Due to the current coronavirus situation and all sports being shut down, there are a lot of athletes who have had their senior seasons cut short. ENC Sports Review thought it would be nice to highlight some of these seniors as a small way to celebrate their senior year, since so much has been taken from them already. Today, we will highlight Rocky Mount High School senior Ben Sieracki. We thank Ben for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about her and hope you will too!
How long have you been playing sports?
Age 4, so 14 years.
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
I played at all levels of rec ball from peewee league- through little league. I then moved on to play at Edwards middle school and eventually just finishing up at Rocky Mount High School. I played travel baseball with the Dirtbags.
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
My favorite coach is Coach Pat Smith. I only had the pleasure of being coached by Coach Smith for one year, which was my freshman year before he retired. I liked how intense he was in all aspects of the game. There was never a time when we would take a break and relax, we were always working. If that meant we would be at the field to 6:30-7 we would be there. So that being said one thing he has taught me that I still use today is to have intent. Throw with a purpose, take every rep with a purpose, and to take every swing with a purpose.
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
My favorite memory is throwing a 67 pitch complete game freshman year in the conference championship against Hunt winning 3-1. I can’t remember any bad memories, I learn from them and then let them go.
From the Interviewer: Ben Sieracki threw a Little League Perfect games against the Cardinals in a regular season City of Rocky Mount Little League game. Of the 18 batters he face, 17 were strikeouts and the last out was a hit to 2nd base and thrown out at 1st base.
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
One thing I would want to go back and change would be the amount of time I spent in the weight room in my middle school years. I wish I had done more work in the weight room and gotten stronger then.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I wouldn’t say I look up to a specific player but I’ve had my eyes set on the big leagues ever since I started playing. Going to college games while I was younger that was my first goal. To play Division 1 baseball, I met that goal and now the next is to get drafted and work my way up to the big leagues.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
If I could go back 5 years and tell myself something that I know now it would be that getting stronger is the most important thing, get in the weight room early. I’m strong but you can never be strong enough.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell someone following in my footsteps to always have a good attitude. We all have bad days but it allows you to learn from it and get better so you won’t make the same mistake again. Baseball is a mental game, you can’t get in your head. Once you get in your head its hard to get out of it.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
Since my senior season got cut short. One thing I will always remember is hitting my first home run during my last high school at bat. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I felt like I had a lot to prove this year and our team was just getting started. The bats were hot and the pitching was dominant. Teams were sleeping on us this year and they had a rude awakening coming for them.
Feel free to add anything that I might not have asked that people would like to know about your time playing sports or your future plans.
I’m going to play division 1 baseball at Elon University near Greensboro, NC. I’m very strong in my faith and that has carried me a long way it has no doubt shaped me into the baseball player I am today. I love playing sports. I was a varsity soccer captain and was awarded all conference and all region for soccer. I swam in the winter while also running a half marathon in the fall.
Thank you again, Ben Sieracki , for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlights. We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.
Attention 2020 Seniors: If you are interested in possibly being our next spotlight, please inbox us with a picture of you (head shot or action shot, or multiple pictures), your name, school, sports/positions played and answers to some or all of the questions above.
Note: All photographs have been contributed to this post from the senior’s family.
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