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Armwood's Benincasa wins Saladino award

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Tony and Bertha Saladino present Benincasa with his trophy for being Hillsborough's top senior ball player.

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 23, 2009

Updated:

BRANDON - Robert Benincasa was looking forward to sinking his teeth into some Far East cuisine June 14. He ended up settling for some pasta, but it was a meal he definitely savored.

When Benincasa left his home, he believed he and a friend were headed to Jo-To Japanese Restaurant in Brandon, where Armwood coach Mike Wrenn was supposed to pay up for a bet made during the preseason in which Wrenn promised to treat Benincasa and a friend to dinner if the Hawks made a run to the state baseball tournament.

Instead, Benincasa was lured to the home of Bertha and Tony Saladino Jr., where he was presented the 39th annual Tony Saladino Memorial Baseball Award, which has been given annually since 1971 to Hillsborough County's top senior baseball player.

"It's probably the biggest honor of my life," Benincasa said. "It's definitely going to stay with me for a long time."

Benincasa was the top pitcher for the Hawks in 2009 and helped Armwood reach the state tournament for the first time in program history. The right-hander went 12-1 with a 1.35 ERA, tossing a county-best seven complete games while striking out 91 in 83 innings. Benincasa, a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection, is the second Armwood player to receive the award, joining Brandon McArthur in 2003.

Benincasa has signed a scholarship with Florida State, but he also has a chance to pursue a professional career after the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 33rd round of the June 11 Major League Baseball first-year player draft. He hasn't met with Blue Jays officials to enter contract negotiations.

Although the destination of his baseball career is up in the air, Benincasa knows one place he plans to visit.

"I'm going to hold it to my coach to make sure he takes me to Jo-To's," Benincasa said. "But I'm definitely happy that I'm here."

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