Branford's LaCroix to Play Baseball at Western New England
Ben LaCroix loves baseball. He loves to watch, play, and learn everything the game has to offer. It’s been this way for Ben since he started playing tee-ball. Even then, the five-year-old slugger displayed a passion for the pastime that ran deeper than most. One summer at a family picnic, Ben feel off a swing and broke his arm. While most kids his age would have been lost in the fear and pain of the incident, Ben’s only concern was when he’d be able to get back on the field and how much time he would miss.
Ben’s love for baseball has only grown in the 12 years since then, as have his skills. Ben has worked tirelessly at his craft and developed into a respected high school player who helped Notre Dame-West Haven win a state championship in 2014. Ben learned the importance of a strong work ethic as a child by watching his idol Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees win multiple championships. Even more than their success, Ben admired how hard they worked to get it and thus dedicated himself to working hard in order to meet his goals.
Ben has exceeded many of those goals already, including one of his biggest of playing college baseball. This fall, the outfielder will take his talent and exemplary work ethic to Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he will join the school’s baseball team. For Ben, it’s an opportunity to continue to learn from and grow with the game he loves so much.
“I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be fun because I’m playing the game I love. Baseball to me isn’t stressful. You go out and play in the field and it’s a beautiful sunny day. It’s fun and relaxing,” says Ben, who’s from Branford. “There are parts of the game that are intense and I love those also because of the competitive side of it, but I love playing and the feeling I get when I’m on the field.”
While Ben’s passion for baseball is strong, he understands that the collegiate level of competition will force him to work harder and play smarter than he ever has. However, Ben will embrace that challenge with the same intensity he’s played with ever since the first day he stepped on the field.
“Playing at this level is a situation that I’m not used to at all. I’m excited and motivated to take on the challenge,” he says. “It’s going to be fun, but it’s also going to be a lot of work. I’m extremely excited.”
Ben’s ability at the plate will go a long way in helping him make a successful transition from high school to college. In the recent spring season, Ben was second on the Green Knights with an impressive .451 batting average and tied for the team lead with 33 hits, two triples, and two home runs. He also led Notre Dame in both doubles and RBI by recording 11 and 27, respectively. His high school coach, Dom Martone, is confident that Ben will enjoy continued success at the plate in college.
“I think he’s going to do very well at the next level,” Martone says. “Ben has skills you can’t teach, as far as hitting goes. He has great hand-eye coordination and can handle pitching at any level. He uses the whole field and that’s not something you can teach. He has a knack for hitting the ball in any type of situation and you just can’t teach that.”
Along with Martone, a humble Ben credits many others for his prowess at the plate. Ben spent countless hours working on his swing at the training facility of the Connecticut Grind (an AAU team with which Ben competed) and received plenty of tips and instruction from Michael Moras, the Grind’s owner and operator; plus and Matt Untiet, a baseball lifer with years of playing and coaching experience. Ben understands the importance these men have played in his success and how they’ve helped him reach one of his primary goals of continuing his career in college.
“To start with, Michael Moras and Matt Untiet have helped me with almost everything in terms of breaking down my swing,” says Ben. “They’ve helped me with all aspects of the game, along with Coach Martone and Coach Kyle Miller teaching me how to stay humble and play with the right attitude.”
With his high school career concluded, it’s time for Ben to establish some new goals. It won’t be enough for Ben to simply play baseball in college. Ben wants to succeed and will approach his collegiate career aiming to continuously get better while making his mark. Ben has started the process of preparing himself for college baseball by working with his personal trainer Roberto Mena and college teammate Joe Cassella. You can expect Ben to bring the same eager demeanor to Western New England that he displayed at Notre Dame—a trait which was instilled in him by a loved one at an early age.
“When I was really, really young, my grandfather reminded me that you can’t hit a home run if you don’t step up to the plate,” Ben says. “At the time, I was frustrated with the way I was playing and getting discouraged. That saying has stayed with me my entire life and it’s helped me stay level, work hard, and keep things in perspective.”