By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Ben Suits, RHP/3B, Heritage Christian Academy, Class of 2015

PBR:  Why did you choose Concordia-St. Paul?
SUITS: I chose Concordia because I loved the coaching staff and it gave me some academic flexibility. Concordia offers a dual-degree engineering program where I can get a science degree from CSP and an engineering degree from the U. of Minnesota. With the program at Concordia, I can figure out which type of engineering I want to study before getting my engineering degree from Minnesota. On the baseball side of things, I was happy that I would be able to contribute to the team on the mound and with the bat.

PBR:  What other schools were you considering?
SUITS: I had been talking to North Dakota, North Dakota State, Concordia, Angelo State University, St. Thomas, and Bethel.

PBR:  Where did they first see you? How did your relationship develop with the coaching staff?
SUITS: Concordia first saw me at a scrimmage that my Blizzard team played against Concordia earlier this fall. After the scrimmage, we started talking more, then I took a visit, and eventually I made my decision. Head Coach "Lunch" McKenzie really cared about me as a player and a person, and I am really happy with the decision I made!

PBR: What role do you expect to play your first year on campus?
SUITS: I expect to come in, work hard, and hopefully contribute to the team right away on both the mound and in the field.

PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?
SUITS: Coach Adam Barta with the Minnesota Blizzard. The experience I've had with them has been second-to-none, and I am very grateful for all the help that he and the rest of the coaching staff with the Blizzard have given me over the years.

PBR: What have you worked on/improved since last year?
SUITS: I have probably worked the most on improving my velocity. Last spring I was sitting 79-82 MPH, but this fall I was usually 82-85 MPH. I had also worked on improving my slider and off-speed stuff.

PBR: Who is the toughest player that you have faced in Minnesota?
I go to a really small school (Heritage Christian Academy), so I haven't faced many of the big names in Minnesota. Sam Horner from New Life Academy is one guy who has always seemed to have my number when I'm on the mound. The toughest pitcher I've faced was probably Sean Hjelle from Mahtomedi. It's hard to hit considering his fastball comes at such a downward angle with a little run on it too.

PBR:  What are your thoughts on the recruiting process? Any advice for future players in your position.
SUITS: Stay patient and don't get too obsessed with any one option. Don't get too concerned with level either (D1, D2, D3), just find a place where you feel like you could be successful.