Jimmy Benson’s Perfect Game Highlights St. Laurence’s Victory

Jimmy Benson, a St. Laurence student, began playing golf about a year and a half ago. Eager to measure his progress, he joined the high school golf team last fall. Standing at 6-foot-8, Benson is a commanding presence on the golf course, though his skills shine more on the baseball field. “I’m not great at golf,” Benson admitted. “But I love competition.”

On the baseball field, Benson’s focus is sharper. “My aim is to keep a clean sheet every game,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of preventing any baserunners to avoid potential threats when opponents get on base.

On Saturday, Benson didn’t allow any hits during a flawless game. The Texas Christian University commit delivered a perfect performance with five strikeouts, leading St. Laurence to a 5-0 win against Oak Lawn in the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional final hosted in Burbank.

“When he’s throwing strikes, he’s obviously very good and very talented.” – St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus

In addition to Benson’s pitching prowess, junior Tristan Steger contributed a two-run double for the Vikings, ranked first with a record of 35-2. They will face fourth-seeded Mount Carmel (27-10) in a sectional semifinal at Brother Rice on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Mickey Lotus, a senior infielder, added a run-scoring bunt single, stole home for the first run, and made two crucial defensive plays in the final inning to maintain the shutout.

For Oak Lawn, pitcher Hamza Abdelfattah started, teamed with Eli Kulpinski in relief, and together they struck out four while allowing only one hit before St. Laurence broke through with a four-run rally in the sixth inning.

Benson’s performance on Saturday improves his record to 7-1, marking his second career no-hitter. Previously, he had a no-hitter win against Mount Carmel on May 10, 2025. In the recent game against Oak Lawn, he successfully threw strikes on 58 of his 84 pitches.

Benson’s coach, Pete Lotus, praised his talent and ability to challenge hitters. “He’s perfect when he’s consistent like that,” Lotus stated. Off the field, Benson is known for his jovial nature, but on the mound, he brings serious intensity.

Before the game, catcher Steger noticed Benson’s focused mindset. “There’s always that confidence when Jimmy pitches,” Steger noted. “It’s tough for opponents when he’s in form.”

Though he’s new to golf and has dabbled in basketball, Benson’s future clearly lies in baseball, given his stature and skills. Reflecting on his growth, Benson shared, “I’ve been taller than most since I was young. Around ages 12 or 13, I realized my potential. Even without major speed, I was effective.”

After finishing 11-1 last year and leading St. Laurence to a Class 3A state championship, Benson takes pride in achieving his first perfect game. “I was close a few times but fell short,” he said. “The main thing on Saturday was our victory. That’s always the goal.”