By Terry Mosher

Editor, Sports Paper

Relative to the population, the West Sound region produces more than its share of talented baseball players, and this high school season is no exception.

Central Kitsap senior Drew Vettleson has already signed to play at Oregon State, North Kitsap’s Andy Smith and CK’s Caleb Brown are playing with Washington, and Smith’s brother Alex is one of several more prospects at NK.

Included among the talented field of athletes at NK is catcher Nick Benish, younger brother of Joe who is in his second year as a catcher with Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon. Benish is just a junior, but already has good size (6-2, 205 pounds) and the talent to play college ball.

“He has a chance to play college ball somewhere,” says Mike McCain, longtime youth baseball coach and owner of The Old Ball Yard baseball and softball practice and training facility in Bellevue. “He looks like a catcher. He’s a big, physical kid, has a good arm, and real good power potential. We are working on some adjustments to his swing, but I’m real anxious to turn him loose this summer.”

McCain has jumped back into select baseball coaching after taking three years off to spend more time with his two young children. He used to be the head coach for Baden Baseball Club, but now is head coach of a new club – Lakeside Industries.

When he decided to get back into coaching, McCain began holding tryouts for his new club. He called around and one of those calls went out to Benish. He’d coached Joe Benish with Baden and knew of Nick.

McCain also drew in Alex Smith and Zane Minder, Benish teammates at NK.

Jeff Weible, coach at North Kitsap, has a team that is preseason favorite to win the Olympic League. His talented squad will probably rely on Smith as its top pitcher and Benish as the main man behind the plate.

“He’s just starting to grow into his body,” says Weible of Benish. “He’s a guy who is really dedicated to the off-season. He talks baseball year around. We tried to get him out for football (Weible is an assistant football coach at NK) but he’s pretty dedicated to baseball.”

Benish started a few baseball games at NK as a freshman and was the full-time catcher last season. He’s got the good arm and is working to improve his football quickness.

“He’s very mechanically sound,” says Weible. “One of the things we are working on is improving his foot speed. It will help him get rid of the ball quicker.”

Benish played with the Seattle Stars last summer, but when McCain got back into it he moved. McCain runs a no-nonsense program that stresses teamwork while working hard to showcase players for college recruiters. McCain played shortstop at Arizona State and was drafted in the 16th round by the Minnesota Twins, reaching triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens.

His program fits Benish, who lives for baseball.

“Since I was a little kid I have always wanted to play and get to the Major Leagues, or as far as I can,” says Benish. “It’s always been a dream of mine. Ted Williams was my favorite player when I was a little kid.”

During the high school season last spring, Benish hit .360 with two home runs. If extra work pays off, those numbers could be higher this season.

“I’ve been working very hard on getting bigger and stronger, and hitting to all fields and getting more carry on the ball,” he says. “I’ve gotten a lot quicker behind the plate. I’ve just focused on getting better at everything.”

Last summer, Benish went with the Seattle Stars to the USA Baseball Junior Olympic tournament in Jupiter, Fla. The Stars finished fourth out of 72 teams.

When he’s not practicing with his select team or playing baseball for NK, he might be found in the backyard of the family house hitting off a tee or whacking thrown pitches in the batting cage located there.

Benish carries a 3.4 grade point average and is determined to use his skills in the classroom and on the baseball diamond to get him a scholarship to a college somewhere. Of course, there is always the future possibility of being drafted by a professional baseball club.

“I would have to weigh my options (if that happens),” Benish says. “I want to go to college and get an education, and I want to see how far I can take baseball. I would have to see what my college interest was and if I am already committed to a school. I don’t know how to figure that out.”

For now, he’s just anxious to get the high school baseball season under way. The Vikings have a solid team and could go far into the playoffs.

“I’m really getting excited,” Benish says. “I can’t wait to play with the guys. We are going to be really good.”