Ben Klafczynski

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Granger Twp, Ohio
High School:
Medina Highland

Kent State Awards & Honors

•2010 All-MAC Tournament Team

•2008 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America

•Ranks tied for third on the school's career records list in doubles with 60.

•Letterwinner: 2008, '09, '10

2010 Junior Season Highlights

•Appeared in 64 games with 63 starts.

•Recorded a .367 average with 94 hits, a team season-high 27 doubles, 10 home runs, 62 RBIs and 66 runs scored. His 27 doubles led the conference in addition to tying for 10th in the nation and first on the school's single-season records list. He also ranked 34th in the country in doubles per game with 0.42. The 94 hits ranked third on the team, fifth in the conference, tied for 51st in the nation and ranks fourth on the school's single-season records list. Finish second on the second with 66 runs scored, which was good for fifth in the conference and tied for seventh on the school's single-season records list. His 157 total bases ranked second on the team and fourth in the conference.

•Posted 30 multi-hit games and hit safely three or more times in a game on nine occasions.

•Hit safely in 16 straight games spanning from 5/4 when he smacked a double against Niagara to 5/29 vs. Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game when he tallied a double and a single. Had 10 multi-hit games during the stretch -- including a span of five straight games from 5/21 at Akron (two singles) to 5/28 vs. Toledo in the MAC Tournament (a double and a single) -- and had at least three hits four times. Team posted a 12-4 record during the stretch.

•Recorded two or more RBIs in 16 games -- including 10 games with three or more RBIs.

•Went a personal season-best 4-for-5 with a double and three singles and a run scored at Eastern Michigan (4/10).

•Drove in a personal season-high six runs while going 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a round tripper in game one of a doubleheader at Buffalo (4/24).

•Scored a personal season-best four runs while going 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI to help Kent State defeat Winthrop (3/20), 16-10, in the Coca-Cola Classic.

•Competed for the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England League in summer ball, winning the league's home run derby with 13 bombs and garnering West Division All-Star selection with a .296 batting average, 37 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored.

2009 Sophomore Season Highlights

•Was the only player to appear in every game for the Golden Flashes, earning 54 starts.

•Led the team and was among NCAA leaders (33rd) with 22 doubles and was fifth on the team in total hits (71) for a .318 average.

•Hit his second career grand slam in game two of a doubleheader at Duquesne (4/29).

•Hit what proved to be the game-winning three-run home run in the top of the 11th at UNC Greensboro (2/21).

•Hit a solo home run in the championship game of the MAC Tournament against Toledo (5/23), his sixth round-tripper of the year.

•Went 3-for-10 in the NCAA tournament with two runs scored and a RBI.

•Played for the Bourne Braves, the 2009 Cape Cod League Champions, contributing 22 hits with 7 doubles. Finished the summer off hot, hitting .346 over the final nine games, all wins, ending with the Braves first ever CCBL Title.

2008 Freshman Season Highlights

•Garnered four freshmen All-American honors, including First Team honors from CBN/Louisville Slugger, PING Baseball, and was included in the Top 30 as a Freshman All-American nationally by both Rivals.com and Baseball America.

•Appeared in 55 games with 35 starts.

•Served primarily as the designated hitter.

•Batted .339 and had a slugging percentage of .630 -- second best on the team -- and was third on team with 11 home runs. Totaled 56 hits, 24 for extra bases and drove in 35 runs.

•Recorded 13 multi-hit games and had a 13 game hitting streak.

•Smashed a grand slam and and added another RBI at Louisville (3/16).

•Crushed a round tripper and earned three RBI in the MAC Tournament finals against Eastern Michigan (5/24).

•In the summer season, he recorded 27 totals hits with 23 RBI, good for third on the Columbus All-Americans of the Great Lakes Summer League and earned player of the week honors.

Prior to Kent State

•A four-year starter for Medina Highland High School under head coach Jeff Rollyson.

•Ranks 10th in the OHSAA record books for hits in a season (57), 12th in career home runs (30) and 15th in single season batting average (.613).

•Helped the Hornets earn a state regional final berth and was first team All-Ohio in 2007

•Rated among Baseball America’s Top 100 high school players in the class of 2007 and competed in the 2006 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in Missouri.

•Selected to the 2007 Louisville Slugger All-American First Team.

•Was one of three outfielders in the nation selected to the 2007 National High School Baseball Coaches Association First Team.

•Was the 2007 Akron Beacon-Journal and Cleveland Plain Dealer Player of the Year.

•Also lettered three times in basketball and received All Ohio and all-district honors and twice in golf for Highland.

Personal

•Born Sept. 21, 1988.

•Son of Ray and Elaine Klafczynski. Siblings are Amy, Leah and Andrew.

•Last name is pronounced "Klaf-chin-ski."

•Volunteered for the Special Olympics.

•Majoring in sports management with an emphasis on the PGA Club Professional track.

•Member of the Kent State Leadership Program and SAAC.

Career Game Highs

At-bats: 6 (three times, last time: Bowling Green, 5/14/10)

Runs: 4 (twice, last time: at Winthrop, 3/20/10)

Hits: 4 (at Eastern Michigan, 4/10/10)

RBIs: 6 (at Buffalo - DH Game 1, 4/24/10)

Doubles: 3 (vs. Miami, 5/27/10)

Triples: 1 (six times, last time: Central Michigan, 4/17/10)

Home Runs: 2 (at Miami, 5/7/10)

Walks: 3 (at UCLA, 6/4/10)

Stolen Bases: 1 (four times, last time: at Buffalo, 4/23/10)

Career Statistics

Year	Class	AVG	GP	GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	SLG	BB	HBP	SO	GDP	OBP	SF	SH	SB	ATT	PO	A	E	FLD%
2008	Fr.	.339	55	35	165	37	56	11	2	11	35	104	.630	10	3	36	3	.385	1	0	2	2	15	1	0	1.000
2009	So.	.318	60	54	223	52	71	22	1	6	43	113	.507	24	6	52	0	.391	5	1	0	1	53	2	1	.982
2010	Jr.	.367	64	63	256	66	94	27	3	10	62	157	.613	33	13	33	3	.458	4	0	2	2	122	3	7	.947
TOTALS		.343	179	152	644	155	221	60	6	27	140	374	.581	67	22	121	6	.417	10	1	4	5	190	6	8	.961