Ben Van Cleve will be the first to tell you that there are times when dreams do come true.
His recent acceptance of an offer from Ole Miss to play baseball for the Rebels is making that part of his dream a reality.
“Baseball is my passion,” said the college sophomore, “ever since I was little I wanted to play baseball at Ole Miss and, of course like most kids, to become a major league player. Getting this big offer is something I’ve worked hard for and thank God it has happened.”
The 2017 Indianola Academy grad caught the attention of Ole Miss Head Coach Mike Bianco’s staff with his play last spring and this fall at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.
After accumulating a .306 batting average with eight home runs and 28 RBI’s last spring, the 6’3”, 260 pound first baseman went on a hitting tear this fall, a body of work which resulted in an over .500 batting average.
“Ole Miss was looking for a power hitter in the right side of the batter’s box, and thankfully they had seen me play and felt I could fill that role. They project me as possibly a first baseman or designated hitter. I’m just really excited to have this opportunity,” said Van Cleve.
It has been a long and well-traveled road for Van Cleve to reach this point in his baseball career, who while at IA, was selected All-State in both baseball and football.
In his senior year he not only was selected as AAA Most Valuable Player in baseball, his play at linebacker on the football field resulted in being named the MAIS Defensive Player of the Year.
While obviously blessed with the talent to play baseball at a high level, Van Cleve has put the time in to raise that talent to ever higher standards.
“I’m usually hitting a baseball in a cage or somewhere seven to ten times per week for about an hour each session,” said the future Ole Miss Rebel. “All that work has really just become a lifestyle and sometimes that work can make your hands bleed, but the work pays off.”
The son of Seldon and Michelle Van Cleve, thus far their son Ben is also taking care of his work in the classroom.
Owning a strong 3.85 GPA while majoring in Sports Management, additional academic recognition has also come his way.
Having already been named to the NJCAA All Academic Second Team, Van Cleve was also picked by NWCC as the school’s Most Outstanding Student in the business school division.
