A Season To Remember for Benton Blue Sox

By Shelby Kraus, Community Contributor

Summer in Iowa means a lot of baseball. There are teams from all over Eastern Iowa that participate in different leagues, all with the hope of winning the “big game.” In Benton County, there are kids playing on various teams and many teams who travel all over the Midwest just to play baseball. Norway happens to be in Benton County and although everyone nearby knows its baseball roots, many do not know that baseball runs heavily through the veins of all the kids from our area.

Recently, one of the Benton Blue Sox teams accomplished something a team has not done in awhile. The USSSA 13U team created a season that most coaches dream about. They went 40-7 this season in league and tournament play. That may not be a big deal to some, but with this record the team sealed its fate in earning a spot to participate in the USSSA 13U World Series in Kansas City, Mo. recently, where they placed third against teams from all over the United States.

Their season record also clinched the league championship. Additionally, the team won the USSSA Iowa State Championship for its age bracket and division. This trifecta of wins is a tribute to the 12 boys who played baseball since March and worked hard to earn each win. The boys could not have done it alone and were lead by volunteer coaches: head coach, Jim Kraus; assistant coach, Mike Bonewitz; and, assistant coach, Jeff Semelroth.

“At the start of the season, we let the boys know that giving up was not in our vocabulary.  In order to win they had to act like they were talented and first class athletes – it starts there and then we worked on fundamentals,” said Jim Kraus.  “I was so fortunate, their attitudes were superb, best I have ever been around; and, we ran the socks off the bases, stealing over 450.”

Stats like that are what propelled the team to the number three spot out of 367 teams in the nation for USSSA 13U A. 

Rank

USSSA Pts.

Power Rating

In Class Record

Win %

Record Teams Beaten

TB %

Total %

Avg. Runs

Avg. Runs Allowed

3

1145

1327

17-2

.895

84-107

.440

.784

8.1

2.7

“None of this could have been done without the support of the parents,” said Kraus. “Their support of their sons and the team made this an experience no one will forget.”

CAPTION:

Front (L to R): Lathan Cooper, Atkins; Brady Kraus, Luzerne; Tate Buck, Blairstown; Keaton Bonewitz, Keystone; Brett Benson, Newhall; Hunter Semelroth, Keystone

Back (L to R): Jim Kraus, Jeff Semelroth, Tucker Schroeder, Atkins; Brant Walker, Newhall; Eli Miller, Keystone; Sam Kwapil, Atkins; Gunnar Monson, Keystone; and, Mike Bonewitz. Missing is Gage Hartl, Newhall.