Northmor’s Grant Bentley has proven to be one of the top athletes in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference this year, as he was named the KMAC player of the year for baseball after taking the same honor for basketball this winter.
Bentley also walked away with the Central District Player of the Year Award, and was named second team All-Ohio. He led his team to a district title, and brought the Golden Knights all the way to the Division IV Regional Semifinals.
Bentley had a .440 batting average this season, and during regular season play he tied for second in the conference with 33 hits. He had some pop in his bat with a .507 slugging percentage, and showed speed on the base paths with 11 steals. On the mound, the Golden Knight ace was among the best with a 5-1 record and a 1.06 ERA. During the regular season he had 49 strikeouts in 49 and two-thirds innings, which put him at sixth in the conference.
"Grant has gotten the job done for us the past four years with both his athletic ability and his intellect," said Coach Buck Workman." He’s put up incredible numbers at the plate and on the mound."
Bentley led a fierce pitching rotation for Northmor, and saved some of his best stuff for the playoffs. In the Division IV Region 16 District Final he led No. 3 Northmor to a 6-1 win over. No. 2 Fairfield Christian. Bentley gave up one unearned run in the first inning and was lights out the rest of the way. He went all seven innings, and while he only struck out one batter, he allowed only two walks and two hits.
"Grant is the most cerebral player I’ve had," Workman said. "We’ll obviously miss his leadership as well, along with the rest of our graduates who played a lot of varsity baseball."
This was the second time he won the KMAC Player of the Year Award in 2024. Bentley’s basketball season, where he also won the honor for the conference’s top player, the senior was the KMAC leader in scoring at 19.4 points per game. He averaged 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Bentley was named first team All-Ohio and first tea All-District, as well. He ended his career with 1,420 points, which was good for second in school history.
