Andy Benes At Greenville Friday

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes will be at the All-South Illinois FCA 2014 Home Team Banquet at Greenville College this coming Friday.

Benes grew up in Evansville, Ind. where he and his brother Alan attended Evansville Lutheran School and Evansville Central High School. Benes stayed close to home for his college years where he had an outstanding career playing for the University of Evansville. In his senior year, Benes was selected as a Collegiate  Baseball First Team All American and Pitcher of the Year. He and Alan would both go on to have significant major league careers.

Benes was chosen to play for the United States Olympic baseball team that won gold medal in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. That same year he was the No. 1 draft pick in the country and was drafted and signed by the San Diego Padres. In his first year in the big leagues he was named the National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News.

In 1993, Benes was selected to represent the National League and played in the MLB All Star Game. He went on to enjoy a 14 year career in the Major Leagues playing for four teams, San Diego, Seattle, Arizona and St. Louis.

Benes and his wife Jennifer have raised their family, six children, in St. Louis. He has been the assistant baseball coach at Westminster Christian Academy where they won three Missouri state titles. He is active with Bible Study Fellowship and he assists several organizations as a volunteer in fund raising including the annual Andy Benes Westminster Christian Academy Golf Tournament for the past 11 years.

"Over a one year period, I went from being a college student, to a No. 1 draft pick, to an Olympic gold medalist and to pitching in the big leagues," said Benes. "But the highlight of that year was when I prayed to receive Christ and gave my life to Him."

Tickets are by invitation only. Reservations must be made only through the table hosts or the FCA staff.