Sophomore Ben Canada leads Guerin into sectional semifinals after blowout victory
INDIANAPOLIS — When Guerin sophomore Ben Canada hit a single in the first inning, first-year coach Dave Schrage knew his Golden Eagles was in good shape.
'Ben's the kind of guy who can lead us at the plate and everyone feels off that,' Schrage said after Guerin defeated Lebanon 13-0 in the IHSAA Class 3A sectional quarterfinals. 'When he's up in the first inning like he was today and gets a hit, our guys feed off that. We go as he goes, so we like to make him bat second. If he gets a hit in the first inning, our team feels good and say, 'OK, we're going to score runs today.''
Canada's first hit preceded an onslaught. Guerin (15-12) finished with 12 hits and pitchers Tate Troxell, Luke Gremelspacher and Finn Holden threw a combined no-hitter. Guerin also scored eight runs in the fifth inning. After the game, Troxell said he wanted to win sectionals for the team seniors. The Alabama recruit recognizes that the Golden Eagles' chances of winning start with Canada.
'His presence in the lineup is like no one else on our team,' Troxell said. 'When he's up, we know we're getting our best guy up there and he can compete with anyone. When we have him going, everyone seems to carry on with what he's doing.'
Canada finished Thursday's contest 2-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. Canada leads Guerin in home runs (6), RBIs (27) and batting average (.431) this season. Canada admitted that he didn't expect to see this much success so early in high school but strives to 'work hard and see what happens.'
Canada started playing baseball at 4 years old when his dad, Brian, put a bat in his left hand and made him hit off a tee in the front yard of their Baltimore home. Brian played baseball at Miami University. Canada credits his dad with making him fall in love with the sport.
'When I took over the program in the fall, I thought he was a junior with how he carried himself, then I realized his dad played at Miami,' Schrage said. 'He's grown up with the game, so he has really good instincts.'
Schrage called Canada a 'quiet kid' who works hard and said Canada has 'probably taken the most swings in the batting on the team.'
'If he has a bad at-bat, he doesn't let it bother him,' Schrage said. 'A lot of kids sulk, or you can tell it frustrates them, but Ben's just even-keeled. If he goes 0-for-3, the next day he comes back and you wouldn't know.'
More: 'Friendly rivalry' to 'good friendship': How these two Brebeuf baseball players formed a bond
One key to Canada's success is boundaries. The 16-year-old said he finds time to complete his schoolwork and baseball practice before hanging out with friends.
Canada's focus has helped lead a young Golden Eagle squad to the sectional semifinals, where they will face Brebeuf (13-12) at 1 p.m. Monday.
'Winning sectionals would mean everything and I think it would be a really good accomplishment,' Canada said. 'We are returning most of our team next year, but this is the year to do it. It would mean a lot to our school.'
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