Ben Blanton, a star player on William Jewell College ’s Cardinal baseball team, has been drafted as a shortstop by the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

“I’ve been waiting and working for this opportunity my whole life,” Blanton said. “I’m hoping I can make the most of it. I’m thankful that I’ve had good coaches and good teammates over the years who have helped me get to this point.”

Blanton, who is the son of Wes and Debbie Blanton of Liberty , is a business administration major with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in art from the Jewell class of 2005.

 Coach Mike Stockton said that Blanton was one of the key players involved in the baseball Cardinals’ recent success. The team set a school record for wins in a season with 47 victories in 2004.

“It’s an exciting day for Jewell baseball,” Stockton said. “Ben absolutely deserves this opportunity. He’s a fearless, extremely aggressive player. He only has one gear, and that’s full speed. Ben was a scholar-athlete, and his outstanding athletic ability is only a small part of who he is. He has been a coach’s dream.”

Blanton expects to meet with the Phillies scout who recruited him to sign contracts within the next few days. He is scheduled to depart this weekend for Clearwater, Fla. , where he will spend a couple of weeks at a mini-camp for Phillies draft picks. Then it’s off to Batavia, N.Y., where he will spend the rest of the summer playing with the Philadelphia farm team.

“Beyond that, it’s based on performance,” Blanton said. “But I’ll definitely be playing on the full-season low A team beginning in March.” The baseball farm system consists of low A, high A, double A and triple A categories leading up to the major leagues.

Blanton was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year for 2004 and 2005 and was named Regional Player of the Year and a Fist Team All-American in 2005. He continues a rich family tradition of athletic competition at Jewell. His father, Wes ’75, was a pitcher on the Cardinal baseball team; his sister, Brooke ’01, was a noted scholar-athlete who competed in tennis.

A 6’1” shortstop for the Cardinals, Blanton boasted a .423 batting average with 14 homeruns and 65 runs batted in in 2005. 

Blanton credits his own performance, as well as the team’s success, to coach Stockton ’s regimented schedule. “The guys who survive emerge stronger and ready to compete,” he says.

Blanton’s path to Jewell came via a semester at the University of Kansas . Disappointed with the Division I program, he transferred to Jewell, knowing the team had a rough road ahead. “At KU, I felt expendable,” he recalls. “At Jewell, coach Stockton really made me believe I would play a crucial role in restoring this team’s respect in the conference.” Blanton’s hard work earned him individual recognition as a second team All-American.