Ben Kline Season 2009

Honors & Awards

• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2008)

2009 Outlook: One of the toughest positions for a freshman to take over is at shortstop and the experience Ben Kline gained last season will pay dividends this spring ? Became the first Husker freshman since 2002 to handle the full-time duties at shortstop, finishing the year with a .253 average and 23 RBIs ? Overcame a slow start to hit .280 with 14 RBIs and a .960 fielding percentage in his last 36 games after hitting just .206 in first 17 contests ? Spent the summer in Wilmington (N.C.) in the Coastal Plains League, hitting .244 with a homer, 12 RBIs and four stolen bases in the wood-bat league in just 24 contests ? Impressed the coaching staff with his work habits and is developing his leadership skills ? Made solid adjustments from his freshman year and was consistently one of the Huskers’ top performers in the fall ? Will be pushed by junior college transfer Kyle Bubak for the starting role with the other player potentially moving over to second base.

2008: Kline won a heated competition for the starting shortstop role and performed admirably in becoming the first true freshman to earn the role since Joe Simokaitis in 2002 ? Hit .253 with 23 RBIs in 53 games, delivering 12 multi-hit games and seven multiple-RBI efforts out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup ? Became a more consistent offensive threat as the season progressed, hitting .280 in his final 36 contests ? Provided a steady glove throughout his freshman year, committing just three errors in his final 23 appearances ? Hit .300 with two doubles and two runs scored in the NCAA Tournament, including a 2-for-5 effort against Eastern Illinois on May 30 ? Started NU’s Big 12 Tournament opener on May 21, going 1-for-3 versus Baylor ? Hit just .202 while starting 26 Big 12 contests ? Closed out the regular season on a high note, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs at No. 12 Missouri on May 18 ? Had two hits and a stolen base against ninth-ranked Texas A&M on May 9 ? Was 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in the opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on May 3 ? Drove in the game-winning run in the series opener against Western Illinois on April 29 ? Torched Creighton in the two-game series against the Bluejays, going 4-for-9 with a double and four RBIs, as he had two hits and a pair of RBIs in each contest ? Was 3-for-11 against Kansas, including a 2-for-4 afternoon with two runs scored in NU’s 8-6 win on April 19 ? Went 1-for-3 in a win over No. 5 Wichita State on April 15 ? Put together a solid series at No. 13 Texas, hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a pair of doubles and three RBIs ? Tied career highs with three hits and three RBIs at No. 13 Texas on March 28, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in a 14-4 win ? Was 2-for-4 off the bench in a 9-4 win over Northern Colorado on March 26 ? Picked up his third multi-hit game of the year in the series opener against Northern Colorado on March 8, going 2-for-3 and scoring twice in the win ? Enjoyed a strong series against UC Riverside, hitting .500 (6-for-12) with two doubles, two RBIs and five runs scored ? Collected his first three-hit day against the Highlanders on March 1, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Omaha Central High School: Kline was one of the top prospects in the Midwest playing for Coach Steve Russell at Central High School in Omaha ? Garnered first-team, all-state honors in both 2006 and 2007 ? Led Central to a district title and its first state playoff berth since 1983 as a senior, hitting .458 with six homers, seven triples and 35 RBIs ? Chosen as the Nebraska Perfect Game USA Player of the Year and was tabbed as a first-team All-District V selection by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association ? Rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 high school prospect in the state for the 2007 Draft ? Named the MVP of the 2007 Collin-Orcutt Memorial All-Star Game ? Selected as a first-team all-state pick in 2006 when he hit .400 with five homers and 24 RBIs ? Chosen to play in the 2006 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars event ? Multi-sport standout who was a finalist for Lincoln Journal Star Male High School Athlete of the Year and was also nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman ? Played four years of basketball, helping Omaha Central to consecutive Class A state titles ? Averaged 12 points and five rebounds a game en route to third-team all-state accolades as a senior ? Averaged 14 points per game as a junior to help Central to its first state crown since 1975 ? Carried better than a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career and collected academic all-state honors in both baseball and basketball from the Lincoln Journal Star.

Personal: Born on Dec. 2, 1988, in Omaha ? Parents are Jono and Joni Kline ? Has one younger brother (Corey) ? Has not declared a major.