Q and A with 2014 Ohio Northern Commit: Ben Wak (Tuslaw HS)
March 16, 2014
Ben Wake, OF, Tuslaw HS, Class of 2014
PBR: Why did you choose Ohio Northern?
Wake: Ohio Northern was a great fit for me both as a player and a student. They offer a great engineering program and are building a solid baseball program with a new coaching staff. ONU was also in need of outfielders since the ones that are currently there are mostly upperclassmen.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Wake: Mount Union, Marietta, Kent State
Wake: Ohio Northern was a great fit for me both as a player and a student. They offer a great engineering program and are building a solid baseball program with a new coaching staff. ONU was also in need of outfielders since the ones that are currently there are mostly upperclassmen.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Wake: Mount Union, Marietta, Kent State
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you compete?
Wake: At the PBR unsigned Senior games this past summer.
Wake: At the PBR unsigned Senior games this past summer.
PBR: What role does Coach Stechschulte expect you to play during your first year on campus?
Wake: I think Coach Stechschulte is expecting me to contribute to the team right away.
Wake: I think Coach Stechschulte is expecting me to contribute to the team right away.
PBR: Coach Stechschulte was a former MLB pitcher. How much of a role did that play in your decision, knowing you would receive some of his first hand knowledge?
Wake: The fact that Coach Stechschulte was a former MLB player was a huge part in making my decision. He is full of knowledge that I am ready to take in for my development into a better player.
Wake: The fact that Coach Stechschulte was a former MLB player was a huge part in making my decision. He is full of knowledge that I am ready to take in for my development into a better player.
PBR: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a baseball player?
Wake: Probably my grandma, when I was little she taught me how to play catch and hit. After she passed away I told myself I was going to work as hard as I could to become the best player and person as I could be. She probably has had the biggest impact on me as a player.
Wake: Probably my grandma, when I was little she taught me how to play catch and hit. After she passed away I told myself I was going to work as hard as I could to become the best player and person as I could be. She probably has had the biggest impact on me as a player.
PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most exciting experience playing summer ball?
Wake: I'm switching teams this year to the Ohio Yankee's. Probably my most exciting experience was going down to Myrtle Beach and playing in the Cal Ripken tournament at 14u and placing second out of teams from all over the country.
PBR: What were your stats last season for Tuslaw?
Wake: BA: .366 SLG: .634 Fielding: .836 SB: 10/10 2HRs 4 Triples 8 Doubles
Wake: I'm switching teams this year to the Ohio Yankee's. Probably my most exciting experience was going down to Myrtle Beach and playing in the Cal Ripken tournament at 14u and placing second out of teams from all over the country.
PBR: What were your stats last season for Tuslaw?
Wake: BA: .366 SLG: .634 Fielding: .836 SB: 10/10 2HRs 4 Triples 8 Doubles
PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher you have faced in Ohio?
Wake: Chris Machamer