St. Laurence’s Jimmy Benson took up golf around 18 months ago. Despite being new, he joined his high school team last fall to gauge his progress. Standing at 6-foot-8, Benson is a noticeable figure on the golf course. However, the sport doesn’t come as naturally to him as baseball does. “I’m not great at golf,” Benson admitted. “But I enjoy being competitive.”
On the baseball mound, Benson has a clear focus. “My goal is always to pitch a shutout,” he stated. “I concentrate on preventing opponents from reaching base because our team is strong with runners on.”
On a recent Saturday, Benson achieved a significant milestone. He pitched a perfect game for the Vikings, leading them to a 5-0 victory over Oak Lawn in the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional final. Benson, a TCU commit, struck out five batters. Junior catcher Tristan Steger contributed a two-run double, while senior infielder Mickey Lotus added an RBI bunt single and stole home for the first run.
“When he’s throwing strikes, he’s obviously very good and very talented,” St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus said. “He’s perfect when he pounds the zone and keeps hitters off-balance.”
Before the game, Steger sensed Benson’s intense focus. “There’s always a confidence behind the plate with Jimmy pitching,” Steger shared. “I know it will be tough for the opposing team.”
Benson’s performance was exceptional, only reaching three balls in a count once. This victory marked his second career no-hitter. He previously beat Mount Carmel 9-0, pitching 6 2/3 innings. Against Oak Lawn, he threw 58 strikes out of 84 pitches.
Your future might seem uncertain, but for Benson, sports have always been a clear path. While he once played basketball, his size and left-handed pitching steered him toward baseball.
Reflecting on his journey, Benson recalled being taller than peers even at a young age. “I wasn’t throwing very hard then, just 80 mph, but I still got batters out,” he mentioned. Last year, he led St. Laurence to the Class 3A state championship with an 11-1 record.
Benson finally achieved his goal of pitching a perfect game. “I’ve come close before but never got past the fifth inning,” he remarked. “The important thing today is that we won. Our aim is to keep moving forward.”
Patrick Z. McGavin reported this story for the Daily Southtown.