LSU Eunice freshman pitcher Connor Benge was named to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Baseball team, it was recently announced. The 12-member team was voted on by the 16 head coaches encompassing NJCAA Region 23.
Benge was one of three pitchers selected for the All-Region 23. The selection of Benge makes it five straight seasons that LSUE has landed a pitcher on the All-Region 23 team joining Patrick Vienne (2022), Jerry Couch (2021), Dane Dixon (2019) and Zach Hester (2018).
“Connor is a competitive individual that is another young person that deserves to win,” LSU Eunice Baseball head coach Jeff Willis said. “We are proud of him for achieving this recognition and excited to see what is in store for him as develops into one of our veteran players next year.”
The Montgomery, Texas native established himself as one of the frontline arms on a very deep Bengal pitching staff. Benge posted a team best 11-1 record with a 2.82 earned run average. He also led the team in innings pitched (70.1) and strikeouts (86).
His 11 wins were ranked second in NJCAA Division II while his 86 strikeouts place him in the Top 20.
The freshman was electric to start the season, not allowing a run in his first five appearances. He would be named the national NJCAA Pitcher of the Week after a 14-strikeout performance against Southeastern Iowa in a March 10 win.
LSU Eunice finished the 2023 season with a 53-5 record, playing in the Region 23 Championship game for a fifth consecutive campaign.
2023 NJCAA All-Region 23 Baseball
Pitcher – Connor Benge, LSU Eunice; Pitcher – Cooper Cooksey, Pearl River CC; Pitcher – Cole Boswell, Meridian CC; Catcher – Blaise Priester, Meridian CC; Infield – Eli Collins, East Central CC; Infield – Connor Chisolm, Hinds CC; Infield – Dylan Coleman, Hinds CC; Infield – Will Verdung, Itawamba CC; Outfield – Logan Walters, Pearl River CC; Outfield – Dalton McIntyre, Meridian CC; Outfield – Sean Smith, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC; Designated Hitter – Mo Little, East Central CC
Press Release by LSUE Bengals Athletics