It’s good to be an Oregon Ducks fan right now.
First, the football team won the Pac-12 Championship Friday night in a win over Utah.
Second, the softball team recently got a commitment from a tall, “tenacious” pitcher from Minnesota in Allison Benning, who is was excited to play for Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi who she feels will help her reach her potential.
A good all-around athlete who has played varsity tennis and basketball at the high school as well as excelling at softball, Benning knows that her future is between the lines and with her power pitching—once coach says she’s been verified by “multiple folks throwing 66-to-68 mph”—and her power hitting, this standout 2021 has “future star” written all over her!
Here’s a closer look…
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NAME: ALLISON BENNING
Hometown/State: Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Grad Year: 2021
Position(s): Pitcher
Club Team: Top Gun 16U National
High School (City/State): Stillwater Area (Oak Park Heights, Minnesota)
GPA: 3.83
College: Oregon
When committed? November 24, 2019
Height: 6-foot-1
Top Honors/Accomplishments: 2019 All-State Honorable Mention, 2019 & 2018 Class 4A State All-Tournament Team, 2018 Class 4A State Champion, two-time All-Section, 2019 Class 4A State Runner-Up, 2019 All-Conference
High School or Club Stats: “I don’t pay attention to my stats, that’s not why I am!”
Other Sports? Three years varsity tennis, two years varsity basketball (freshman and sophomore years, not playing now)
Other Universities Considered: Minnesota, Indiana, Tulsa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana-Lafayette and several others
Preferred College Major: Journalism
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What was the ultimate factor or factors that helped you commit to Oregon?
I love too many things about Oregon to list, but the number one factor was Coach (Melyssa) Lombardi. I love the idea of the best coach in the country working with me every day and I believe she will help me reach my potential.
*** Scroll down to read more about Allison including what college coaches said they like about her game, the best advice she’s ever received and the one person she would love to have dinner with!