Armwood's ace makes push to get even better

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent

Published Wednesday, March 4, 2009

SEFFNER — Armwood ace Robert Benincasa is off to another hot start to open the baseball season.

Benincasa came out of the gate strong last year, but wore down his body and arm by the middle of the season. He didn't limp down the stretch, but Benincasa didn't exactly sprint toward the finish line, either.

"I got tired and just didn't have the same stuff I had earlier on in the season," Benincasa said. "I wasn't injured or anything. I just ran out of gas a little."

Armwood coach Mike Wrenn said he harped on Benincasa and the rest of his pitching staff to continue working out during the season to maintain strength.

"It was something that we wanted Robert to work as the season continued," Wrenn said. "He didn't, and I think he realized that it hurt him a little."

So Benincasa decided to do everything he possibly could physically to get ready for his senior year.

"I wanted to prepare myself the best I could," he said. "And I wanted that to start in the summer."

So Benincasa joined Chet Lemon's Juice AAU team, one of the most respected and talented traveling teams in the state. Benincasa was the club's ace and he said he gave up "one earned run in something like 44 innings."

"It gave me a lot of confidence to be the top guy on such a talented team," Benincasa said. "I had a great defense behind me and I think it allowed me to be able to focus more on pitching, not just throwing, knowing that I had so many good gloves behind me."

But more important, Benincasa fine-tuned his workouts on and off the field. He hit the weights hard and learned to balance lifting with the flexibility a pitcher needs.

"I realized that I could work out (with weights) and have it not affect my throwing," Benincasa said. "I put on some weight and did the right things. Like I said before, it was all to prepare myself for my final year."

By the time spring practice rolled around, Benincasa had added 10 pounds of muscle. He also heeded Wrenn's advice and vowed to work out through the season. Benincasa, who normally starts on Fridays, now goes home and works out with weights following his start. He increased the intensity of his Monday bullpen session and the results so far have been blistering.

"I've had two pretty good starts," Benincasa said. "Last week I didn't have my best stuff against King and I fought through it."

And that says a lot. Benincasa gave up just three hits over five innings, striking out 11. That outing came on the heels of a six-inning, 12-strikeout performance against Newsome in which Benincasa held the Wolves hitless. So far, he's fanned 23 of the 42 batters faced this year and has yet to surrender a run. Benincasa's turn in the rotation comes up tonight at 7 against visiting Wharton.

Benincasa's arsenal consists of a two- and four-seam fastball that approaches 90 mph. His fastball is complemented by a sharp curve ball and a developing changeup.

Benincasa, who has received interest from most community colleges around the state as well as the University of Central Florida, has been a big part of the Hawks' 5-1 start. But much like his personal season last year, Benincasa's well aware it's more important how you finish.

"The biggest difference between this year's team and last is the amount of work we've put in," he said. "Most of the seniors on this team will probably be playing college ball somewhere, and we really want to make our mark."