Recruit Profile - JJ Benes

JJ Benes enters Northwest Missouri State University as a freshman in the 2012-2013 academic year.  JJ profiles out as a Right-handed Pitcher or infielder.  JJ stands 6'00" and weighs 180 pounds.  JJ is from Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Papillion LaVista High School.

As a senior at Papillion LaVista High School in 2012, JJ hit .375 with 12 doubles, 6 home runs, and 33 RBIs.  As a pitcher, JJ had a 3-3 record with a 2.33 ERA, 52 strike-outs, in 47.2 innings pitched, and walked 15 batters.  JJ played DH, 1B, and RF.  He was 1st team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State in 2011.

According to the Lincoln Journal Star, JJ's coach says this about him:

“He pitched almost all of our toughest games. His losses were to Millard West twice and to Lincoln Northeast. That’s not too shabby. He works so hard. Drive by the field and he’s hitting off a tee by himself. He’s a driven young man. He gets a good jump on the ball in the outfield.”

In the 2012 Summer, JJ played for Pinnacle Bank (I believe American Legion Ball in Omaha that is associated with Papillion LaVista High School Baseball players), and had a .415 batting average, had a .636 slugging percentage, and an on-base percentage of .483, scored 50 runs, 73 hits, 23 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 65 RBIs, got hit by 5 pitches, earned 24 walks, and 18 strike-outs.  JJ was Top 12 in Batting Average for Omaha-based American Legion teams.  On the mound this past summer, JJ had a 00.95 ERA, 73 strike-outs, 13 walks, hit 2 batters, allowed 1 home run, 10 earned runs, pitched 73.2 innings, 1 save, 12 wins, 5 complete games, and appeared in 16 games.

Here is a nice article about JJ I found on Bakkentoday.com:

http://www.bakkentoday.com/event/article/id/60402/publisher_ID/6/

Here is another article from the Omaha World Herald:

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120809/PREPZONE/708099880/1707

According to the St. Joseph Post, Northwest Missouri State Head Coach Darin Loe said this about JJ:

"JJ is one of the more developed High School pitchers we have seen in recent years.  He not only works with a mid-80’s fastball but is truly a 3 pitch pitcher.  JJ also has some intriguing pop in the bat that gives him a chance to contribute on the offensive side as well.”

Go Cats!!
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