Ben Hutton has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember. But as a premiere pitcher for the Billikens, Hutton has just recently experienced some of the greatest moments of his career. Hutton is proving, with his strength and leadership that he has come a long way since his days in Little League and Edwardsville High School in Illinois.
The Little League days are over for Hutton, but his love of baseball has not ended. His work on the mound won him the honor of Conference-USA pitcher of the week for the second consecutive week. “What a great job Ben has done on the mound,” said head coach Bob Hughes.
Hutton considers the highlight of his career this last month with the Billikens. Along with conference recognition, Hutton has received accolades from many here in St. Louis. He was the Saint Louis University student of the month, and the Billiken coaching staff has nominated Hutton to be the C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Conference.
Hutton also has a remarkable record from past seasons. In 2000, he led the pitching staff with a 6.06 ERA in 78 innings. He was also 3rd on the team in strikeouts (50). In 1999, Hutton made a team-high 21 appearances.
In 1998 Hutton led his team to the win the Illinois state championship his senior year of high school, providing a storybook ending to its undefeated season, his career in Edwardsville. He finished 45-4: an Illinois state record. Ben also managed to graduate 11 in his class of 450.
Despite recent success, Hutton has had his share of difficult times.
“It has been a long hard road, with a lot of highs and lows,” he said.
In Hutton’s first season at SLU, the team went 19-39; the next year the Bills finished 19-33. This season, however, the Billikens are 15-17 and coming off a series win of two of three against the 25th ranked Green Wave of Tulane.
“They came into our park and took us for granted,” said Hutton. “They were lucky to take one from us . it was a great win for our program.”
For Hutton, the most important aspect of Billiken baseball program is accountability.
“I know that I can count on the guys and they know they can count on me.” Hutton said that as a team, the Billikens constantly have the same goal in mind.
Hutton’s long time teammate and brother, James is also a Billiken. “We have been playing together since we started,” Ben Hutton said.
The two share a bond not just as brothers but also as a pitcher and catcher. “Sometimes it is hard to switch teams because you have to get used to a new catcher, but I always had him to catch for me,” said Ben Hutton.
Although James Hutton has struggled with injuries this season, his big brother still looks to him for advice.
“Sometimes I will ask him if he is noticing anything I am doing wrong,” Ben Hutton said. He continued that it is great to have a guy on the team who thinks like he does. Most importantly James said, “Having a good friend on the team really means a lot.”
Hutton has been a role model for his teammates and particularly to his brother.
Hutton’s hard work has certainly paid off in the recognition that he is getting. His brother isn’t the one with good things to say about Ben. “Ben is a hard worker and motivates us well and he backs it up on the mound,” said sophomore pitcher Zach Placzek.
While Hutton is enjoying his personal success, as well as that of his team, he still looks to the future.
“Of course it is every baseball player’s dream to keep playing forever,” said Hutton.
If this doesn’t happen, Ben is still going to graduate in four years with a finance degree. Then he says he might be an accountant-an accountant with a particular passion for baseball that started in a small Illinois town and grew into the confident pitcher atop the Billiken mound.
