(Peru, Neb.) – On May 6, the Peru State Bobcats will be facing the Benedictine (Kan.) Ravens in the first round the of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) double elimination baseball tournament. The tournament will be played May 6-11 at the US Baseball Park in Ozark, Mo.
 
On the year, the Bobcats are 26-26-1 overall and 20-10 in the Heart North. The 'Cats earned a bid by winning a three-game series versus Mount Mercy (Iowa) last weekend. On the year, the Ravens are 33-12 overall and 19-10 in the Heart South. Benedictine earned their bid by also winning a three-game series versus Baker (Kan.).

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Luis Landaeta


 
The last time that Peru State and Benedictine played was on April 18, 2019, when the Ravens won 10-4. Since 2013 the series has been split at 2-2 with Peru State taking the first two games and Benedictine taking the last two games.
 
Peru State is the number four overall seed in the tournament while Benedictine is the fifth overall seed.
 
On the year, the batting average for Peru State is 0.324 and their slugging percentage is 0.511. The 'Cats have hit 97 doubles, 14 triples, and 55 home runs. The Ravens batting average on the year is 0.329 and their slugging percentage is 0.576. Benedictine has 97 doubles, 15 triples, and 66 home runs.
 
Peru State Individual Stat Leaders
 
Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) leads the team with a batting average of 0.376 and has nine doubles, one triple, and five jacks on the year. Landeata has 43 RBIs on the year. Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) leads the team with ten home runs on the year. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) leads the team with 44 RBIs.
 
Tyler Levy (Nebraska City) and Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) lead the team with 18 and 16 stolen bases respectively.
 
Steven Ortiz (Yonkers, N.Y.) is the team's top hurler as he finished the regular season with a 4.61 earned run average and has struck out 64 batters.

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Adam Cenedejas

 
Benedictine Individual Stat Leaders
 
Daryl Myers (Castle Rock, Colo.) leads the team with a batting average of 0.470 and has 14 home runs on the year. Myers has hit in 56 RBIs on the year. Michael Slaten (Nacogdoches, Texas) leads the team with 19 home runs. Slaten also leads the team with 70 RBIs.
 
Slaten leads the Ravens with 21 stolen bases.
 
Michael Kruse (Hampshire, Ill.) is Benedictine's top pitcher. Kruse has an earned run average of 4.56 and has struck out 63 batters.
 
Season Highlights
 
Benedictine had a stretch early in the season where they had won ten straight. They have only lost three in a row at a time and that happened the first part of April when they dropped three to Heart South opponent Park (Mo.). The Ravens finished the season with a five-game winning streak.
 
Peru State has rebounded from a 1-11 start to the season as they have won 25 out of their last 41 games. They have put together two four-game winning streaks during the season.

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Steven Ortiz


 
Second Round Heart Play
 
The winner of the Peru State-Benedictine game will face top-seeded Central Methodist (Mo.) on Friday, May 7, at 5 p.m. The loser will take on the loser between Culver-Stockton (Mo.) and Baker (Kan.) at 10 a.m. on Friday.