Senior spotlight: Ben Vandehey enters season as ace of Mosinee pitching staff
MOSINEE - Ben Vandehey finished second on the Mosinee baseball team with 24⅓ innings pitched in Great Northern Conference play last spring and should be more of a workhorse this season.
Vandehey, who is coming off a stellar junior season in which he was an all-Great Northern Conference selection, should be the team's ace given the graduation of two pitchers from last year's squad which lost to Waupun in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal. Two additional returning pitchers were lost for the season with arm injuries.
The right-hander posted a 3.28 ERA in 42⅔ innings last year and also a .377 batting average.
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"It's his dedication and love for the game more than anything else," Mosinee coach Adam Olson said of Vandehey, who also will see time at third base. "He is someone who is always wanting to get better."
Vandehey was also the quarterback for the Mosinee football team the past two seasons and will play baseball at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Ill. He recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about some of his memorable sports moments, his growth as a pitcher and his thoughts on this year's Mosinee baseball team, among other subjects.
Do you have a certain nickname your friends, classmates or family members call you?
'Benny V' is the only that I have always been called.
What has been your top athletic moment?
Going to state (baseball) last year. and playing at 11 (p.m.) was pretty cool, under the lights at Fox Cities Stadium.
Do you have a moment which might be a highlight or one which you would like to forget?
A couple of years ago I tried a new pitch in a game and it didn't go too well. It went way over the batter's box and hit the fence behind the plate. That was a pretty rough moment. I was trying a different change-up and it just went out of my hand wrong.
What do you like about this year's team. You bring back seven or eight (varsity players) from last season along with a mix of some new faces.
We're really tight and close, we can joke around with each other. Sadly, we lost two guys to Tommy John surgery so that is going to hurt us, plus we lost two good pitchers from last year along with two quality players. It's going to hurt this year but I think we can do our job and play some good ball.
Do you feel this team has the potential to make a postseason run like last year?
We definitely have the potential. Our offense is going to have to drive in runs and we just need a couple of the underclassmen to step up and pitch some big games for us.
Given what you lost, do you feel a little more pressure this year of being the guy who has to lead the pitching staff?
I know I'm going to have to step up this year and play well, but I throw better when I feel that I'm under pressure, so I Iike it. Hopefully it pays off.
What pitches do you throw?
A four-seam fastball, a two-seam, a circle-change and a curveball.
What is your top one?
I can locate my fastball really well and then my change-up dives inside to a right-handed batter.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Brooklyn Decker.
Where is your dream vacation?
In Jamaica. Just on the beach.
FAVORITES
Sport: Baseball.
Pro or college athlete: (Former Atlanta Braves player) Chipper Jones is one of favorites. I went to a Brewers game when I was younger and he threw a ball to me and signed it. (Atlanta Braves shortstop) Dansby Swanson is one of my favorite players, too.
Team: I'm more of a Brewers fan but I like the Braves as well.
Movie: Action and comedies.
TV show: "The Office."
Food or meal: Steak.
App on phone: Snapchat.