Numbers show Turner’s progress

Sometimes the numbers speak for themselves.

A .608 batting average (31 for 51), 12 home runs in 17 games including four, with a grand slam, in one doubleheader alone.

Maybe most impressive is that Bonners Ferry’s Ben Turner has only struck out twice in those 51 at-bats.

Yes, the numbers speak for themselves. Fortunately, so does Turner.

“It’s been a great year so far,” said Turner, a senior catcher/pitcher with an emphasis on the former. “It kind of even surprises me.

“It’s a huge improvement from last year, especially in the home run department.”

He was no slouch as a junior, however, posting a .514 average, but hard work plus some tutelage from Badgers coach Tom Turpin has Turner turning the heads of several college coaches.

“I lifted quite a bit and (had) a lot of dedication in the off-season,” said Turner, who also wrestled and played football, earning Intermountain League Defensive Player of the Year honors and a first-team All-State nod this season in football. “Hitting in the cage with a couple of my teammates has made a big difference.

“And then Tom comes in all the time and helps out – he’s a great guy.”

Turner, who travels daily in the summer to Sandpoint to play American Legion ball, doesn’t dismiss the significance of his individual exploits, but a district crown and a trip to state is at the top of his to-do list.

“We’re ranked No. 2 in league right now behind St. Maries, but we have a very good chance of taking districts,” Turner said of this weekend’s tournament at Timberlake High.

“We 10-runned them the last time and we hit the ball very well – we need to do that again.

“We were a little down as a team at first, but we’re coming together right now and playing up to our ability.”

To help ensure a little postseason magic, he spends much of his time away from the team honing his skills behind the plate.

“I’ve been going to a lot of camps,” said Turner, whose 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame was a little small for college football but just right for baseball. “I went to Albertson College catchers camp, and there were five professional scouts and 10 college scouts there – a lot of coaches telling me what to do.

“It was a great experience – I got evaluated and I had the fastest pop-to-pop times (the time it takes for a catcher to get the ball to the second baseman) of anyone there. They said I just needed to improve on my flexibility.”

To get that flexibility, Turner said he jumps rope and runs stairs whenever he finds spare time.

It’s the kind of drive that leads to success at the next level, about which he already has some specific ideas.

“More than likely I’ll go to Lower Columbia in Longview, Wash. and study architecture,” said Turner, who likes to hunt, fish, camp and hang out with friends. “Hopefully, I’ll earn a scholarship, and there are three sophomores at catcher right now, so the starting job is up for grabs, which is nice.”