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Jon Benick Named Second-Team All-ACC
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May 24, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After posting one of the best seasons by ahitter in University of Virginia history, sophomore Jon Benick was namedsecond-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend as selected by theconference coaches.
Regular season champion Florida State led the way with sixselections on the two teams, followed by North Carolina with five, WakeForest and Georgia Tech with four each, Clemson with three, Duke with twoand Maryland and UVa with one each.
Benick, who transferred to Virginia from Auburn this season, wonthe team triple crown with a .384 batting average, 10 home runs and 54 RBI.He also led the team with 136 total bases, a .594 slugging percentage, aschool-record 88 hits and 27 extra-base hits.
“Basically, Jon had a great year,” head coach Dennis Womack said.”I was happy to see him honored by the coaches – he was certainlydeserving. This will rank right up there as one of the best seasons by aVirginia hitter. We’ve had some other kids have some really good seasons,but he’s proven day in and day out that he is a great hitter.”
A native of Glen Lyon, Pa., Benick’s season numbers rank his 1999campaign as one of the best in Cavalier history. Along with establishingschool records for hits and multiple-hit games in a season, Benick postedthe second-most total bases in a season and the sixth-most RBI in a season.His 16 doubles tied Julian Gonzalez for the team lead and also tied for thesixth-most in school history.
Benick will lead a Cavalier squad, which will lose only two playersto graduation, into the 2000 season.
“It is always a plus when you have that kind of ability coming back… especially a guy that has that kind of approach to the game,” Womacksaid. “This was not a fluke. We should be able to expect even more out ofhim next season. What I’m also hoping is that he can stay healthy and helpus even more behind the plate.”
Benick saw time at first base, catcher and designated hitter forthe Cavaliers. Much of his playing time behind the plate was hampered dueto a severely pulled hamstring suffered April 14 at Virginia Tech. However,he continued to play through the injury, never missing a game, and hit .525(21-for-40) over his next 10 games.
1999 All-ACC Teams
First Team
C – Dan Moylan, So., North Carolina
1B – Jon Palmieri, Sr., Wake Forest
2B – Marshall McDougall, Jr., Florida State
3B – Mark Teixeria, Fr., Georgia Tech
SS – Vaughn Schill, Jr., Duke
OF – Matt Diaz, So., Florida State
OF – Patrick Boyd, So., Clemson
OF – Tyrell Godwin, So, North Carolina
UT – Matt Postell, Sr., N.C. State
DH – Danny Borrell, So., Wake Forest
SP – Mike MacDougal, Jr., Wake Forest
SP – Nick Stocks, So., Florida State
SP – Chuck Crowder, Sr., Georgia Tech
RP – Chris Chavez, Sr., Florida State
Second Team
C – Eric McQueen, Sr., Georgia Tech
1B – Jason Harris, Sr., Clemson
2B – Brian Ward, Sr., N.C. State
3B – Kevin Cash, Jr., Florida State
SS – Casey Trout, Sr., Maryland
OF – Jarrett Shearin, Sr., North Carolina
OF – Jason Basil, So., Georgia Tech
OF – Scott Daeley, Sr., Wake Forest
UT – Jon Benick, So., Virginia
DH – Chris LaMarsh, Sr., North Carolina
SP – Stephen Cowie, Sr., Duke
SP – Jon McDonald, So., Florida State
SP – Mike Paradis, Jr., Clemson
RP – Derrick DePriest, Jr., North Carolina