Ohio slugger Andrew Benintendi sets new state career hits record
Andrew Benintendi spent more than two weeks basking in the glow of one of the most storied marks in prep baseball in the Midwest. Benintendi set a new all-time record for career runs yet throughout all the acclaim, Benintendi knew there was an even larger mark within reach if everything broke right: The all-time Ohio hits record.
Finally, Benintendi can rest assured that everything did break right. The Cincinnati (Ohio) Madeira High senior has now officially accumulated more career hits than anyone else in state history.
As reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer and a variety of other Ohio sources, Benintendi set the new all-time Ohio hits mark during Madeira’s 17-5 victory against Deer Park (Ohio) High. Benintendi finished the game 3-for-3, pushing his career total to 203 hits, three more than prior record holder and Lancaster (Ohio) High legend Dan Ruff.
Benintendi’s record is a testimony to consistency above all else. The Arkansas signee is a career .500 hitter and has started every game he has been eligible for across a four-year prep career. That consistency and Benintendi’s speed and tenacity make him a likely MLB Draft pick as well, though it remains unknown precisely where he might be selected.
For now Benintendi and his teammates are just focused on appreciating what he has managed to accomplish during his prep career, which is now certain to go down in state and regional lore.
“I have a feeling Andrew is glad it’s over, but we have enjoyed the chase over the last couple of weeks,” Madeira coach Jack Kuzniczci told the Enquirer. “I’ve never seen him play as well as he has over the last two games to close it out, he has five home runs and a double over his last seven at-bats.”
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