FAYETTEVILLE — When an opposing pitcher tweeted last week that Andrew Benintendi wouldn't break the Ohio career hits record off him that night, he was correct.
Benintendi, who entered the contest two hits shy of the state record, was hit by a pitch and hit two home runs off the starter, but didn't have a chance to break the record off the prophetic pitcher when he was pulled for a reliever. The University of Arkansas signee set the new bar of 201 career hits in the next game, doubling in his second at-bat last Friday before being congratulated by players from both teams.
It's all been part of a record-setting season in which Benintendi, a senior outfielder at Madeira High School just north of Cincinnati, also broke the state's career record for runs scored. In his last four games, Benintendi has six home runs, helping his team to a league championship and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
"Before the season started I knew kind of where I was and how many hits I needed to get," Benintendi said. "I assumed I'd get it at some point. As I got closer and closer, it seemed like the pressure kind of built a little, but my mindset was to stay relaxed and keep hitting the ball. I was excited to see it happen."
Stepping up to a challenge has become routine for Benintendi. His record-setting performances on the field have come while he watches his mother battle breast cancer at home. Chris Benintendi, Andrew's father, said his wife's prognosis is great and he is "mighty proud" to watch how his son has handled the trying time.
Benintendi's coach, Jack Kuzniczci, called the recent performances phenomenal.
"When you think about what he has gone through - you're trying to set the state record for hits and his mom is going through chemotherapy - there has been a lot on his mind lately," Kuzniczci said. "What's unbelievable is when he started getting close to the record, he just got on fire. He had seven at-bats when he was getting close to the record where he went 6-for-7 with five home runs and a double.
"When he got closer to the record, he started driving the ball better than ever."
Madeira is selling T-shirts to commemorate Benintendi's hits record. A portion of the proceeds from the shirts, which read "Ohio Hits King" on the front with Benintendi's hits by season listed on the back, will go to support breast cancer research.
The shirts won't be sold until after the final number of hits has been established, and Benintendi hopes it takes a while. He's batting .581 as of Wednesday with 50 hits - including 11 home runs - and 50 RBIs for the Mustangs (19-5).
"We've had a good year so far and hopefully we can take it deep into the tournament and make a nice run," Benintendi said. "We went to the the state championship game my sophomore year, and I'd love to repeat our trip and win it all this year."
He also has 14 doubles, four triples and has struck out only once. His speed - a 6.5-second, 60-yard dash - has helped him swipe all 34 bases he has attempted to steal this year. Defensively, Kucniczci said he has a plus arm.
"At this time I think he has an average major league arm, which for a high schooler or college player is tremendous," Kuzniczci said. "He throws about 87, 88 off the mound. He won't pitch at Arkansas, but he has a very good arm. He's thrown out a few people.
"He's just an incredible talent with good work ethic and is very, very intelligent."
Benintendi, who currently has 206 career hits and 191 career runs scored, isn't the only player on Madeira's roster chasing a record this year. His classmate and first cousin, Zach Jansen, currently ranks third on the state's career RBIs list.
"Two years ago we went to the state championship game and lost in the game, but those guys were key members of that team," Kuzniczci said. "They have meant a lot to our program."
Benintendi is a cornerstone of Arkansas' 2013 signing class considered by many to be one of the nation's best. After committing to the Razorbacks two years ago, he had made a name as one of the Cincinnati area's best high school players, alongside the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin.
"I wish he was here to hit leadoff this year," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said at Monday's Swatter's Club meeting. "A scout told me if he was a little bit faster, we'd never see him. Thank goodness he's not a little bit faster because we need him. He's fast, but he's not flyer fast because he's a smaller guy.
"I think he'll be one of the freshmen next year with a chance to start right away for us in the outfield."
Unlike many prep superstars to sign with the Razorbacks in recent years, Benintendi's chances of making it to Fayetteville seem likely. With a strong desire to play college baseball, his high school coach believes it will take first round MLB Draft money to lure him straight to the pros.
"There have been a ton of pro teams looking at him and they come every day to watch him take batting practice," Kuzniczci said. "If the money doesn't fit, they might not draft him at all because he's really excited about going to Arkansas. It would take a huge offer to get him not to go to Arkansas. He'll want big money to pass up playing for the Razorbacks."
For now, Benintendi and those in Madeira are enjoying the final weeks of his historic prep career.
"Pretty much everyone in Cincinnati knows who he is," Kuzniczci said. "Even though we're a small school he's pretty much known as the best player in Cincinnati.
"I was watching the Reds game two nights ago and they were talking about him. Even the Reds' announcers know about Andrew."