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Carlisle’s Benish, Boiling Springs’ Darchicourt kick off spring honors
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Boiling Springs' Jordan Darchicourt and Carlisle’s Ed Benish are complete opposites.
Darchicourt’s sport is softball and Benish, you can find him on the volleyball court.
Darchicourt is a freshman just starting her varsity career while Benish, a senior, is an old, battle-tested veteran.
Darchicourt plays hard to earn the respect of her upperclassmen teammates. Benish draws his success from a lucky headband.
Although the pair come from different paths, both are The Sentinel’s Athletes of the Week.
“It’s been really exciting so far,” Darchicourt said of her first two games. “I really look up to the upperclassmen. We’re a really close team, if you have any problems, you know you can talk to anyone.”
So far, Darchicourt hasn’t had any problems, with the third baseman going 1-for-3 in a 3-0 win over rival Big Spring and 4-for-4 with a home run in her team’s 10-0 victory over Middletown.
Darchicourt had a chance to put up more numbers in her final at-bat against the Raiders, but she had a job to do.
“We were up 9-0 with a runner on second,” said Bubbler coach Steve Darchicourt, Jordan’s dad. “She would’ve loved to swing away, but in that particular at-bat, her job was to advance the runner. She tried for a sacrifice bunt and ended up with a base hit instead. It shows her willingness to help the team.”
Coach Darchicourt was asked if he is surprised with the early success of his third baseman.
“I’m surprised she’s off to the start that she is,” Steve Darchicourt said, “but I knew she was capable of it.”
The young Darchicourt is off to a good start, but she still has much to learn.
“There’s plenty of room for her to improve,” Steve Darchicourt added. “Her prior positions have been pitcher and second base, she’s still learning the game from the other side of the field. She gives 100 percent all the time on the field and at practice. There’s nothing more we can ask out of her, or anybody else on the team.”
Unlike the young Darchicourt, it took Benish a little longer to find success on the volleyball court.
“I first started playing volleyball when I was a freshman,” Benish said. “I wasn’t great at first, but practice makes perfect. I managed the girls’ team in the fall and that’s helped me a lot, too.”
Years of practice have helped Benish develop into an effective setter, volleyball’s equivalent of a quarterback in football.
“Ed does a great job of putting the ball to the right hitters in the right situations,” said Carlisle coach Mike Beachy, whose team this season has yet to drop a game, let alone a match. “Ed’s all-around game has improved immensely over the last two seasons, he’s worked as hard as anybody in the offseason as a setter and captain of the team.”
Benish has helped his team race out to a 4-0 start to the season.
“We did a lot of team runs and jump training in the offseason,” Benish said. “That stuff was optional, but a lot of guys came out and it’s definitely impacted our game this year.”
The senior relishes his role as the team’s setter.
“I like the fact that I’m involved in every play,” Benish said. “I like playing with that pressure on my back.”
And to deal with that pressure, Benish breaks out his secret weapon, the headband.
“The headband is my trademark, I’ve had it since my freshman year, when I had long hair,” Benish said. “I bought it randomly and now I can’t play without it. The fact that people heckle me about it makes me want to wear it that much more.”
Benish was asked about his team’s chances this season.
“If we play to our potential, I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t make states,” Benish said. “But we play in a competitive division and one of the top districts in the state, so we need to focus on that first.”
FAST FIVE
JORDAN DARCHICOURT(SOFTBALL)
1. How long have you been playing softball?
JD — Pretty much forever, I started tossing the ball around when I was 3.
2. Have you played on any other softball teams?
JD — I played on the Central Pa. Crunch for four years, it was a great experience.
3. What’s it like playing for your dad, the coach?
JD — I like it a lot, he’s a really good coach, he focuses on the whole team and puts the whole team before himself.
4. How about playing alongside your sister, Lindsay?
JD — Having my sister on the field with me makes me a lot more comfortable. We practice on our own a lot together and with our little sister. She’s always there to help me with my problems. When I do something wrong, she’s not afraid to tell me.
5. Do you play any other sports?
JD — Yes, basketball and field hockey.
——
ED BENISH (VOLLEYBALL)
1. What’s playing on your I-Pod right now?
EB — Right now, I’ve got some Reliant K playing. I also have a random rap mix that I use for pregame warmups.
2. Who do you have winning the NCAA Final Four?
EB — I’ve got UNC.
3. Anything you guys like to do during pregame to get ready to play?
EB — We like to yell and get in each other’s faces. We’re loud and like to make sure that the other team knows that we’re ready to play.
4. Do you have any other activities besides sports?
EB — I like to play the drums and the guitar. I like to chill with my friends and I’m an Eagle Scout.
5. Any advice for the young volleyball players coming up?
EB — Listen to your coach, he knows what he’s talking about. Use your head, don’t make dumb decisions and trust your team.
