Duke Benge

Photo by: Hozana Arceri

Height:
5-11
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Lakeville, MN
High School:
Lakeville South
Position:
RHP

Junior (2022):

Appeared in a team-high 27 games, totaling 27.0 IP.
Did not allow an earned run in 15 appearances.
Allowed just 1.7 BB/9.
Notched a career-high five strikeouts against Campbell on February 28.
Pitched 4.2 innings of valuable relief in Air Force's win over Louisiana Tech to stave off elimination at the Austin Regional.
Mountain West All-Academic Team selection.

Sophomore (2021):

Made five appearances for Air Force, totaling 8.2 IP.
Walked only one batter in his five appearances.
Pitched a 0.2 scoreless frame on May 22 against San Diego State.
Struck out a career four batters over two innings against Kansas on April 13.
2020-21 All-Mountain West Academic Team selection.
Was selected to participate in the 2021 Northwoods League All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 20, at ISG Field at the home of the Mankatoo MoonDogs in Mankato, Minn.
Benge became the first-ever cadet-athlete from Air Force or any service academy to make the NWL All-Star game.

Freshman (2020):

Did not see game action in 2020.

HIGH SCHOOL (Lakeville South): Was a three-year letterwinner…Twice named varsity team captain…Named all-conference honorable mention three times…Broke school records for innings pitched and strikeouts…Also lettered two years in clay target shooting…Was the National Honor Society President, the HOSA President, DECA Vice President, and a Student Council Leader…Graduated with a 4.2 GPA and in the top five percent of his class…Played club ball with the Minnesota Mash and Elko Express for seven years each…Was named a team captain twice for both teams.

PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 27…Is a SPARK Innovation Actualizer at USAFA and is currently working on an application that will help mitigate sexual assault/harassment at USAFA, and then military bases and college campuses across the nation…Son of Suzy and Scott Benge…Has three siblings, Luke, Matt, and Ellie…Double majoring in philosophy and English with a minor in religious studies…Full name is Wyatt Duke Irvin Benge and nickname is Benji…Father is a 1983 USAFA grad...His father Scott was roommates at USAFA with Chris Cicere, the father of sports information director Nick Cicere...while brother, Luke, is a U.S.M.C. Captain piloting Ospreys…His siter Ellie is an Air Force ROTC student...Grandfather, Irvin, flew B-17s for the Army Air Corps in WWII…Hobbies include flying and jumping out of planes, reading books, volunteering at the Marian House, and playing with his dog Lola…Began playing baseball before he could even talk…Greatest moment in sports was hitting two home runs at the first game his Grandmother ever watched him play…Favorite MLB team is the Minnesota Twins and favorite player is Max Scherzer…Pre-game rituals include praying, wearing his Nike socks upside down, and watching Pitching Ninja on Twitter…Credits his friend, Johnny Price, as having the greatest impact in his baseball career…”He passed away in a car crash when I was in high school. He was so passionate about baseball and when he died, I always told myself that I was going to live out his dream and play college baseball because he never got the chance to.”