(This is our fourth installment of the 2020-’21 “Up Next” Series Powered by The Yard Sports Academy. Previously we featured Andrew Koshy, Sebastian Lippman and Josh Knoth. Thank you for your continued interest and Happy Thanksgiving)
Thanks to our partnership with East Coast Youth Baseball, we covered a lot of games involving LIB Prime 12u. When it comes to youth baseball teams, they are as good as it gets. Many games did not get past the third inning, as their offense was often putting up 15+ runs in those innings and winning via run-rule.
Ben Cohen hits a walk-off grand slam to send LIB Prime into Think Pink championship pic.twitter.com/EBFXiyS37s
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 5, 2020
Much of that damage involved power-hitting Ben Cohen. The Massapequa native was downright dominant this fall for LIB Prime.
- Games Played 29
- AVG: .487
- Runs: 31
- Hits: 39
- XBH: 14
- HR: 7
- RBI: 36
- K: 6
- SB: 10-for-11
He led his team in all categories except for doubles – where he was tied for second. Clearly, he was a critical piece for a team that went 22-6-1 in the fall. As many people know, Massapequa is a hot-bed for baseball talent and they have won the Class AA Long Island Championship three straight years. Although he’s still two years away from high school, Ben certainly possesses the type of talent that should make him an exciting player at the next level.
I had a chance to talk to him and here’s what he had to say…
Who are some people that have had a positive influence on your career?
My dad has been coaching me since I started playing baseball up until I started playing travel baseball. He does not put any pressure on me and he is my biggest fan.
Who are your favorite players in Major League Baseball and why?
Aaron Judge: he is a Yankee, he has a cannon for an arm and he hits bombs
Nolan Arenado: He is one of the best fielders in baseball and he plays third base and hits for power, like me.
Do you work with any private instructors?
I went for a few lessons with multiple instructors but since covid started I haven’t gone to one since.
What has been your most exciting moment on a baseball field?
This summer, I hit three HR in three at bats cat Baseball Heaven but my most exciting moment was when I hit a walk-off grand slam in the semi-final game of a BBH tournament.
Can you talk a little about the LIB Prime team? Tell us about the 2020 season and some players that have really performed well.
Our team is very strong. Everybody on LIB Prime are studs and deserve to be where they are. Every single one of them contributed to our success this season.
What are your plans for the off-season to improve your game?
My main goal for this off-season is to work on my blocking because I’m a catcher and I need to get catcher.
What’s that feeling like connecting on a HR in a big moment?
When you hit a clutch HR you don’t really think about how important it is in the moment but when you look back on it, you really think how clutch it was.
Favorite apps on your phone?
Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube
Favorite musical artist?
Pop Smoke
Favorite type of food?
Italian
Dream car?
Lamborghini Veneno
Favorite vacation spot?
My favorite that I have gone to is Disney World and Las Vegas. But I want to go to either Bora Bora or Colorado.
