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05/14/2024 11:44 AMWith a game predicated on averages as a barometer of success, baseball can bring about the best and worst of times in the same day. Yet for Ben Kuja, he welcomes the adversity, as it has helped him assume an even higher caliber character as captain.
The Hand baseball senior grew up in a baseball family, but he also did basketball and soccer along the way. Still, he followed his bloodline and dropped those sports to stay dedicated to baseball. After being an outfielder for the Tigers in his prior campaigns, he moved to the middle infield this spring as a second baseman while serving as a team captain.
“I love the uniqueness of the sport and the challenge of it. You can be one of the most successful people in the sport if you only succeed three out of 10 times. It is a different sport to succeed in mentally, but I love working through the adversity to build toughness,” says Ben. “I am always having fun out there, even through the toughest days. I remind myself that I am out there with eight of my best friends playing the game I enjoy. Unlike other sports like football where you have a week in between games, you can get right back out there the next day with another game. It helps keep me positive with a good outlook.”
Ben’s passion for baseball used to get the best of him in his younger years when things were not looking up. Yet he looked to an illuminating piece of literature that helped him see things in a different light.
“As a kid, I was over emotional and struggled to keep my head in check,” says Ben. “My dad got me a book called, ‘Heads Up Baseball,’ and I learned a lot about visualization and breathing techniques. I used those techniques daily, especially on bus rides to games. It helps me remain focused and reset myself.”
Switching his terrain from the grass to the dirt, Ben welcomes a lot more action while being a member of the infield. While figuring himself in many 6-4-3 sequences, he knows to be successful, a second baseman must take things one at a time.
“Second base has worked out well for me, and I like the change of scenery,” Ben says. “I love playing the infield, especially with my shortstop Nick Antonetti. There is a lot of ground to cover and plays I can make. I love turning double plays, which we’ve done a lot this year, and I enjoy the amount of action I see. It can be tough trying to not overthink; there is so much going on. I just take it one thing at a time and do not move too fast. I take time making plays and do not rush throws.”
As a swift speedster with his legs and arms, Ben utilizes his fast-paced play to serve as his greatest asset. At the batter’s box, he is an ambidextrous athlete looking to spread his versatility as a hitter.
“My biggest skill is my speed, which has helped me contribute to my game on offense,” says Ben. “On defense, I have a quick first step and get to make genuinely tough plays. My game has always been about using my speed to my advantage. I am a switch hitter, but I want to improve hitting on both sides, because my right side swing is lacking a bit.”
Hand baseball skipper Travis LaPointe mentions that not only is Ben an all-tool player with his abilities holding lumber and leather, but he is also a special individual that no coach wants to ever part ways with after leaving such an impact.
“Moving Ben to second has been instrumental in our success this year. He is such an explosive athlete, and he has given us such range and depth at second base. Ben is a high IQ player, so that leads to him having perfect reads and a dynamic first step towards a ball. His quickness, intelligence, and range allows him to get to plays that very few second basemen have been able to get,” says LaPointe. “As a person and captain, Ben is just as good as it gets. He is an outstanding human being in all ways. He does it in school, on the field, and off the field. I am just trying to cherish my last few weeks with him as his coach. I have known Ben and his family for a really long time, and his impact on our program is going to live on for a very long time. He is such a dangerous hitter, and I am confident that his best offensive moments of this season haven't even happened yet.”
The disappointment of the 2023 campaign only just fueled the fire for Ben and the Tigers for 2024 that much more–leading to their impressive mark thus far through the regular season. As they begin to embark on what they hope is a lengthier postseason journey than a year ago, they are locked in on shining in white-knuckle moments.
“We had so many guys return from last year’s team, and we dealt with the failure of last year. We lost a lot of close games and had an early first-round exit in the playoffs. The guys made a decision to not have another year like that,” Ben says. “We believed that we could be the best team we could be. We have fun, and we play well together and with confidence while playing the game we love. A lot of winning has come with that. We want to make sure we are ready for the postseason and know how to both win close games and hold a lead. We want to be as experienced as we can be going into the postseason.”