15 for 15: Basketball or baseball, Pleasant Plains won with Dusty Bensko in lineup – The State Journal-Register

He went on to a noteworthy college baseball career at the University of Illinois and a short stay in the minor leagues.

But when Dusty Bensko’s name is mentioned, it conjures memories of turn-of-the-century glory at Pleasant Plains High School.

“When we get together now, we appreciate it more and more,” said Bensko, who led the Cardinals to Class A state basketball and baseball titles in 2000.

“At the time, with the success we had, you just didn’t appreciate it as much. It was just a goal you were going after.

“But now, as a coach, it makes me realize those kinds of (dual championships) don’t happen every year.”

Falling short

The basketball Cardinals were just as good, if not better, in Bensko’s senior year of 2001. But they fell a win short of Peoria, losing on a late shot by Macomb in the supersectional. They also reached the Elite Eight in baseball that year but lost to Benton in the quarterfinals.

But Bensko, currently a teacher and head baseball coach at Chicago Lincoln Park High School, always left an impression regardless of the outcome.

As a 6-foot-5 junior, Bensko averaged 23 points and eight rebounds as Plains went 34-2 and won its first state basketball championship with a 56-43 win over Teutopolis. But most area fans remember the Saturday matinee: Plains’ 78-68, triple-overtime semifinal win over Sangamo Conference rival Riverton.

Bensko was a Class A record 17-for-17 at the foul line against the Hawks, including 12-for-12 in the third overtime. His 101 points over four games (including the supersectional) led the tournament.

The following season, all-stater Bensko led Plains at 21.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. He would finish with a school-record 2,489 career points, although the season — and his basketball career — ended a few games earlier than planned.

“That loss at Macomb, it was awful,” Bensko said. “It was like the end came immediately. It was the last game playing for my coach (Cliff Cameron) and with my friends.

“Taking off the uniform was hard. I didn’t want it to be over.”

Turning to baseball

Bensko knew it was over because baseball was his long-range passion.

“I had (basketball) interest early on in recruiting,” Bensko said. “But I would tell (basketball coaches) thanks for the call and the interest, but I’m going to focus on baseball.'”

And why not?

Bensko batted over .600 and hit 17 home runs as Plains’ junior shortstop and pitcher. He smacked two homers in the state championship win over Addison Driscoll at Robin Roberts Stadium. Also the complete-game winning pitcher over Eldorado in the semifinals, he was named the tourney’s Most Valuable Player.

He hit .495 as a Plains senior, when he signed to play baseball at Illinois. The State Journal-Register’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2001, Bensko was an All-Big Ten selection as a senior at Illinois, where he led the Illini in home runs (16) and runs batted in (67).

After a short stay in the Minnesota Twins’ organization, Bensko went into teaching and coaching. He said he occasionally gets the “Are you the Bensko from Pleasant Plains?” questions, but he wants to focus on his own athletes now.

“Up here, it happens more with officials,” he said of being approached by umpires or referees. “There’s that name recognition. But I just try to be the coach.”

— Contact Dave Kane: 788-1544, dave.kane@sj-r.com, twitter.com/davekaneSJR.