Prep athletes of the week: St. Francis catcher Benson adds pop at the plate

Already gaining attention for his skills as a catcher, the junior added power to his repertoire last week, stroking his first two home runs as the Saints improved to 7-0.

He hit his first Friday in a 4-0 victory over Buffalo, breaking a scoreless tie with a two-run, fifth-inning blast.

"I knew I hit it good, but it wasn't that high," Benson said. "I thought I had a double. I couldn't believe it. It was the first home run I'd ever hit in my life. It was an unreal feeling."

Benson connected again Friday, turning on an inside pitch for a grand slam, the big blow in an 11-run second inning in a 16-0 rout of Duluth Denfeld. This time, it was less of a surprise.

"I hit it good," he said. "I knew it was either gone or it was foul."

The power is great, Benson said, but it's his abilities as a catcher that define him. St. Francis pitchers have a 0.85 ERA with him behind the plate, and he's thrown out 60 percent of potential base-stealers.

"I love playing catcher," he said. "It's the only position I've ever wanted to play. I love being in control of a game."

In her first varsity season, the junior goalkeeper has stepped in and proven herself quickly. In two games, she posted a .702 save percentage, including 19 saves in a 10-5 loss at defending Illinois state champion Loyola Academy of Chicago.

The senior displayed the form that helped her win the Minnesota Women's Open last summer, shooting a 3-under 69 to defeat a state-tournament-level field and win the Northfield Invitational at Willinger's Golf Club.

The Jaguars rolled undefeated through an elite-level field to win the Eastview Great 8 tournament. Macziewski, a senior shortstop, went 6-for-12 with a double, a home run and five RBI, and played flawlessly in the field.

No-hitters have become almost common for the 6-foot-1 lefthander. Rodning, who signed with Minnesota State Mankato last fall, tossed the fourth no-hitter of his career in a 2-0 victory over Jordan. He struck out 11 and walked just one.

The junior pitcher paced the Knights to the Black bracket championship at the Lake­ville North Panther Classic. She pitched three complete games, including a no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Wayzata. She gave up just two earned runs and 11 hits in the tournament while striking out 18.