star turn in cleveland

Delta State’s Ben Kingsley — not to be confused with the much-decorated actor, whose real name is not Ben Kingsley — delivered an award-worthy performance on Saturday. The real Ben Kingsley went 5-for-7 with six RBIs to power the unbeaten and highly ranked Statesmen (9-0) to a doubleheader sweep of Florida Southern at Ferriss Field in Cleveland. Kingsley is on a 9-for-11 run and is batting over .500 with a team-best 17 RBIs. The senior outfielder from Mantachie has an impressive list of credits. He batted .315 with three home runs and 47 RBIs for the 2012 DSU club that finished as NCAA Division II national runner-up. As a sophomore at Meridian Community College in 2011, Kingsley batted .366 with 19 home runs. He also starred on a state championship club at Mooreville High. DSU’s Ben Kingsley isn’t likely to ever win an Oscar — a la that other Ben Kingsley — but he certainly belongs on the watch list for the Ferriss Trophy.