
Bennett kept sharp in the off-season by playing summer ball. Last summer Bennett competed in the Central Illinois Collegiate Baseball League (CICL). Living with a host family, he played second base for the Quincy Gems, which played upwards of 40 games last season. The CICL is one of 10 collegiate baseball leagues that play in the summer. Players have to have completed at least one year of college and still have college eligibility remaining. “Coach Verdugo set it up after I was having a good year,” said Bennett. “They said they had a spot for an infielder, so I went.”
On the academics side, Bennett is a math and physics double major. “I had to take so many math classes for Physics, and it was only a few more classes for the major,” said Bennett. “Hamline does a good job to allow teams to be competitive but not lose sight of why we’re here.”
Coming off an exciting record setting season and with players like Bennett returning, Pipers Baseball is looking good. Bennett and the Pipers open the 2007 season on March 1. At Midway Stadium, the Pipers welcome Central College. It’s an early one, first pitch is at 7 a.m.
Posted by dwright at February 27, 2007 09:35 PM
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