ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
Rounding out this week in the senior spotlight series is right-handed pitcher
Shane Benson of the Golden Bear baseball team. Benson, a business management major from Cedar, Minn., has been a key performer in relief for CSP during his four years on campus.
The right-hander made 31 appearances in his career, compiling a 4-4 record with four saves and a 3.45 ERA over 47.0 innings of work. Benson struck out 38 while walking just 11 and holding opponents to a .283 average.
Benson provided perhaps his best season in navy and gold in his last full season as he allowed just four runs over 18.0 innings to finish with a 2.00 to go along with a 3-1 record and two saves in 2019. The St. Francis High School grad put up a sparkling 16/3 K/BB ratio on the season while allowing just two extra-base hits.
Head coach Neil Lerner on Shane Benson:
"Shane is a great story. We recruited him as a catcher and transitioned him to pitcher when he arrived at CSP. After redshirting his freshman year, he worked super hard on becoming a quality college pitcher and developed into a consistent arm out of the back end of our bullpen. As our closer the last few years, Shane stands third all-time in games finished on the mound at CSP. The coaching staff always felt good when Shane was on the mound as he pounded the strike zone and always gave us a chance to win."
SHANE BENSON – IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
SB: I started playing baseball as soon as I could walk. It has always been my best sport and growing up I always played with my brother.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
SB: I chose to attend Concordia because it was the place that I would have wanted to go if I ever suffered an injury and couldn't play baseball anymore.
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
SB: Bus trips and hotel stays with the team.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
SB: The team chemistry that we had this year.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
SB: Hopefully start my own training business with a friend of mine.
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
SB: Owning my own business.
CSP: Who is a staff or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
SB: Professor Hampton
CSP: Who is your role model?
SB: My dad
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
SB: Watch what you say around others. You never know who is listening and how they might interpret it.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
SB: Enjoy it. The time truly does fly by.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
SB: Brian Peterson from the golf team. We lifted together almost every day during my redshirt year. He helped me get to where I am today.
