Former Flame Prentiss-Schenk becomes an Otter
Ben Prentiss-Schenk is a California kid at heart who lived in the Midwest for a short time.
Now California State University, Monterey Bay has accommodated the former Lodi High baseball player.
Recently, Prentiss-Schenk, a 2017 Lodi High graduate formerly known as Ben Prentiss, accepted a scholarship from CSU Monterey Bay, an NCAA Division II campus that plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Next spring, PrentissSchenk, a kinesiology major, will play his first season as a Sea Otter.
This spring, Monterey Bay baseball won the CCAA title, and finished with a 39-18 overall record. The Otters finished this past season ranked 14th in the nation among D-II colleges. Prentiss-Schenk will begin the fall semester on Aug. 23.
“I met with the head coach (Walt White),” Prentiss-Schenk said. “He sat down with me ... what he has to offer as a coach, what he could teach me. And how well Monterey has been doing. I just knew I had to come here and be a part of it.”
After he graduated from Lodi High last spring, Prentiss-Schenk attended Greenville University in Greenville, Ill. for the fall semester. He was on the college’s baseball team, and had earned a starting position in the outfield.
“Playing every day, worked out, training (and) intra-squad games,”
Prentiss-Schenk said. “As a freshman, I was getting an opportunity to start in the outfield. It was just exciting.”
But Prentiss-Schenk missed the life in the Golden State. He came back to the Lodi area after the fall semester.
“I’m a California kid at heart,” Prentiss-Schenk said. “I wanted to stay back in California. Family come out to see me play, friends, coaches. It’s a real culture shock, to be honest.”
How big of a difference between living in the Midwest for half a year and California is as different as night and day, Prentiss-Schenk explained.
“California is really fastpace; we’re always on the move,” Prentiss-Schenk said. “The Midwest, especially Illinois, it’s really slow down. (Greenville) I would say has three stop lights. There’s not much things to do besides study, go to the gym and baseball. I was always to myself a lot.”
After returning to California, Prentiss-Schenk said he contacted eight Northern and Southern California four-year colleges with baseball programs. Monterey Bay, which opened its doors in 1994, was quick to inquire about him attending starting in the fall semester.
“They showed interest,” Prentiss-Schenk said. “I knew I wanted to transfer, and there was a window of opportunity to do that.”
Since he left Greenville University after the fall semester, Prentiss-Schenk still retains his four years of playing college baseball. All goes according to plan, he’ll play from spring of 2019 through spring of 2022.
“I will still be entering Monterey as a freshman,” said Prentiss-Schenk, who only had 15 college credits from the fall semester at Greenville University.
In the last six months, Prentiss-Schnek has stayed in baseball shape. He works out Monday through Saturday; a combination of weight lifting, throwing baseballs and batting practice three to four hours each day.
“I do that every week,” Prentiss-Schenk said.
This summer, PrentissSchenk will be playing on an area Japanese Baseball League team.
“Just to get some reps in before I head down to Monterey in the fall,” Prentiss-Schenk said.
When asked if he’s happy to be back in California, Prentiss-Schenk didn’t hesitate to answer.
“I’m super happy,” Prentiss-Schenk said. “It’s a blessing.”
An infielder, outfielder and pitcher for the Flames in the spring of 2017, PrentissSchenk batted .298 with 22 RBIs and seven doubles. He also stole eight bases out of nine attempts. On the hill, Prentiss-Schenk went 2-0, plus a 5.04 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and weighing 175 on last year’s roster, Prentiss-Schenk helped Lodi to 15-12 overall record, and earned a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff berth.